The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-05-08 00:00:00, page 2

. Randolph) the Sccretury of the Trea_
Miry wus directed so far as it related t othc
application of monies to the public debt, to
state the sums applied to the principal, o
mining the item of interest, which during
Mr. Jefferson’s administration amounted to
near 24,000,000, which does not appear on
any document heretofore furnished Con
gress, and that it would be satisfactoiy to
the nation and to Congress to have posses
•ion of a document which should exhibit the
whole of the receipts and expenditures of
theU. S. since the commencement of the
government to the end of the year 1809, the
several sums respectively paid each year on
account of the public debt, the interest on
the same, and generally every oilier branch
of expenditure ; that from the documents
laid on our tables during this session, the
precise and accurate amount of the receipts
and expenditures and the application of the
actual payments annually made towards the
principal and interest respectively of the
public debt, could not he ascertained, the
several resolutions for information on this
subject being restricted in their terms, so
as not to bring into view the loans from
Holland and the application thereof in Eu
rope and also the item of some interest on
the public debt paid during the administra
tions preceding Mr. Jefferson’s, and the
very large item of interest on the public
debt nearly equal to 24,000,000, as before
ntated, paid during the administration of
Mr. Jefferson ; that in his view it would be
important to have the subject fully reported
to the next session of Congress—then moved
the following resolution:
Resolved, that the Secretary cf the Trea
sury be and he is hereby requested to cause
to be laid before this house at the next ses
sion of Congress a general account of the
annual receipts and expenditures of the
United States from the commencement of
the government to the end of the year 1809,
including the sums obta.ned on loan in Hol
land and which, having been applied in
Europe, do not appear among the receipts
and expenditures, and shewing the several
sums paid in each year on account of the
principal of the public debt, the interest on
the same, and of each other general branch
of expenditure.
• The resolution was adopted without opno
■mon.
A report was received from the J’ostmas
ter General in pursuance of a resolution of
the House calling for an account of the pro
gressive increase of the establishment since
its commencement.
« Mr. Dana expressed his pleasure at the
promptitude with which the call of the
house had been answered ; it was a proof
of the Postmaster_Geneial’s ability to per_
form the duties of his office, and completely
refuted the idea that it would take three
months to furnish these statements, as they
had been prepared in as many days;
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Mr. Pitkin offered the following resolu
tion—
o “ Resolved, That the President of the U.
States be requested to cause to be laid be
fore this house, copies of any communica_
tions made on the part of the United States"
in answer to the official note of the 22d of
August, 1809, from the French minister to
General Armstrong; and of any communi
cations that it.ay have been made to our
minister at London, on the part of the Bri
tish government, in answer to any note pre
nented by him, in pursuance of instructions
given ©n the 23d of November, 1809. Also,
of the answers which may have been given
to any propssi tions or overtures made on the
part of the U. States to the governments of
G. Britain and France, respecting any of
the orders and decrees, affecting neutral
commerce, and which hav«; not heretofore
been coinmunica»ed to Congress, and do not
require secrecy/’
This resolution after a short debate, was
agreed to, Ayes 52, Nays Si.
On motion of Mr. Lewis the unfinished I
business, (tha reduction of th« navy) was or
dered to lie on the table 56 to 21.
On motion of Mr. Quincy the house re,,
sumed the consideration of the bill from the
Senate, providing for the erection of cer„ i
tain light houses, buoys, «cc. which was
ordered to be engrossed for a third read
mg.
, COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE.
'Ihe house lock up the amendments of the
senate to the bill concerning Commercial
Intercourse with Great Britain and France
&c. *
The first amendment is to substitute in
lieu of the section icviving tile two first sec
tions of the men-intercourse act, a section
prohibiting the entrance of British & French
armed vessels into our waters. The amend
ment is only a change of Jwords, being the
*ame provision fully recited as was by the
original bill reinforced.
This amendtneut was agreed to without a
division.
*ne next amendment is a new section
providing details for carrying the section
last mentioned into effect. It interdicts all
jfiatijic intercourse with such armed vessels
etitei ing our waters, &c.
^r* moved to strike out the word
" pacilic.” 1 he motion was lost, Ayes 29.
