7
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iLXiJji - w lLiivjLip vjrvyjj VJ-ciZi-E; -lUEv
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if.
f fr
Cfmr rublie Diplomatic DisttticJUi.-
" f t ifk iii. ... i
t DunU M pronowuea fsuugon ui vijc pre
'iLjiag conduct of Gret-Br;it't ;;;;
4C iUlism'i Utter tt f ffci ftintmL ;j
1 Th sentiment end ConceMwiv contained
U tS ff tvln? VWt (ullt 1 jRitao,
ta otH (w, ecU ba general ludtnation
llaaiph, irffl fff . CWf
: ashamed to arow theif errora, ther -eveo at
ther present moment choose to consider th.',
Iraaccbai -changod her-fiewimher thia
U intentionally deceived, -f t Great-
Bfitain,-lap Jmak imlUlinj ,,r Jeustablc
perfidjr xf France frankly tnu...lcsl our go
ifemmetU the pjaeedintr jrcar, that un!pa re
cistsdalw Ihoiildbc obliged to retaliate upon
France thoa decrees, which through Ben
trals, -were aimed at her existence She floV
only did thisj but after waiting ;in taita -ta
int. mutn vioremcnt- on our part, when
(ending, bf their terjr conccjBssiona,, the poli
X ther. condemn.; Tor it aucb be the pow
r of GrtmtrBritain to enforce her ordersj
to toerce her enerar to execute' her hlociade
the . perfect justificatiqu; of them may , be
grouadad on that power. , For oe -what, mar
it be askdv ret the acknowledged doctrine,
lcl blockade, but on the power to coerce
and.diatreia an enemy I Thia powe,r i de
cjared in contention of the famousHrmed.
neutrality formed to establish and impose
by force, a new liberal; maritime code t to be
lawfully exercised when ever a ihip cannot etw
mt mpl' time and notice l
r
el4iitWor:tnw eon
Ceisbn will be $q .bar forever tt our claims
tr rpdi?w fel cepture m iojurieitam.
cd under the Berlin and Milau decrees, and
to furnish, tfw Frew-h with pnt onljf pretexte,
ut jatiftcationa for, any future yiouttqos or
Cue right. It not, howetcr. my present
virpoaetq dipUy the rathnesa and impolicy,
if not iBKACUEat of' thia conduct s it U
aufaclit -t aft that In any other gowsru-1
ttent, it W0U14 cost the omier bit character
IMd employ meat if uqt hit i'Pfvj - -:':
' It e at present propped to prore, that
this argument aid concession; to France is
Nhotiy alouole4kJ.fendtlut France her.
Self has never eet up ay aufch pretenaiona,
except through the medium of her American
ierwftt'iT-Tvyf;
Before we examine the truth of thia pro.
wtfsttionU may he ueful ta confer the
fcrce of tho term used by Mr. NUdison. ,.
. The fi,dent object of our Secretary, a
well in this letter aa irt the late report or the
ommiUeet probably, furnished, by him, is
. to pace the injuries of France and Great
Britain, on au tqual, footing ;7 or," eten fur.
ther, to a give a darker shade, to those of the
.latter He had just been ipeaking of the
rmtlplc of f etaliauon urged by Q reatrUritain
m justification of her order of fyv. 11, lSOf,
tad then adds, that the French decree
tt tght en the mm ground be pronounced a
retaliation, oa the ; preceding conduct of G.
Britain.' That iato eay. that the French
decrees might with iquot Juitiet not aimply
" retei)dti te, be biprawuiued, a Retaliation
CO the3ritUb conduct.' In atill simpler Ian-
fuagei France can as jusily defend her Ber.
fo decree ori the ground of reUUattoa i as Gw
-, litaiacat iu-7 ;"!r,r?,s?;l .WJH
tame ground. ' ' ""I-""' ' ' ' v
A U lwiy beat to airapllfy propoil-
Iton aa fee a possible, before we proceed
' to proe the total falsity of this position we
ahall remark,' that eren If it had been true
-' that the two decreet stand in thia respect in
. ari MUt (m equal fault) atill the cireum-
mttnees under-which they were respectively
K issued, ought to have excuea icn noti m
T Irtdignation against rrance as agams. un:i.
.Briuirf, intead of drawing forth laboured
AtnAio in favAfnf the former.
