. ' -.1
J5VI
i ,4 1 f( '!:!
y ; jw-a sat -
Vor.
i ' -,k .fit v; , e f
: ' fl-rv . j - 7 -, ;1 f; . :1 :". r i : Xf.JM V I ; V-iAfA I V.;a Mil-, Iz h v; M I "VN: " . r v l-kv.
, v:'J Ilk ;
- - .... MV?r:i' a ? i f; it i
. .-v.. ' ' - 1 - ' 1 1. . 1 1 . 11 ir -1 I - j -1 r 1 - 1 1 ' " 1 " "" ' ' ' j
Tow?1!.?
&ECISTZJ?
v - - ,
?Arf-ihr Efi-bi nd which
wU.iVr anU a wm ton trul of
,:e or m t.c K- ."'' f
SU he conccid-.l VremiirO M-
the cood of my'comtry rcqnl;cj t,
I wiUd to enquire minutely into
fu!r.., which htc prclluctd the
umbareo. In the tour-tr of my en
ThaTCiHCOvcrfd th.t had no
et i rtoea for the ,c six months
U prtcirly the ame dilation in
U.ch rre i ov find ourselves ; but, u
dJiuon to this, our mercanulc hrc
rcn touid hatt been Impovcmh.
cA by spoliati Whi'h ihcy ccuh:
reflate, tnd the vetriKfity of
.,.rrt,,n rvoLtrairvdty maniimeai;-
I rressionsx,hkh we cruld not hav,
nrreUcd I have fund mat the Oi
tish orders of cunnl. wciner
the Frerch decree har cr.m;4ceh
intcrd.cttd the h' ' . mmcrcc oi
IheUn UdSiaics I vtr.und,thai
the Fanch da r-c i d m the latter
rnd of Novcmb- r, 1806, was never
carritd in:o txttui.ow jpmsi Ame
rican vts-cls unil O-i br. IS07
Mhcn a sM.Klcraseoc. uritd. vhirh
could rot hk b en at., at H.,
Court if Lt ndua when 'he Lnul
crdem r: issuVU, under prvt m e ul
ifUSitloTion Fiance for her dixrei ;;
ohhtuph in Tatt ihty do o inui -rjlty
afTect Fiance, nhiist they ope
rate a loul dtvuciim of i eutrai
coraracice. I hie Vered har
the conduct cf Grc-t-Biitain has m
r.tfcsud a syvcmatfc determination
to icidcr this cowury sub.cnicnt 'o
her inttrcst. Why, sis -he lias
taxed us now in a rrianner to which
vc would not submit when wr vrcrt
her colonics, dependent upon and
ruled by . bcrV" By her orders of coun
cil, she prevents us fifing hut where
she pleases, and imposes tax o
ell American pPHlnce icxporicd
from England ; tMis in fact saying,
jou shall tnd. no whtrc excrptyou
piy us taxes on ih- aninint tT your
tiportation y041 snJl r.ot ti aye ex
cept your trade coj'tril-uics to sup
port the glory of hi Htitai.nic Ma
jesiy. Wuuui An eiicatii suhnut to
this? Could I bisodesiiti.te of com
mon aitachmciu to my run'.iy, and
Ibe bles.i w arh vu.navc enjoy
ed, as to bepikk at n.casurws wbicn
htr indepeidencc,,whiih h r n
exlsteneasaconmcrcijlr,3 ?o .h e
denundid iftt I am full X tdi
ubject; I could wme volant s n ij;
but there hav bv the kindness i t
friend- a paper rait ly Ttdkn li-.io ny
hands; in which thtr si.bjttt
plained in luminHiVa niunne-
that it would be worse than unc
rrncr in rhc to ltumpt to illus-ra:.
li, 1 request you -win iriu .uair,
s amongstilie mas of intercsiig 1111-
Itr xrh cb at Ibis time vrcekJy croucs
yv ur ccJiirnnlJ for the inclosV d. I
f 1 T U rvf I'lKli.
a ctrcrjar icucr.ruii.u kjvv.'
and worthy ReprescriuViTC r.om h
btate of Virginia to his const intent?.