1 he section was agreed to without amend
ment.
i he next arrendrtient proposed to strike
•aut the third and fourth sections of the bill
au:l insert the following:
“ 1 hat the President of the U. S. be, and
hereby is authorised to employ the public,
Armed vessels, in protecting the commerce
•t*|e , ^t!ltes* And to issue instructions
which shall lie conformable to the laws and
usages of nations, for the government of
the ships which may be employed in that
service.”
Messrs. Macon, Harwell, J. G Jackson,
Hoyd, Taylor, Southard and GJioUon oppo i
sed the amendment.
Ihe amendment was opposed not so much
pn the principle of convoy as on the vague*
,'**l9 0‘ terms in which it was couched
and the alleged impracticability of carrying
«t i.uo effect in any manner ndvantagmuslv
to the interest of the merchants u the U.
Mr. Gholson moved to strike out the whole
ot the Senate’s amendment1, and insert se
ter.il sections including a system of convoy,
lliesaiiieas that several weeks ago reported
by Mr.Kppes. r
The Speaker decided that as a bill, con
laming precisely the same provisions ns the
proposed amendment, was committed to a
committee of the whole House, the amend
meat was not in order according to the prac*
(tice of ihe house.
Mr. Gholton appealed from the decision
nf the Speaker, which wascoBfirmed by the
Jiotjge,
Mr. Jan J.rorn sr’<l this subject appeared
»• b« .tveived ill iu«cn Uihiuuiiy, 8k«i itw»s
i
scarcely probable the two houses would a„»i
groe on any bill. He neither likr-cl the ori- i
ginal stock, nor the amendment which the
Senate had engrafted on it. He therefore
moved to postpone the further consideration
of the bill indefinitely.
Mr. Dana opposed the indefinite postpone
ment on the ground of the possibility of the
two Houses agreeing cn some system for the
protection of commerce.
The following are the Yeas and Nays on
tbi? question of iudcfin’te postponement.
YEAS—Messrs. Blaisdell, Breckenridge,
W. Chamberlain, Ely, Etnott, Heifer, R.
Jackson, Jenkins, Key, Lewis.Lyon, Macon,
M’Bryde, MUnor, Pearson, Pitkin, Quincy,
Randolph,Shefley, S. Smith, Stanford, Stan
ley, S.voope. Uphatn, Van Horn, Van Rchs
selaer, YVheaton, Wilson—2S.
NAYS—Messrs. VV. Alston, Anderson.
Bacon, Bard, Bassett, Bibb, Boyd, J. Brown,
Burweli, Butler, Calhoun, Clay, Cirpton,
Cobb, Cochran, Cook, Cox. Crawford, Cults!
Dana, Dawson, Desha, Findlev, Franklin,
Gannett, Gardner, Garland, Gholson, Good -
wyn, Hufty, J. G. Jackson. Jones, Kennedy,
Lyle, Marion, M’Kira, Miller, Montgomery,
N. f». Moore, 1, Moore, Morrow, Muinford,
Nelson, Newton, Nicholson, J Porter, Rea.
of Pen. Khea of T. en. Richards, Roane, Sage,
Sammons, Seybert, Shaw, Smelt, SmiJie,
G. Smith, J. Smith, Southard, Taylor,
Thompson, Turner, Weakley, YVhitehill
A division was called for on the Senate’s
amendments so as to take the question se
parately on striking out and inserting.
And the question on agreeing with ihe
Senate in striking out the fourth section
(laying an additional duty on all goods,
wares and merchandize 'imported' from
Great Britain and France) was decided as
follows:
J'or agreeing with (he Sctiate in striking
out the section-Messrs. Bacon, Bibb,
Blaisdell, Boyd, Brcckenridge, VV. Cham
berlain, Cochran, Ely, Emott, Garland,
Heisler, Jenkins, Jones, Kennedy, Kcyr,
Lewis, Lyon, Macon, Marion. M’Bryde,
Miinor, T. Moore. Mumford, Pitkin, Ran
dolph, Sammons, Sheffey, S. Smith, Stan,
lord, Swoope,Taylor, Van Horn, Van kens
selaer, Wilson—34.
Against agreeing to strike out—Messr
W. Alston, Anderson, Bard, Bassett, Bui
well, Butler, Calhoun, Clopton, Cobb. Cool
Cox, Crawford, Cults, Desha, Findlet
1- ranklin, Gannett, Gardner, Gholson, Gone
fX!*. HuSy?1 J- g. Jackson, Lyle, M’Ke<
M Kim, Miller, Montgomery, N. R. Moon
Morrow, Nelson, Newton, Nicholson, J.Poi
ter, Rea of Pen. Rhea of Ten. Richard
Roane. Sage, Seybert, Shaw, Smelt, Srnili.