' ' m- m imwr i.-w n rrinkB we aastv w ------
ClAU-TRe.TV, purchased at an Immense
r ,prite, ttacrifictaf the claima of crtj
a W the amount of at least TWEN it
,Illi.luN.ot, aouar. sm iir
'r4s$lj Troaatot thia-preciae, form of injury
. - T mm A t. . . miAmimmtmiA : ' I ' K i . Ml.
'the lri instance in which we had erer bad
toy occasioo to teaort to. the ttipulations m
. our favor i ana in twt nrt mtiaac rc
. i J :i.nai annlixv vinlatril 1
entmcicqsiy, i wnu.i
Vor doet France pretend a violatwa on our
part to justify the outrage. . Lef the govern.'
went shew any formal complaint erythe part
f France prior to the Berlin decree J and
without tucta complaint M auch measure
could legally have been retorted to, even, if
' it) other teapectt juttiiiable. 4 . . i J -
; . With GrekfyBritain ere wew not only unit.
. ilki ia treatv. but we had rejected under
the moat extraordinary circumstances, a eon.
tenttoa which had been agreed to by our
' own minlstere, an1 which would have placed
our commerce end prosperity oa the mot
aecure loouog. .wai
' every thing o force that government late a
' dcdacatloa t War, and our existing .awe
t t 1. .I.aj mm a .Bvft
at tke momeai 01 issuing ner vrwer, w.
' kaU oh oureide, that ol an enemy; or one
- 4'icUd the entry of ber public ships, while
jw admitted those' of her enemy i and we
had one et far at H was thouxht our people
"would bear in the system or coercion, oy
Mr tKtaila of her manufacture. So
far then, we had no right to expect friendship
from that Cabinet l end of course, much lest
reason to be Irritated at any measure the
enltht adopt of an unfriendly nature.
SnmJljm Franc only gave ttt no no
tice prior to the operation'of her deciect,
hut by a policy truly Gallican, she allured ut
Into hef txtfU.r pretending that they shoulj
fat operate agsiost oa but when the found
ifc bad a competent quantity of fame with
Ia her reach, ehe aprang the trap, and Kixed
ur onwerr and dtluded fellewliiaena. Thit
aeltere and lot must be attributed to the In
conceivable blindneaa, or wilful aubmission
of our Cabinet to the riewt of France. They
effected to consider, or rtaUy believed thi-
vailed and ayren like declaration or
Trince incerehlSe7 b xVi eonJu?t
the actually iasoed her irdera she gave the; I tf a blockaded port without imminent dan
to all ocutralii c.foi being captured" rAnd our politician
to avoid falling in with, their pcitjtown though mere!
mtL'fl( y .;V..-p:.!, mjL-m'. . II psial'ialnnr. whils lhv trtmw. ihml fx a.
t.M.....?.T1.V t-.-. r. mm.
Tfrrd?j.ATb9 , decreet Aft -Franca' went
without limitation aa to-extent, they. em
braced every dependency end colony of a.
Britain, throughout the worlds i iij
But those of GreaBritaio left open tq ut
the extensive Colonies of her .enemies and;
in thort, .CTery tource of trade which waa
etsenuai to our comiort .ana even , prospe
It bat been represented, for party puraot
et, that all tblt trade ia upon the, cort Juion
"of paying her a' tribute" and eych the late
committee pf Congrcaa hive given a color
to thia assertion. It Whowerer, not true.
The duties demanded by her, and which are
TttLiety called a M tribute" are only demand
ble in case we yoluntarily gtlQ Great-Bcitgtn
and request a clearance for the , continental
ports she blockades, j This is mere ntminal
a mere point of honor between her !c Franco
because if Great-Britain permitted you to
W . 1 t
go,, rrance wouui. noi. tier oecreea conn,
cats your property for the tingle crime of
nayini; occn in m iruisn pun.' a ne case,
therefore can never happen t and she knew
well that it never would happen; i Why
th?n wat it imposed? As a point of honor
between her and her enemy, v Her enemy
aaid, Na neutral thall ever enter the porta
of .England I will capture anf condemn
them. Great-Britain, in reply, tayt, No'rieo
tral who has submitted to this usurpation of
France, thall go thither without firt ehteN
ing my ports; and I will tat the productt
bound to my enemy, which will enhance the
price, if he chooses to admit Jt. And yet,
strange to relate,, thit qualification or mdw
hcHiotja.renreoi-r - -f '
by our Imparual government, at more op
press! ve," more iesult mg than if it had been,
an absolute prohibition I But I repeat itr this
it merely a tuminjt pi-ovWion for It could
operate only in eaae France should repeal ber
decrees, in which case the whole fabrick ia
deUroyed." But it does not apply to the vast
commerce of Spain, Portugal, Sweden,, the
East and Wesvlndies, and all Ihe neutral
porta of the world ' f - -
. Fourth!. France declaret as iitfrmchiiti.