end wiil nrove to all considerate men
that our nresent s'jJrnati'jn ot Dus-
Tiess b not.iroputable to the nnargc
tlcne,1 but: to the flagrant injustice
. Co give itr.o"harheV.eprthei) of ft'-
reti;n nations; It is unanswerable;
tnd has afforded conviction , to ;rny
mbd of the w isdom of the. measures
cf our gbrernmenU - It will be fount;
to contain-fact not; rhisrepraschta-,
tioa j'armenttnot.as'serUc'bi?;;,
'A Cititrn cf .Ors.Tttc County.,
AT the close of 1 ne list .session ol
Congress 1 gave, you 'a, view bt,ou
'.uation, in tbe highest degree C at
'fring. trv cTcry Arocrtcatn ( flffs
wsciiy true, -.and it I am, compelled
III VVII V " "
could neither be foreseen orbrevent-
td.to'the injustice of foreign go
vernments, und not to the indifcte
tjon "of- bur? own. When satisfied
ot .ibis Let you will naturally dirtct
your indignation agin.t the distur
bes of f ur repine, :rid exert all
tyour energies to support he cause
of your country. It has been the
favorite object of the p.tnt admin
;strationt and tbc unquivo al vih
of h'e people of thfi Uoited States
to prrsc-rve a ntit;al chaiarttr, a. d
iM:dpar:ilrjutl.in in ihc prese:'.
Lu nip w'an ,war Cotihltrauons not
Ic s ielhn hum ne hjiVe dictti
ths poliry ; considerations dear to
rvtry man who prefers tranquility
to cpnhis-oii ; prosperity to national
iutni:.. In no instance have we de
parted! from 1 he most punctilious
impartiality towards all nations; k if
We, have been compelled at any time
:to adopt pre. cautionary mcasures,they
nave ocen inuispuiaoiy p-acinc, in-
tendedto prevt nt injuriesunprovoked,
often repeated, and never .redressed.
.It is to be regretted this deportment
has has not been reciprocated ; but
on the contrary, has excited feelings,
mspirrd pretensions, and produced
designs hostile to the peace, if not
the liber y of America. I however
tiut, we have still wisdom to prr
ceivt, and Btmness to pursue a course
which will ultimately extricate us
fr mi the fate of those nations who
hsve f tiici victims to the seductive
hdlueiicecT foreign intrigues, or their
iwn inoroin.tc ambuion.
The comn;ertVbf the U. States
has beeii occasionally harrasstd from
1 793, by citations and rcsirxtions,
inconvenient, but not cb-solutely rui
nous to it, Thoe restrictions have
upon proper repredchtationbeen aban
lnto ; their recent renewal by the
JHtish and Trench governments to
ruinous extent, little short of actual
war, and other aggressions equally
itsuppoitabie., have reduced the U.
St .Us to too alternative of s&ct .nVmg
cmporanly their external trade, or
.i.gagin in hostilities fur its protec
'i 11. The cor.duct of Great-Britain 1
has at all times furnished materials
I r comphiM, since the peace of
1783 ; but particularly during the
war which originated with the French
Revolution; the various Orders of
councilj violating the laws of nations;
the practice of impressing American
citiz- ns )ii board British ships, und
'he insolent conduct of her nval of
ficers in our harbors and near our
coasts, have justly irritated the pvo
p?c of this country Un one occa
sion, the peace of the two countries
has biren piolongetl only by the moi
deration of our government. It mu t
s ill be fresh in your recollection what
occurred i.i"94, how mu.-h the'eom
mrce of the United Stale suff red
Ir m British cruir.:rs, and the trra y
to which we submitted, conceding
every thing on our part. Tins instru
tiient, though faitluully executed by
113, has r.ot satisfied Cnghmd ; she
us continued to indulge herself in
new innovations upon our rights, ti
hich she adheres, with obstinacy.
.Wiare of the consequences which
ould result from tlvse practices,
he present administration tndcavcr-e-J
to form a tteaty, which would ad
ius the existing differences, and de
fine the respective nhu i f the tvto.
nations. This effort, conducted with
real and ability by the American rhi
nistets at London, has tailed. .
