The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-11-03

th' Revolutionary wa, =, The treaty ufss. Anal
here. We cansot foriear quoting ~ anee,loie re-
lated Of Mr.. J. by Mr.. Cooper, il, his Notions
ofIhe Americans, '-exhibitine, ut the saaar
iiine. that he had no less VIC dance To protect,
than penetration 10 perceive, the true interests of
his country. Tie story will posses the intere.,
VI novelty 10 most OF our readers while IL will
serve to illustrate. in some small degree, the
character OF a man who is an ornament 10 the
American name. but who, in IA early period Of
OUT history, while yet his invaluable services
were frrshin the memory ofhis conntrsmen. vas
subjected to the same description Of abuse and
dennnciation which We now see employed A..
s'inst the bes, and creates, men of our coun.
try. Mr.. Cooper says
During The American war. an ALLIANCE.
was formed between France and the n.u
power, One OF the customary conditions OF
tuns treaty was "A stipulation that peace should
not I've made BY either party without fhe con-
sent nj BIO h. Wien England had become snt.
hcien'lv prepared by her r'verses 10 listen 10
Hnicable propositions, the American govern.
uent ordered their minister 10 Suain (Nr
Jay and their minister in Holland MIR. Al.
ans 10 proceed 10 Paris, and nv uniting
themselves To the minister in France (Dr.
rankin In form a commits ion authorized
to manage the expected negotiation on the
part OF the new republic. The latter oi these
gentlemen ha been long accredited near me
court OF Versailles, wh-re, by n happy union
Of great simplicity OF manners, wisdom. aud
wit, he had become an object Of singular al
n%Iration and affection. Bat tho American,
say, that Franklin was a much better philn.n.
pher than polliician. BE this as might. he
sorry adds, that France. now the drama Wa
about Ia close, began To cast about her for he
profits OF he rep1 esentn'i"n. The Count de
Ftrg"rnes had earlv snccreded in pefsnndine
D.. Franklin thai a. England could not. nor
would no., formally acknowledge The iHdfptH-
dencc OF America, his better course wonii be-
- acreft IL truce. for twenty years, n the and
OF which period his country would be snfi
ciently sirnng To take what she needed for
herself The PHILOSOPHERS said 10 have ~.
guessed III This oninion, and began Ia stir hi.
mighty reason in maturing the terms of iii,
remarkable truce. In this state ct mind he
was found by MIR jay, on his arrival from
Madrid. The latter was not slow 10 perceive
me effects of such u course, nor 20 detect ihe
secret source whence the insidinn- counsel
flowed. His eyes had not been da2Ylpd bv
the Sptpndnf oil a luxurious court. nor his enrs
soothed by the ~faitery ~ a polished ration.
tnr Il long time he had been content 10 dwell
in obscuriiy IN spain, sacrificing every thing
In has conntry's interests to his manlinres
and dlrectness OF character. H. had s,e,dll,
decl ned an interview with the king of The
later country, because he Could not he recri-
veu penly asanaccred,ted minister. In shori.
he had too long patiently Submitted 10 mort.
hoat'on ANA reiIrrmeut Father than comprn-
mise the character OF bis %uatIun, 10 see the
substance ~ Which he aimed 50 easily con.
ver'ed 10 d shadow. Mr. Jay denounced the
policy OF the Count de Vergennes, and declar.
ID tnal the unqualified Independence Of his
country must be a sine qua non in any treaty
which bore his name. Mr. Admins soon ioin-
ed the negotiation. and took the side of ind.
pendence. Franklin, who was al heart n true
patriot. Suffered the film to be drawn from his
eyes, aud perfect uuion soon presided in tier
councils. Bni England had not beea unap-
priced Of the disposition OF America 10 re.
COW" a truce Her commissioner, Mr.. Os.
wali, Appeared with Instructions 10 90 no fur
thrr. In this dilemma a step is ascribt1 10
Mir. Jay, thai believe Is rs remarkable Tor it
holdness es for L. GOOD sense. He j. said Ia
have written, W. hi own hand, 10 tie In
l'sh Sc rpfary of : ate, POINTING oni tap bad
consequence 10 England herself il she adher-
e1 20 her present policy BY Keeping the
truce suspended over AmeTiCa. she forced
that cuuntry 10 lean on france Tor support :;
whereas, by admitting her, At once, iu,n he
rank Of nations, England would obtain u 9al
liable CT Hiotner, aud might also secure a naip.
rai friend. thus instructed Ia "a better pnll
cy, the English minister saw hls error. and
. che same courier who conveyed the letter a.
Mr.. Jay, returned instructions 20 Mr. Oswald
10 hCkuowleAge the lndcp' nderce OF the I'M
led states. Finding themselves pmt9arre4s, d
/ by The esasi0ns of Count dc tergenats, he-
i,eving thev were betrayed. in the spirii OF
their alliance nj least, and knowing thai
! France could mol find the smait-.t difficulty IN
sethiug her OWE adairs without their aaanc,,
the Amer,can eomGiisSI 'Hors proceeded -
{ sign a trehiy of peace, ~ the very teeth Of
heir iustrnciio IS, without the knowledge ~
the French minister. When the utter found
: tnat his policy Ind not 81" ceedcd, he nrntp d
harp note ot remo0slrance, which DR.. Prank
i'm laid before his brother commissioner. II
was much easier 10 perform d great act, Tx.
the one IN which thev had been rugngea, tHa4
IN word a proper reply To this communication
! There WAS hut one gtouud on which their appa-
rcut want Of iaith could NJ justified, aud 10 give
that 20 the Count de peTgrHnes, might pfoba-
biz he mach mere true than polite. After i
good deal Of hesitation, they discovered tina
the letter bule The simple superscripiion Of Dr.
Franklin. ani Tue colleagues OF the latter impo-
scd on him the day Of answering a note.
which they eravely insisted was not officially ad
dressed - he commissioners How well the
philosopher acquitted himself OF tins delicate ct
G,ir, nv information does not say but t1aneh a
vote of censure on thu comm ssionofs wHs propo-
NJ a., ..aA. Rh.,r .L,I,s,, .t4E ...f4YI4 nm
der the circumstances, 50 very justIiable that II
was never passed.
The reader, If one such there be, unacquaintcd
with the history Of the stormy period which al
most immediately succeeded the adoption OF
bly, advocated by Mr. Jay, in conjunction with
MIR. Madison and Nj. Hamilton, IN the papers