forever,' all American thips, . which at' any
time after the decree thall have visited a Bri
tish port. The effect of thia would be, either
that a distinct aet ol ships must nave been
kept foMho trade of each country, or if G.
Britain had not issued1 her ordert in the
course of four or five years, 'every A,mrican
ship would have been interdicted the trade of
France. .The men who are to alive to the
ucgradatioifof a M tribute," which never hat
been and never can be cs icted, are not qnly
insensible to thit insult and violation of our
treaty, but our 'minister openly, with the
countenance of Mr. Maoisow, justify it, at
a mere municipal resolution! VVhstl Are
we not entitled by treaty to visit freely the
Dortt of the enemies of France!. And arc j
we not cq'iiillv lecured in our iitttt com
merce with France!. And can these Crvc
riehtt be considered secure, while every one
of our .ships sre interdicted en entry nty,
are tsnjinuud, if they dare to enter any
French port or if they shall have visited any
British port In e former voyage? No notice
is however taken of thit outrageous part of
thcdecree, -. ' :. 4 . ! ' t,l.r
But Grvat-Brltain hat made no inch af.
bUrary.disaualificationtt If yoU escape the
.vigilance of herfngatct, anJ cater your own
port, the forfeiture It avoided, and the doet
not aauae an Imperial authority to disfran
chWe, by standing and permanent laws, the
whole of your marine . "
Litttr. Tht 1 French haa1 RO powtrto-en
force their blocks ie t tk-t meattiVe had ao
colourable justification hndcr the law ofna
lions. It had the character of im potency
ttrivins to outstrip malignity. They were
obi 1 ced to retort thertlore to cunning to draw
ut within their tangs, and the enhsppy vie
time, like the visitors of the lion, were teen
to en'er, bnt never to return.
Great-Britain, oa the other band, had the
meant of enforcing' a ttrict and rigoroet
blockade, and the very men who brand thit
blockade at illegal, because nominal, have
the ahamelett Joconsittcnct' of defending
the embargo, on the ground that not one of
our ahlpt would btve escaped capture hy
Great-Britain 1 that if the embargo had'
never been Imposed, to wide and effectual
would be the operation of the British orders,
no portion of cafe commerce would have
been left too a. i ;
Strange and Incontlttent polltltiaatl Dj.
, - - - ' i 1
nonf of, our ebipa could pottibty escape the
vigilance of, the prittehcruteere:" ii, ,
. Thuf, their from thit thort view, which,
might be extended lb a variety of other 'ir
amplct, of the difference in point of seventy
between the French and British orders, it is
apparent, that nothing but the grossest and
most wilful partiality could induce Mr. Ma.
Wsojtj our ' cvbinet, our lorcign ministers,
and the committee of congress to place the
French and British governmentt on a foot
ing ot equality, or as equally meriting our
resentment and hot'ility., ; But we propose
to proyevJiattherd it not the tmallest pretence
for the' allegation that " the French decreet can
with jvstic be prntuneed at retaliations at the
conduct if th British.-
,. '.'''' ' "" ':
A-
Refort f tht ConmMet 9 the tegitlattfrf of
rt i.riS, i.Hii:,;: 11
, . ContlBseiftow lft J ,
; The people of thia state have been most
aeveteJy disappointed in thit expectation
The commerce of the country has .furnished
almost the whole revenue of the U. Stalest
bat given vigor k energy to the government'
hat encouraged universal industry, ' and 're
warded with plenty every description of peo
ple. 1 While ihit commerce wat thus produc
tive to, an unexampled extent, e portion of the
general profit should have, been applied to
propel ationt for ill permanent protection j
end when it was unjustly asserted, the hok;
power of tht nation ahould have been exerted
lor irt defence The people recollected the
I gloriou, example of a former administratis.