G. Smith, J. Smith, Southard, Tkompsoi
1 urner, Weakley, VVhitelull—49.
Mr. liandolfih then moved that the £
mend me nt of the bill now under considerat
on lie on the table for the purpose of takin
up the bill for reducing the naval establisf
ment of the U. States. Motion lost_Avt
26. 1
mr. i*/ioiton moved to amend the section
proposed as an amendment by striking out
the word*“when he may deem it expedi
ent, and inserting the word “ forthwith ”
Motion lost without a division.
The question on agreeing to the section
proposed by the Senate respecting protecti
on ot commerce was decided as follows
For agreeing—Messrs. Anderson. Breck
enridge, J. Brown, Calhoun. W. Chamber
lin, Clay, Garland, Lyon, M’Kim, Montgo
mery, T. Moore, Mumford, Rhea of Ten. |
Sammons, Seybert, Van Rensselaer, Wilson
—If.
Against agreeing—Messrs. W. Alston,
Bacon Bard, Bassett, Bibb, Blaisdell, Boyd,
Burwell, Butler, Clopton, Cobb. Cochran,
Cook, Cox, Cutts, Davenport, Dawson, E
mott, Findley, Franklin. Gannett. Gardner,
Gholson, Goodwyn, Heister, Hufty, J. G.
Jackson, Jepkins, Jones, Kennedy, Key
he,J-is’ Macon, Marion, M’Brvde!
M Kee, Miller, Milnor, N. R. Moore, Mor
row, Mostly, Nelson, Newton. Nicholson,
Pitkin, J. Porter, Randolph, Rhea ot Pen.
Richards,Roane, Sage, Shaw, Sheffey, Smelt
Smilie, G. Smith, S. Smith, Southard, Stan
ford, Stanley. Swoope, Tallmadge, Taylor
Thompson, Troup, Turner, Van Horn]
Weakley, Wheaton—TO.
So the question was decided in the nega
tive. °
Mr. Gholson then moved to amend the
Senate s amendment by adding thereto se
veral sections respecting the protection of
commerce, 5cc.
Doubts arising whether it was possible tr
amend an amendment already decided oi
by the House, and debate ensuing—
A motion was made to adjourn and carried
at a little betorc 6 o’clock.
Tuesday. Mav 1
AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION.
Mr. Macon said he rose to call the atten
tion'of the House to no less a subject than
the Constitution of the U. S. The wise fra
nicr3 cf the constitution had made it as per
fect as they could, and yet they had been
conscious that experience would discover
defects in it, and had therefore prescribed
a mode for amending it. The constitution
(said Mr. M.) forbids to members of Con
gross the acceptance of any appointment to
any oflice which shrill be created, or the
emoluments of which shall have been in
creased during the time for which they were
elected. My object is that no person, du
ring the Presidential term in which he has
been a member, shall accept an appointment
from the Executive. Mr. M. laid the fol
lowing resolution on the table, not meaning
to.call it up at the present session i
Motived, by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the IJ.States of America,
in Congress assembled, two thirds of both
houses concurring, that the following secti
on be submitted to the Legislatures of the
several states, which when ratified by the
Legislatures of three fourths of the states,
shall be valid and binding as a part of the
constitution of the U.S.
“No Senator or Representative after ha
vir.g taken his seat shall during the time for
which he was elected be eligible to any ci
vil appointment under the authority of the
U. Slates, nor shall any person be eligible
to any such appointment until the expirati
on of the Presidential term, during which
uich person shall have been a Senator or Re
presentative.“
GENERAL WILKINSON.
Phe unfinished business ol yesterday was
sailed fo^,
Mr. H itler wished to make a report,and
was informed by the Speaker that he might
ay it on thef leek’s table, hot as it was past
he hour iis # illy devoted to receiving re.
ports, thnt it could not now be read.
Wv.Lutler and Mr. Iiandulj, k insisted on
he reading of it.
Considerable confusion ensued, when a
notion Kva-j made it lay the unfinished feus
j A second count was called for by Mr.
Randolph, which produced the same re.