The President on the 2 3d of 1S arch
'aid before Congress the project of a
treaty signed on the 3 1st of Decern-1
cr, 106, by the, American minis
ters, vntch was sent back with in-,
tructions, to renevrdie negociatioh,
and. obtain the insertion of somepro
isiun against the impressment of A-
merican seaineu, anu me ntotnnca-t
tjen of certain articles reiativc to thc i
East and West-Indies, and colonial
trade, and principles of blockade. I
r an n ot pronounces wit IT cert ai n tf u p r
I'll tne.roents ot tne;wnoie treaty,
be docti men ire" votuminQUs and
liavc not yet ajtbeenpHnjfed. -There'
3 re Ko w e vie r , . r t 'a i n ' , . cb i j ei ti b n s J
which if not utterly, insurmountable,
xne reiusi 10 ratuy ti,. unless
hangcd.-The first . oriseii'fi ohi a
ceciarquon 01 ,ine'urmsncomrnu-
sipners prcnous 10 ygiung uie ireaty
that the British government 'reserved
to ks el t'the . righ t j nf , cou bur v afii ng
the rneasnfes of'Ffahce'ttgainst rttij-
i United States to resist the trench ciai mgcnuiiy comu uuv w w v ufc.,Tw T V-IW Via fti
decreeof iSOSV Thisas certainly, more effectqallan.tojdetrprpiar are;gen?ral,. i as bel itjrfije ft;
':ju.uL " .rTnStc;,U tradeand better the crowth of our nited States ere,exceptea ton t.-
C'juldneyer consent to a treatyj by
which they, will absolutely fbe bonne!;
and the .ot her contracting', pany w
lihertv to violate it, VvhcneVer hls
convenience required it ;.of Which he
a!one indged. ...
Tbejreaty contained no provision
forAmcricin seamen. It is well
known ' how long the English have
claimed the right of t Vin their.pwn
I iustlv under that pietcxt they have
imriessed citizens of the U. States
on board their ships of war, detain
ed (hem in ngorous confinement du
ring the continuance of the war, and
compelled them to hazard their lives,
not in defence of their Country,, but
against those in amity with us. This
practice has always formed a sub
ject of serious complaint, and perhaps
none has produced stronger feelings
among the .American people. The
silence of the treaty,' with regard to
seamen, inasmuch as their protection
and security formed the principle in
ducement and object of negociation,
tendered it highly unacceptable to
the government. It was attemp'ed
ti sipply the defect by an informal
note, which pledged the British go
vernment to issue the most rigorous
injunctions to the naval commanders
to discriminate carefully,,and in no
rtmtaiice molest citizens of the U.
States. Such an arrangement could
only be considered an indication of
the dispositions of the existing mi
nistry, and not a compact by which
the nation was bound ; a'security in
sufficient, because it was temporary
. nd dependent on the continuance in
t ffice of men who felt friendly dispo
sitions. This construction wa.s evi
dently ri ven it by the British cabinet.
i Frm Mr. Canning's answer to Mr.
j Monroe,when reminded byhirh ofthis
j stipulation in fivor of seamen, he di
j nared he could only look into the bn
t dy of the treaty for its contents, and
not to an incidental paper. The
other objections relate to the Easi
and West -India, and colonial trade.
The first is placed upon a footing
less favorable than in the treaty of
1794 ; the Second left as at present ;
and the third less favorable than it
is established by the British orders
of council, and the deeisidns of their
admiralty courts;
The subsequent conduct of Great
Britain has lessened our regret very
much for the failure of the negocia
tion, and diminished its importance ;
she haa advanced principles against
tvhich the treaty in a much more
felled form would not present a
bat rier ; and indeed seems to demon
strate the inefficiency of any trejty to
secure our richts. ' On the 7th of
January, 1807, only seven days after
the treaty had been concluded, an
order of council was issued, prohibi
ting Americans from tradingbetween
the different ports belongingto France
tind her. allies, and compelling them
to sell their cargoes at the first port
they tmered, whether in demand or
not ; plainly in violation of the 1 1th
article, which expressly gives the
rij'ht of " carrying freely to every
part of Europe not blockaded," even
clDnial produce from the U. S'ates
I fchall not owell on the injury done
to our commerce by this regulation ;
but mention it to shew the little res
pect paid to the most solemn Com
pact by that government, when in
conflict 4with her power or interests.