4f-Mtraw-aua they nave teen, the prtent ad-
minutration, reserving all thir atrcngtb,
and all their energies, to be employed in the
enothilatioo of that commerce which they
ought to protect. 1 By a timid and unwarran
table compliance with the wishet of a foreign
power, we are suddenly excluded from the
ocean 1 our trade is destroyed our industry
faraliaed and poverty and ruin are rapidly
Ovcraprcadmg our land t contemplating thit
ttatr of things, and recollecting their viewt
and objtctt at the time or adopting the Con
atitmlon. the people do not require any fut
ther argument to convince them, that the
Drinurv obirctt of that compact are now ne-
elected 1 that their most important Interest
are wantonly sacrificed, and their roost essen
tial righta flagrantly violated. '
. Bat the committee forbear to put sue these
reflections. It ia painful to dwell on those
cvdtUnddlktrettet which it it out cf our
power to rtlie ve. The Committee arc not at
present prepared to rvrommend any adequate
and eetitfaetory remedy, which could be ap
plied by the two hoiuet of the Legislature
alone . The mot rfficient, and perhaps the
only certain remedy, resta with the people,
who will toon have it in their power to unite
the whole government ef the state in one joint
efTrt, with other states, whose interests and
objrett are eireUar to our own, li the sup
port end vindication of their jo-t rights, by
con mutational and peaceable meant. ,
The Committee, bowtver, being deeply
Impressed with the importance of ibis subject,
and anxkwiif possible, toafTjrd tome tem
porary alleviation to the public dutrcsset,ask
teave to reserve this object of their commie
tien for further consideralioa. v
Astothc second tabiect of these petitions 1
the danger of an unoeceatary and ruinous
war with one nation, arid a destructive ttliance
wih another the Committe, tilth the most
painful emotions, have received but loo much
around for this apprehension, The puerile
tuggeetioa of maintaining a war et thtVsame
time agaiest the two great belligerent nations,
ia loo ebierd to deserve attention.. II then.
the United Statet are to select their enemy,
and the choice It left the present adminis
tration, the fears ef theae petitioners will
tveniualtt be realised. ' Even if thit measure
It not seriously Intended by our government,
yet the course of policy pursued by them,
must, if persisted In, toon terminate In such
a war. , The Commit tea here would observe,
that aa ti amination of the different measures
of the twe natient referred to, would lead
them to elect the other alteraanvc These
tncaauraa and actt are before the public-
Some of the wntet Important or them haft
been to folly displayed, and thoroughly coo
aidcred,w a late report to one ofihe houtt
of thit LegW'tture, that it would be equally
unnecessary and Improper to exhibit them
mew at fhie time. Whatever imprerioet
may ktTtkeco fill Mte the eood act ei 9
oniauni ctcit niin win now Dcrccirc inas . . ..
wc aggressions 01 rrance naveoeen unnoim -' -
ly nrt in order of time, and most injurious '
11 meir naiure. . ne gross injustice 01 ner v w
riMnw nfNnt.' tftOA ' was .WkuImI Ku tK . .,-
commercial treaty with her: while with .i
onain, in the Hollowing ye&r, when her teta-f ;
luaus ut our own mmiiiera i ana inrriinrA
nau no; right to expect. Irom tbe laUer,nff V .
pcvuitar. respeci ,0 n.eu'iai Claims wnica wst , A
negtecteu jo inUM:am,againt the;encroach 4 :; j
motA of ber enemy, i Eyet v man, who va i v i
lua the waifare of, bit couniry. andtheito"". -
oor bf itt government, roust reerct thai Lh
first outruge .' tat iot; resitted in a mennei
becoming great and powerful nation, fnicht '
a course would in any event have - removed
all occasion or pretence for retaliatory meai
turet on the partiof; theath6r belligereBt'" ,
and would have prevented our being embroil
ed at the tame time witn tue two moat pow
erfulnatipnt.'tf the .wprld. It would alo havo"
produced anothet , most salutary t fleer ; '
would have saved ut from tbedaneer of an '
alliance with France, which experience hat
shown is more to be , deprecated than a we
with anyeiation on the globe. VC?., tt -
The Committee Cannot dismist thia stabler.!