1 suit.
j Mr. Randolph called for a third count,
i alledging that one member had been coun
: ted twice, having risen on both sides of the
question.
j The member alluded to (Mr. Whitehill)
said lie rose inadvertently and immediate
ly resumed his seat, and was not counted.
Mr. Randolph said he had no idea that
the gentleman intended to be counted twice,
but he believed he had been.
The Speaker said he had not counted the
gentleman.
The house again divided, when there were
12 affirmatives and 63 negatives.
The amendments having thus been all de
cided on—
On motion of Mr. Gholson, it was resolved
to appoint conferees to meet such as should
! be appointed by the Senate to confer on the
! disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the
bill.
Messrs. Bassett, Smilie and Bacon were
accordingly appointed.
The house adjourned for one hour, a call
of the house having been ordered at six o’
clock.
evening Sitting.
The call having been made, a quorum
appeared—
The bill fixing the compensation of min.
isters and consuls on the coast of Barbary,
&c. was read a third time and passed.
TITLES OF NOBILITY.
Mr. Macon called for the order of the day
on the joint resolution from the Senate re
specting titles of nobility. &c. lie said lie
considered the vote on this question as deci
ding whether or not we were to have mem
bers of the legion of honor in this country.
The Mouse resolved itself into a commit
tee of the whole on the resolution, Mr.
Cutts in the chair It was agreed to and
reported to the House.
No amendment was offered in the House,
and the resolution was ordered to he read a
third time.
The resolution was then read a third time
and passed—Yeas 87, Nays .3.
On motion of Mr. Lewis, the House re
solved itself into a committee of the whole
Mr. CuTTsin the chair, on the bill maltin'1
further appropriations for completing tlj
Capitol, &c. '
Considerable debate took place on the pr'^
posed appropriations, Messrs. Randolph Jl
W. Alston opposing them, and Mess,]
Lewis, Macon, Lyon, Key and Love su f
porting them.
The House refused the appropriation '1f
completing the wall round the President
square, appropriating, however, 5000 dc I.
for the repair of the President’s House,
Mr. Jf'. Alston offered the folowing ;/{
tinti as an amendment to the bill, which 'in
agreed to :
“ And be it further enacted. That it 1
be the duty of the ftuperinteudnnt of thet
ty, prior to any further advances of monv
being made, to call for all claims due i
account of materials furnished or work dtp
in tire public buildings, hi order that:-c
same may be liquidated and paid.’’ ,(i
The committee me and reported thc4<ki
as amended. t
it *
ness (the commercial ini!) and ull other in- I
tervening business on the table for the pur- !
pose of leading the report.
Thi motion produced adrbate cf two or
three hours, involving in stone degree the
question of the powers of the house to mike
such an enquiry as that which had been in„
stituted into the conduct of Gen. Wilkinsgji,
("This debate will be given in course] —
The motion was eventually carried, 43 to 32.
The report was then read through.
[This report, which is unavoidably exclu
ded from this day’s paper, states no facts as
certain and comes to no conclusion oil the ;
many documents accompanying it.]
Mr. Ghcltun observed that the reading «u
the documents accompanying the teport
would take till mid-night at least, and he
hoped there would be no objection to dispense
with tiie reading of them.'
No one objecting, the readingof the docu
ments was dispensed with, and the r.hole
, was ordered to be printed.
The bill, further to amend-, the census act
was read the third time and passed.
commercial intercourse.
The house resumed the consideration of
the bill concerning commercial intercourse
between the U. States and Great Britain &
France.
Mr. Gholaon’s amendment offered before
the house adjourned yesterday was decided
to be out of ol der.
Mr. Randolph moved to postpone the fur
ther consideration of the biil indefinitely with
a view to take up the bill to reduce the naval
establishment.
Mr. nana said he should vote for this
motion now though he had veered against it
yesterday, because he now saw it wns im
possible to agree on any provision for the
protection of commerce.
The question was decided by Y*s» and
Nays, 30 to 56.
A verbal amendment to the bill being un„
der consideration—
Mr. Quincy spoke against it, and dilated
at large on the evils which would result
from such heavy duties as were proposed by
this bill, which would become a law, as far
as in the power of this house to make it so,
whenever this amendment was agreed to'.
Mr. Randolph moved that the bill lie on
the table, with a view of adjourning to five
or six o’clock in the evening, as many mem
bers had gone to dinner, and there was
scarcely a quorum.
