Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-16

lpmb
= its receipt. -,
nm TOO we'll aware OF what is due from me to The
Government to renew, unnecessarily 10 prolons .he
dscu sson of the subject contained in my letter oil oc
tobpr g. In submitting to you the views entertained
| | fulfilled duty which, in my opinion circumstances
imposed upon me. But should consider mySeit oo'
noxous to the of improper interference, WIN
which you have not sparngly reProachcd me- out ''o'
which, trust, shall satisfy you am iree u'u seen
to ma Ike nv correspondence with HE department. tue
vehicle for cb,rrdnp nv sentiments upon The Govern.
nent Still, | am anxious net TO be msuhue'Stoou'
and especially, nee you give me 10 unders'"hu
! that the communications winch gave passed between
US upon this subject TO be published, and mus suo
united to the great tribunal ol pub!ic opnion "hcn
will he called upon decide respecting the course
have deemed il necessary to adopt, as well as Inc man
ner in which have fulfilled the task ana Us you
have, in several instances, Inexperienced my ve"s
and adapted your reasoning to your constructions,
rather than to my sentiments and as have iui conn
dencc in your desire do justice, must beg leave
briefly to ay before YOU such considerations connected
with my letter and your comments upon H. as are es
sen,ia to a correct judgment between u.s.
And first with respect TO the procedure on my part
! You object 10 my whole course OF action IN this
matter because 1t appears 10 you to be "'nended as
sort Of protest remonsance against transaction OF
The Government, nc.
have been very unhappy in the mode in which
have expressed myself, if am justly liable to this
charge. My letter is not a protest. or remonstrance
1t is a simple answer to despatch which had the
honor to receive from you. In your letter oil August
! 90, YOU communicated 10 the views OF the Pres
dent in relation to treaty then recently concluded
with England; and you also authorized me TO make
known these views TO the French Government. This
did both in conversation and in writing. Here was
despatch requiring my action and which received II
IN good fgilh. Bat did not coincide with you III Cpl
mon respecting important bearing in this treaty
thought it left in worse position than II found
us; aud thinking. deemed my right and ieit ii
my duty, 10 lay before you the impression which The
| Whole mater lett upon my mind ! did so, and the
resuI, is before you Under these circumstances. was
guilty of indscreton or of an impairment interier
ence still offensive, which, seems 10 me, from
the tone Of your letter, is the construction you pull
upon my action:
! This question will perhaps BE- best answered by
Their. Is il the duty of diplomatic agent to receive
! all the communications OF his Government, and 10
carry into effect their instructions, sab s,tentto, what
ever may be his sentiments in relation to them :
Or, is he not bound, faithful representative 10
communicate freely, but respectfully, his own views,
that these may he considered and receive Their due
weight in that particular casc III other circumstances
involving similar cons deratons ii seems to me That
le bare enuncaton Of the principle IS all that IS ne
crssary for ny Justification. speaking of the
proprety Of my action, not OF the manner IN which 1t
performed ! may have executed the task vel! or
| i'll | may have introduced topics unadvscdly, and
urged them indiscreelly. all this leave without re-
mark. am only endeayorng here 10 free myself from
the serious charge which you bring against me. If /
have inexperienced the duties oG American diplo
matc agent upon this subject, am veil satisfied 10
have withdrawn, by timely resignation, from posi-
ton in which my sclf.rcspect would not permit
10 remain. And may express the conviction that
there is Government, certainly none this side of
Cons,an,inople, which would not encourage, rather
than rebuke the free expression of the views of their
representatives ~ foreign countries But, lndepcnd-
emily of THIS general objection 10 all action iny part
yon present ne with another perhaps still more iomi
tabi bu, which applicable only 10 the circumstances
Of the case. Without repeating IN full The view you
urge npom this part Of Tie subject shall condense the
objection the proposition that the expression of my
sentiments 10 the Government, upon this occasion might
induce England hereafter "to rely upon my authority
for construction favorable 10 her preensions,
and inconsistent with the interest and honor OF the u.
States"
In the first place, would remark, that have writ.
ten for my Government, and not for that of Eng
land The publication Of my letter, which is 10 pro-
duce this result be The act of the Government, and
not my act But if the President should think, tina, the
slightest injury 10 the public interest would ensue from
the disclosure of my views The letter may be buried IN
the archives of the department. ard thus forgotten and
rendered harmless.
But even were immediate publicity to be given TO
1t, know nv ins'-nicance too we'll to believe 1t
would produce the slightest influence upon the prcten-
sons or the course of England The English public,
and especially the English statesmen are too sagacious
need the suggestions of any foreigner and per.
nacious in the assertion Of their claims 10 seek his
authority for their support. When England, in her
been the steady object of her ambition for centuries
and will continue TO be So abandons single preienson
after she has advanced il, then there may be
TO believe she has adopted system Of moderation
which may be strengthened or weakened as the opinion
of others is favorable unlavornbe 10 her There
evidence that that time near But were il other
docs follow, that IN all discussions between nations
is the duty oil every TO believe his Government
has STAINED every object which the interest honor
OF the country requires, or not believing H. 20 remain
silent, and refrain from all .cptese nations either TO
The Government ITSELF or to the public, with a 10
the ultimate correction cf the error and TO the relief oil
his country from false positions; must confess do
not carry my patriotic devoons thus far. agree that
when nations have appealed from argument to force
and when war is raging, it is the duty OF every c
zen 10 put all other considerations behind him. and ,
avoiding proftess and party discussions upon the past
to join with head, heart, and hand, 10 repe the COM
mon foe. Al such time, would not speak words of
censurc even 10 my countrymen, lest should be over
heard By the enemy. And that this is not with me
barren doctrine, trust have given sufficient evidence
in perlous times Bat was prepared for that ex-
cess of patriotic zeal (pardon the expression for
such appears to me) which would carry this reserve
into all the actions the Government we'll in
a. in war. believe that III our recent treaty with
England sufficient precaution not taken 10 guard
against her claim to search ships. This belief
entertain in common with many other citizens in of
flee and out of office; and |, as we'll as they have ex
pressed it, 1t has been declared in the Senate in the
public journals in every district of country And
cannot feel That this avowhl OF our sentiments. in
whatever form it is made, whether official or unofficial
Justly subjects US 10 the charge OF taking which
may hereafter enabe other Governments up ne
prciensons.
Permit me now TO advert to the serious charge Won
have made against me, of veniuring upon statement
chich is tissue 81 mistakes THIS you quote
and It is that par! Of my letter in hch after showing
that 10 certain point vi time, national honor had
been preserved nvolae proceed to show that the sub
sequent oievent had mol 5een equally fortunate
remark, that England urged the T. s. 10 enter
into conventional arrangement by which the joint &C
of the two countries III the suppression of the slave
trade might he secured You pronounce This statement
a mistake, and assert that the proposition came from
our Government.
That the particular mode in which the Governments
seould act in concert, finally arranged in the treaty
was suggested By yourself, never doubted. And, If
this is the construction am 10 give to your denial of
my correctness, there no difficulty upon the subject