The orders' of council of the 11th of
of November lat, issued to cdunter
vail the French decree of 22d.Novi
1 80, (extended ih.its construction to
American vessels in . August last)
have given the finishing blow, to the
commerce of this country. -They
prohibit us from trading to any place
'.hut nngiana,anu ner acpeiiuencies,
j mid im pose tax : upon - all articles
shipped from thence elseWhere.--
The actual amount of the tax nxed
by Pai Iiatnent is not yet .known,; but
it-is said to exceed, one. third of the,
valueof some of our most important
ardcles,'-r in : whith.a're i inclucled' cot
ton and tobacco. 0pon"the injustice
'of this order, ; ins impossible tg com
pi c ii t in terms too, h arsfi . t w a xlif
te6i attack tfpotf the sovereigntyand
Independence of. the'Unrted States
country iOne of two things neVita-i
bly results the whole. commrceof
the United: Statcsis; limitecV,to G
Britain, or that part of tl struggling
10 rina marKets eisewnese,is exposea
to certain Toin'frbm the enredaUori
Of British cruizers. ' shipments
,are resiriciea to iingianq in ceniqrj
nmy io inc oraers 01 council, 4 iney
csn never reach ie'eohtihem of Eu
rope, bin will belfconhjiclabsoluiely
10 mac marcei, Decause imponaiions
iiilu.liic twii ir, riiat rpuris arc, rigo
rously Interdicted through"- that chan-
ntl, and because the.dutiesmposejd
on exportations are so exobit?intas
.to check. theirs consumption, ifrsufl
iciemo.oe,imporcea. ir is neeuiess
lu rruapiiuiaieine. . rcguiauons in
forced in' the' port$ of France ;and
her allies; to preverit the entrance of
produce which has touched at Eng
land ; regulations too guarded toJ (5
; vade, and oo penal to encounter.-
From whence does England derive
ne ngni 10 iorpia our trade except
vith ; herself ? i'Can it. be believed
the people will submit to a demand
which will virttialiy re-establish co-
lonial dependence and burthen their
produce with her system of taxation?
The object "is evidently to tax this
country to support the war in which
'she is engagedahid not io prevent
the supply of hir. enemies : Moce
permission to carry them American
and foreign produce, is granted3iitfr
a tax has beeni paid in Englahd.i
The avowed motive is therefore a
mere pretext, equally shallow and
unjust ; intended more to injure our
commerce than to distress -France;
I cannot fof a moment believe the
people of this coimtiy will surrender
their independence and submit to
.the degradation of colonies, with
out -a. struggle;.., ; The immunities
01 coiuiiie a.re nci cztenatu to us
under the orders of council, whose 1
.prosperity is in some degree gua
ranteed by the supposed interest of
the parent country in their growth
and importance. If to us that fee
ble tie is denied, we may expect thV
commercial restrictions of England
will be dictated by jealousy, not affec
tion, rivalship and not coincidencfc of
interest. Our trade is plaeed .upon
a basis less favorable than previous
to the revolution:; besides the op
pressive tax the English wish to le
vy, they prohibit the trade in articles
thtn free, and close channels pf com
merce then open. .Thus we'fiad our
commerce' exposed to all theirestric
tions of actual colonies and the dan
gers of war, without a formal decla
ration of it. To these injuries I must
add another, though of a different
character, not less offent4ve atid into
leraDie. inc attacK. on me irigate
Chesapeake in June last, i It is neet
less to call yqur attention to the pair?
ticulars of that transaction, they have !
not yet been torgotten, and are fresh
in your memory. Reparation has ncit
been madcj ; on the contrary w nate
been considered theagressors ; Scthe
mockery of making reparationto-the
honor and jfeelings of the A merican
nation, has closed, with a demand
jwhich a just gbvtrntni?nt would ne-'
iver propose and a Ireie onewifl ne
ver condescend id .gfanU. '-' ;;
The decrees of the, French gow
vernmentshaVe exposed the com
merce of the United States to the
most unjustifiable se)zUr.9nl1ra
ry to the stipulations i of r thecohveh
tionofl80p. The decree of e22d
November, 1S06, and tAiatUssjied
.Milan 17th of DccembeisU8tf7; sitb.1
ject to captufe and condenination all'
vessels bound to or tettirhmgroffi
a British portj ;v hatever may the
carp. ' It is impossible to conceive
measures I more. ristilemoIsUb
.versive;of justice? and goojd faithXbuV
as there s no man whovwill ju
there can be no 1 hecesshy.t'p eiamthe;
more-minutely; the avowal ..of a prtn
ciplejjsbincehsistient v
re : pugnantccV ' tn'e law ; of uaticrfisVi arjf
destructirer to tlieiinterestl f ti the
United 'StaUTiDde
oicmn, QmiguQnsiro
traUi respect
n ght s of this countryy- France pugh
to ozf more botinu than anyrother na
uon oecause sue. proiesses ro cpn-?