Messrs. J. G. Jackson fer* Clholson opposed
the motion. It was important, they said, to
decide on this bill now, and send it to the
Senate, after which they were willing to
adjourn for an hour;
Tho motion to lie on the tabic was lost 37
for it, 40 against it.
Mr. Randolph renewed the motion for
indefinite postponement of the bill, which
was negatived, 52 to 22.
The house now (about 4 o’clock) found
itself without a quorum, in consequence of
several members going out at once.
i he only question on the Senate’s amend
ments remaining to be taken, was merely a
verbal one, involving no principle, except
that the bill could not be returned to tile
Senate until it was decided in one way or
other.
At length a quorum appeared.
A motion was made to lay the bill on the
table, in order to adjourn. Lost, Avts 17
Noes 54. 1 '
A question was taken on the amendment
now remaining, when the Speaker counted
I 13 in the affirmative and G2 in the negative,
; tour more than sufficient to form a quo_
■ Anil 1-ranee, respecting any of the order's
/rl>(} decrees affecting neutral commerce,”
^vliicli liave not been heretofore or which
are not herewith cominunigatad. All which
is respectfully submitted.
„ H. SMITH.
De/iartment of State,
May 1, 1810.
Extract of a letter from General Arm.
•troni; to Al. Chamftagny,
“ I * A it i s, pt. 8, 18Gb.
" J had the honor of receiving yi ur ex
ccllency's letter of the 22d of August last, in
exposition of the principles adopted by hi
majesty with regard to neutra! commerce.
I shall hasten to transmit a Copy of this note
to my government.”
(B)
lhe Secretary of mate to General frtn~
ttrong.
iJe/iarrmcnt of Slate, Dec. 1,18C9.
Sir,
Enclosed yon have five copies of ihe Pr-.
sidwt’a rncs-sajje and *f it, accompanying
The rrp-Mt of theccmmPtee of the whole
ordered to I’** on the table.
Mr. Mats'll, Irt tn the committee of coo !
ferenc.c appoint-1 on the disr.grceirg vote
of the two Houses on the bill concerning]
commercir.l ir.terrosrse, reported, that *i'
tcr a full atul free, conference, they iccom
mend that the li n e of Representatives
recede from t'*u:ir disagreement to nil the
Senate’s amendments but one (viz. the con
VO) section) and the Senate recede from that
one.
The House resumed the conxidera‘:on of
tl»e bill making appropriations lor lite ca
P'tf 1. &c. which however was again laid on
the 'able, on motion of Mr. hundulfifi, 40
to 08, to make way for the reading of ;« mes.
sage received some hours before from the
President. lhe message was rend, anti
will be found in this tiny’s paper.
COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE.
The House then took up, 60 to IT, the hill
concerning commercial intercourse, Sec.
which had been received from the Seriate n
mended as proposed by the committee of
ccnference.
Wr. Jiu^cctt explained the operation of
the report of the cominiitee of conference to
be that the Senate yield the convey system
and the House yield the additional 'dutv.
Mr. Quincy said the result was, in other
words, a sort of bargain that if the Senate
w-otild agree not .to protect commerce, the
House would agre? not to burthen the pe<>„
pic with an additional tax of three millions
of dollars.
ivir. yuinry ntul others complained that
they could not understand the precise bear
ing ot' the amendments.
Mr. Lyon said he could mt understand
any tiling about it, and as others appeared
in the same predicament, he moved to post
pone the further consideration of the bill in
definitely.
Mr. Findley said that the only reason
given for | osiponement by the gentleman
trom Kentucky was that he could not un.
derstand the bill. As, ho presumed, every
one else did understand it, and the House
were not obliged to furnish the gentleman
with understanding, he hoped his want of
comprehension would be no argument against
the bill. -
Mr* Quincy and Mr. Dana spoke in fa
vor of indefinite postponement, because they
were against the remaining features of the
bill, particularly the authority to renew the
non intercourse against either belligerent
on a certain event, whicl event they said
depended on the wid op caprice of a sove
reign or a foreign power
1 he question on indefinite postponement
was decided—Yens 27. Mays 64.
The House then concurred in the report
of the committee of coiference without a
division, after hearing *. speech of half an
hour from Mr. Wheaton against the bill
The bill for the relief of I\ C. L’Enhurt,
whifch had been rcpeatdlly called for, went
thvough a committee of tlie whole, was or
dered to a third readin',, engrossed, read a
third time and passed.
