The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-05-28

an American ihip without role d'epuiPage be-
comes the fhip Of an enemy, till the cargo BE-
ing proved to be the properly Of friend ought
on The principle Of modifying the treaty between
the two nations By that with England, 10 have
been reaored to the owners. The relult or theGe
regulations has been the mott extenGye and
univerfal dcvafaton Of the American COM
MERGE Not only veaels bound to and from the
enemies of France, but vefels bound TO and
from her allies, and TO and from her own ports
have been fcized and conilcated. The inevia
bic confequence has been, that direct commerce
between the two nations il almoa annihilated,
and that the property Of American citizens has
been taken to A much larger amount thar. would
have been pohibie in a fate Of actual war.
Yet the government Of the u. S. willing, If
Be pohible. to avoid even defenivc rRealure, has
fouehr afliduoully and unremittingly, though
hitherto without flcceis, for fuch peaceful and
amicabe explanation as might do away exiting
animofilie', and reRore between the two repub.
lies that harmony which il 70 truly deGrous.
America has accufomed herfelf TO perceive
10 France only the ally & the friend. Confult
ing the feelings Of her own bofom, fhe has belicv-
ed that between Republics an elevated and re-
fined friendhip could exit, an that free nations
were capable # maintaining for each other a
real ard permanent affection. If this pleaGng
theory, erected with 70 much care and viewed
with 10 much delight, has been impaired BY ex-
peIiance, yet the hope continues to Be che-iihed
that this circumitlnce does not necehariy in
vOlye tie oPpolte extreme. 1t is believed that
there exits no fufficient caufe for field and per-
manenr enmity between France and the Y . S.
bot that on the contrary the int eRs Of both
would be prompted by that friendly intercourse,
which reciprocal obfervance Of the great and
immutable principles Of jnaice would certainly
eaablih and can alone Preierve. Under this
impreilion America reGlts the opinion that the
prelent rate Of things has grown OFT of A d.
geaed fgaem TO which France deGgns to adhere.
She wifhes and fhe endsavours to perfuade her
felf that temporary cau1es, which TOO often pro.
duce effects found and jua policy NUT repro
bate, connected with a milconGru6ion of the
conduit o. her government, as well as Of the
motives on which it has acted, may have occa-
Toned thof- very ferrous aggrefTions Of which fhe
complains. She reccdes therefore, even under
the Predure Of thele aggreaions, flowly and with
difficulty from the attachments Ee has formed.
So intertwined with every lgament Of her heart
have been the chords Of Affection which bound
her to France, that only repeated and continued
acts Of holtility can tear them afunder.-The
government Of the u. S. therefore Oil fearches
the means Of terminating Peaceably, and in a
manner which ought to be mutually satisfactory,
the calamities Of the moment, and Of avsrtinp
INC It'll greater calamities which may he refer
we'd for the future. Not eveu the dilcouragiup-
and mutual events which had preceded the pre-
3cnt effort to negotiate could deter our gov
ernment from repeating its endeavours for the
Preiervation Of amity aRd peace. Three
citizens Of the u. s. have been deputed as En-.
voys Extraordinary and Mininers Plenipoten,ia-
ry to the French republic. Their iuRruqIons
authorize and direa them TO review the exiting
treaties between the two nations, and TO remove
by all proper means the inequalities which have
grown out Of the4tiPulations Of thofe treaties,
IN coniequence Of the retuial Of England 70 a.
dept the principles they contain. They are alfo
directed TO give fair aud complete explanations
OF the conduct Of the government they repre-
tent; 70 fate fully and truly the heavy injuries
which their fellow citizens have fuGained and
70 ak from the equity If great and magma
nmous republic that compensation for thofa \
injuries which, we fatter ourf-lves, their iufice
will not refule and their liberal policy will not
hefi,ate to give.
Bringing with them the temper Of their government
and country, iesrchng only for the means Of eccng
the objects Of their mon they have permitted no per-
tona conhderaon5 to influence their conduct but have
waited under eircumifanccs beyond mesfure eubarraf
fns and unPea ant with that relpe9 which tie Amer
San government has o uniformly paid to that Of France
tor Pcrmlon TO lay before you citizen miuiner the
important communication with which they have been
charged.
Perceying probability Of being allowed 10 enter,
IN the uiu1 forms, hole dcuiicns which mght :end
e. r-loe harmony between the two repu5ic they have
deemed It mott adviirah,c even uudcr the crcumnan-
ces ofnformaitv which attend the mealure 10 addres
your government through vou ibis candid review IF
the conduit, and this approximation Of the (enti
ments wihes of the government NJ TIE United States
They pray that il may be resolved in the tcnDcr with
which xrittrn ~ cnrrLrrcl NJ nr WI Li...-.l