without observing, that from 1 he known spi- .'
rn and, patnoiism ol tir people of tbii state .
they wiJJ "undoubtedly alway be ready with '
theiriivet and fortunes to defend the country '
in any just and necessary war; but they will
require of their rulers to shew them that tho '
war is ajst and necessary, and from.the par '
tial disclosure 'mad by the government'oC
their negotiations with thee two nations, the
public, we apprehend are by no means ati
fied that, e liberal and impartial policy, and
a sincere 01 -position , to conciliate, n s.uf
part, would not at once prevent the ntcesitf
of a war with Great-Britain, and scone to ue -
from that nation the entire respect that ia' duo '
to allour juttrighia. - - : .
At to Uie third subject mentioned in hese '
petitions ; the late aci for cntornng the em ,
bargo the; Commune have examined it
With, great attention. , The finst remark 11 ia ,
calculated to excite' is that a system of po '
licy which requiret such .violent, arbitrary,
and atADfs'-' V-V '""" '7
cxfcutunv chum oe in tne niRoeM aegree re
pughtntto the feelinits and habits of the pt d '
pie, it not hostile to their dearest intcreata
And even if this: policy wat admitted to be
founded on the soundest reason, -and tho -
mot correct motives, yet no man could jut -
my ine numerous violations 01 natural ana
civil liberty, end -of constitutional rijthlt '
which are authorised by thia ecu " ' . . , .
; The people bf thia commonwealth', la et -
tablisbing their con.tltution, havy teen fir 0
declare and set foith certain natural right of
a free citizen, and certain fundamental prin
ciples of a free governmenu It is painful to
observe how msny of these righta and princi
plet are violated or disregarded, by the acl .
under consideration . ' '
It it declared In the I Oth article pf the de .
claration cf these Bights, that Each indivW
dual ol the society has a riiht to be protected
by it in the enjoy mint of hi life, liberty and '
property, according to. atanding laws," ' Py
the second section of this set uf Conors ta, no
vessel can be laden without the special per
mission of the collector, blcbtbat colUcof
it authon ed to grant, or reiuvc,' at his die
ere (ion. Andecn when from bi'. knowli rtgw
ofchkractrra'ndcircumMamc he may ihnlc.
it sale and proper to grnt su h p-tm'i'.h,
he is prohibited fvm d.iig i , . rrtM
dent of the United K'aittlsll base given in 1
t'ructiens to the com rat V ' Pv the tlird sit -
tion of the same aCt. owners f vessel, alita
dy laden, are nnuired to bN bonf't ln'six
times the value of the vctttl vpo'cargo, 01 jo
unlade the vesel t even when the oiit, rt
compliance with thi unjust refutation, h'a
procutefl and ctTcrtd the botd rcQuired. lie
collt cter my rrfu'eto receive it, aMhy'hia
own aronrary manaie,c' mpti ine uni-i.'i g
of the cargo.'. Thus the lwt, .which regu
late the u.e and enjoyment of out prt.peity,
instead af bclt g standing tud ptrmmtnt,
my be at muiabKt ard uncertain as the vhirrt
and feelings of an excrut ve officer can render.
i-ibtm. -What U41owed on one day may -be -
uniawiiw oninc ni, anq wnai i peimi'ea.
to one citiaen,m ay tinder circumatanc. p'e
cisely similar be refined to' another. Mr ne'
and teniptfettons will be present! d to the t QV
cert of (tnnmmtnt tor indulging the a pel
ty of political hatred, and the itncour of jrr.
son si resentmrntti end a petty tyrant may
be raised in tlmoM every town, to whose r
price and tnsUvolenre our moat importtct
rights may be subjected.
By the 1 It h article of oar Declaration bf
Bights, It I declared that every sul j-ct i f
the coatnenwrahh ooeht to find a certain
f remedy, by hiving remorse to the laws, for
all injuriet or wrong wan a he ruay receivo
la his per -on, property or rharacif r." ' But
bv the 10th section of thi lae act. wren try
cffirtrls sued on account of hlaproctedintsa.
'tinder it, instead of retting' on the ltw. ha
nay produce thy restf tCtioflt nd rrculsliiwe
f the president, fey hi jutfifatioa a&d