The bill from the Senate allowing' cnm.
pensation to Robert RrJinson, went through
a committee of the while, was read a third
time and passed
The bill concerningligbt houses, 8cc. was
read a third time anlpussed.
The amendments of he Senate to the bill
for the relief of Mf-garet Lapaley. Sec
(substantially the billilor the relief of Gen.
St. Clair,) were agrefa to.
. The House then raurr.ee! the considers
tion of the report of he committee of >|)e
whole on the approprttion bill for the p«b
lie buildings, which »as concurred i«, the
bill ordered to a thin reading, engrossed
rearl a third time andnassed.
A motion of \lr. Stove (at half pastil)
to take, up the bill lom the Senate for the
renewal of the chaiibr of the Bank of Alex
andria, was lost.
The amendments^ the Senate to the bill
making appropriates for carrying into ef_ j
feet certain India^treaties, passed through
a committee of they/iiole, and were concur
red in.
i he resolution tor appointing a joint j
committee to wai on the President of the I
U. S. wasconcutfed in—and Messrs. Craw- ;
ford and Roane tppointed on the part of this I
House.
A message ws received from the Senate,
they were abort to adjourn—and a similar j
message was $nt to the Senate.
Mr. Craivfrd, from the joint committee,
reported that ney had waited on the Presi
dent of the Uiited States, who had infoi m
i ed (hem thane had no further communica
tions to make
And notic* having been received cf the
President’s paving signed all the bills—
The Spjker, at a quarter past 1, ad
journed theHouse to the hist Monday in De
cember net.
To the louse of Mrfircsenfa'ivei of the
United Staten:
I transmit to the House a report of the
Secretar of State complying witli their
resclutio of the 30i!i of April.
JAMES MADISON.
May ,3 810.
imrsuAlice r>f the resolution of the
if Representatives <f yesterday the
y of State has the honor to trans„
the President of the IJ, States the
inj ing papers marked A. B. C. D.
information has been received, that
nnnnication ha3 been made to our
at London on the part of the BrL
ernment “ in answer to any note
d by him in purttuance of instruCtL
i on the 23d Nov. 1809.”
swers have been given to the “ pro
or overtures, made on the part of
. to the governments of the (J.
(1J)
Extract of a Inter from Clcri. .4rm»lrov.z C&
the ilec. 'f iState.
„ x . “ Paris, Jan 28,1810,
In conformity to the suggestions conuio.
erl in your letter of the 1st December, i809
Inquired whether ifG. Britain racked
her blockades of a da'c ameriorto the decree*’
commonly called th*- Berlin decree, his ma~
jesty the Emperor would consent to revoke*
tlie said decree. To which the minister an
swered that 4, the only condition required for
the rcvucanon hy his majesty, of the dec re®
, Bt-rljn, will be a previous revocation hr
the British government for her blockades of
1-ranee, or ports ot France, (such as than
*romthe blue toiJicat, £cc.)of adatr ante?*!
o>’to that (-1 the aforesaid decree; and thar]
if the British government would then riol
the orders in council which had occasion- *
the decree of Milan, that dectce should , ’ •
jz annulled "
(E )
Extract of a Inter Jr.m flfr. /»/• /
(hr Secretary of S’n r.
(C).
M®- Smith to Mr. Pinki.’ey.
Dkpastmknt of State,
November, 11, 1809.
:IP,
From the enclosed copy of a letter front
Mr. Champagny to G "n... Armstrong, it up.
pears that the French government l a-; taken
a ground in relation to ’ha I',: i- • :l.iudoti
ot onr neutral rights, not the .>• 'ia that
heretofore taken, and which it . . .... ,.. ;• vou
•houldbe acquainted with ? a
that t.e terms stating thecondition .v h
the Hcrliii decree will he revoked are : t
l:ee from obscurity 1 oev admit the .
structicn however, that if G B.itain wi,l
nul her illegal blockades asdistim t fr. n h-r
orders In council, such as th^ blockade fr ,i
the FI be to Brest, iicc. pi-jor to U.<: B^rUti
necree,and perhaps of subsequent date, but
still distinct from her orders ia council, rb.it
France will put an cm! to her Berlin de
cree, or at least the ill* gal p.u t of it. Whilst
therefore it becomes important to take pro
per steps, as will be done, through General
At mstrong, to ascertain the real and precise
meaning of Mr. Champugny’s letter, it is im
portant also that your interposition should
be used to ascertain the actual state of tb«
British blockades distinct from the orders m
council, whether merely on paper or other,
wise illegal, and whether prior or subse
quent to tI/e Berlin decree, and to feel the
pulse of the British government on the pro
pnety of putting them out of the wav in or
der to give force to our call on France to
prepare the way for a repeal of the or
ders in council, by her repeal of that decree.