opeiaijioii ot toeucn uhvmv t
oertirrM'inTAuMiStlast; in Which i(r
waft Enforced-a fatrist !an''A mericanV
VesselstranHe'd on the 'castoranc
gqTCint:iivt iu5um
?es1Tstf:it-jjrBpa
theAmincan ? stcNS?f
plieotieBNftenotTO
wasifoimhe :
wouldv he' ' the basby: igthi : y
courts of admirayvl
ed inrxehf deci;sl64 .
sets 1 nts exDianatiw quierouiji
e h tnsi flffiftana At ne nracuce o&m &
htifihcase boerMtf ontcloccur
Terruntf-recpn?ile itoiherepect
lntellifrehcei
fbuudedr ahUcipationil)f thePrltCsifcyJ
orders of coundKf th
yemberifftlia
laid uon altAmeiieasse
proddcei J fljr
t he decrees and orti e rs !6 1 Fr ahie iai ct W
EnglanS'eve-m
wrgoyIdi lie lia
conjiscibrt:;
ot)ie;mlr.Vc
Enndand herde
Frencfiships of warV; and those hounds
tiqiithe -silence o; longvOservetf; reX0
laiiyexq irexpajtnjienc.n
nistec pfai?h?anctitlJuD:
disavowals Ii;wai tipoaMh f ecepl
tion of this iniettilrence
to;jriifrpiich
is.l3tc)fuciMj
It'.WOoJfc
captneSiy laiieof he)r;i.rier.:,;
whose iexertions " would jpeYsiimafMif
edl bithebi)es2f plupden thflJ -afjunoance
TOhe IpoiUNot vidthstar8fe :
lnglfeti'elfrje' j
sure A by vhj:lo;iiiany;. 1 j
pcni':,he.lcapurcsH.fe
iperpus, fss'Srain
bVuimerchants
ves3shaU benjjrmid
.wthpres)ri '
beeh;infihitely 'gTeerl-lTfi e tri juri eji
received : from theepiatjis havj
furnlshe'ci;amj)te;;ci
people ies ;4eptetcfjpfeaf
it was Hoped -fejng-'u
ble explahatibhs.wpuld'
r h atelth erb.6boi ,pr: ;eri
of Justice .ilni'e'sC f jyoiilcllc'a'g
tbevsysifem: adopted 'towards (idi0P
f rom the: present pressure; -?; TThe
i4iesr accounts irom, ;jrurop& iii.oic.ai
If Fraced aSnMand
1 1' I'iJiii-t'ittllli'. :
j?ave 110 aiteniauveicji. out eo. wirn
isubmit uncpnlitioAaiitone -t
ppppsers, or ma&e vrari, yin vinaica ;
tion of bu honor -Lncl1K'nj-jffiicsX
terrut&ion'fM
au uui'j ijrpuucc, auu tuu em proy
;rainiriirp .
ton oi cx$ernanlrMd&
the mosterioy&vpetfeatlp
classes :$peTOlein!he Co
as iir.ellur:tjbefaera
whphaycbeeSe"
Th-sicrK .
are howeyerinpre apparent fluiti real
they are prueM -of
u Jance and
te;htjirig
suited tojthieroductjbrii
cuunuy, ana cojinnme tnent to tnosoi
tfadebfmefica'Tsire
abljrVto tiie;British;Qetnbfco
artiiamil ouraHicfe
Itrid fbteipT fio wt
Co
qlStitywouldsoJeice the die
;diL-aJiteJ
;0nite?Saf.
rlliontof ybUafsrwn
one rnipions erseflt tp Greatj3rif
mtteS3CiritJbe
manc ceclu?etheir
ptrahlcfiCwduIdlme
uiaiuiiikc-ocfcutTscvciiyniimans rr
1
m
m
it.
11 11
I I