In the execution of this task I rely on the
judgment and delicacy by which I am p*r
suaoed you will be guided, and on your kesp
ing in mind the desire of this government to
entangle itself as little as pussihh- in the ques
tion of priority in the violation of onr neutral
lights, and to commit itself aslittle r,s possi
ble to either belligerent as to the course to
tip taken with the other.
. If it should be found that no illegal block
ades are now ia force, and so declared by G.
Bi itain, or that the Btitish government is
tady to revoke and withdraw all such as
may not be consistent with die definition of
blockade in the Russian treaty of June 1801
it will he desirable that voulose no time in
giving the information to Gen. Armuronr
*nd whatever may be the result ol your en'
quiries, that you hasten a communication of
it to me.
VVi itiHg on short nolice of the present con
vuyancc, 1 have only to add the assurance of
ny esteem and gi eat consideration &e.
(Signed) H. SMI i ll.
l lify will nff j** | a view ';
:h<; existing state of thing* here, and p ,r
liculas ly of ihe ground l iken in the corcas -
pondence with the l)r»ti*h minister. Vivi
will perceive that the deliberations of Ccvu
pre'-s at their prescr* session cannot but be
embarrassed by the painful uonv deration .
that the two principal belligerent;. 1: ive been
for some tint** alike rcj inlltsi ol’ oiiv neo„
trni rights, and that they manifest iind:;p>
sition in relinquish, in any degree, their un
reasonable pretensions.
\cu will: Iso lu-rcwith receiv** a rr.nvof
a letter t«. Mr. PinJumv which will shnw the
light in wuicii M. Clm np.ngtiy’a h-tter i*
viewed by the President, and at the same
lime the course of proceeding prescribed t<»
our minister in Loncim. You will of course
understand it to be wished that you should,
ascertain the meaning pf i!ie French gov hi,
ment as to the condition on which it lias been
proposed to revoke the Berlin decree. On
the principle whieh seems to be assumed by
M. Champa gny, nothing more ought to be
required than a recall i>v Oreat Britain of
her proclamation or illegal blockades whiclfc.
are of a date prior to that of the Berlin decree
or a formal declaration that they are i •>;
now it) force. Should this be d tie and b •
followed by an annulment of all th? dectv. •*
and orders in chronological order, aril G. B.
should afterwards ;.u. i;i force r.lrl o*' pro,,
claim new blockades contrary to the law^of
nations, it would produce questions between
her and the U. States which, ttic* French
government is bound m leave tolhe U. States,
at least until it shall find it necessary to brir.jj
forward complaints of an acquiescence on
our part not consistent with the neutrality
professed bv us.
i «>u wui yourself, am; ifnecrssarvyon will
Jet the French government understand, that.
\vc do not consider ourselves bound to con
test the legal it;, of ;i blockade, which may
be conformable to the definitions heretofore
maintained by the U. S. and particularly to
the definition contained in the treaty' of
June and October. lfcOl, between G. Bri
tain and Russia. However founded the de
finition of M. Champigny mav b^ in reason
and general utility, and conescquently how
ever desirable to be mule the established,
law on the subjectof blockades, a different
practice has too long prevailed among all >a
tinns, !• ranee as well as others, and is too
strongly authenticated by the writers of ad
milted authority to be Combatted by the LT.
Stales.
If you should receive from the French,
government explanations proper to be com
municated to Mr. Pinkney, ycu will not fall
to transmit the same to him without delay.
And should they be such as to make it im
portant that Mr. Pinkney should irnmedi
diately found thereon an application to the
L»i itish government to prepare the way for
a repeal of the Berlin decree, you will be
pleased to hasten the communication to him
by a special messenger. Whatever the ex
planations may be, you will of course trans
mit them to this department, with such o
ther informd'ion as may be interesting.
With great respect, Uc,
(Signed) R. SMITH.
Gcm. Joint Armstrong, 8cc. See. Jca.