The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-19
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From Mr.. Monroe to Mr.. Madison.
RICHMOND, February %, 1903.


RICHMOND, February %, 1903.
SIR,
IT appears by your letter of May Goth,
1907, which was forwarded by Mr.. Purvi-
ance to Mr.. Pinkney and myself, at London,
and received on the 18th July, that you had
construed several articles of the treaty, which
we had signed with the British commission
ers, on the 3ist of December, 1906, in dif-
ferent sense from that in which they were
conceived by u.s. AS the course we were in
structed to pursue, by your letter of Februa
ry Sd, with regard to that treaty, which was
confirmed in that of May Goth, was in no de-
gree dependent on our construction or any of
its articles, or On the political considerations
which induced US to sign it, we deemed it un
necessary to enter into any explanation III re-
ply, either of our construction of it's articles,
or of the political considerations alluded to.
We thought it more consistent with our duty
to look solely to the object of our Instructions
and to exert our utmost efforts to accomplish
it; and I'VE acted in conformity to that senti-
ment The result of those efforts was made
known, by the documents which 1 had the
honor to present to YOU, when l was lately at
Washington, being copies of joint dispatch
which Mr. Pinkney and had forwarded by
Mr. Rose. We had fattered ourselves, that
it might have been practicable to obtain the
amendments of the treaty which the presi-
dent desired, as the state of affairs in Europe
had become more favorable to such result !;
but in that we were disappointed. We found
no difficulty in accomplishing the other OBJ
ject, of setting it aside, as we were instruct
ed to do, in case the proposed amendments
were not aCCeded to.
At this tire there is no objection to such
an explanation, that ] am aware of, and there
are many reasons why it should be given.
You will be sensible that so far as an unfa-
vorable estimate is entertained OF that trans
action, it must, in the degree, tend to injure
those who gave it the sanction of their names
and you will be equally sensible, that if
the United States are in any degree interes-
ted in it, at this time, 1t must consist in its be-
ing viewed in z just, rather than an uhfavo-
rable light. In retiring from the station
which have lately held, this is the last act
of public and private duty; which l have to
perform, in relation to it. 1t to me, in ma
MY views, painful duty, but still it is one
Which it is highly incumbent on me to exc
cute.
1t is far from being my desire to conpro-
nit Mr.. Pinkney, in this letter, in the slight
est circumstance. In the management OF the
business which was entrusted to us jointly
we acted with the greatest harmony, and
object of our instructions. am not aware,
that in speaking of any part Of the treaty, +
shall give it a construction in which he would
not concur but that presumption is founded
altogether on what took place between us i'll
the course of the negotiation. To this com
mumcation he is not party, nor indeed does
he know that such one will be made. Inc
very view, therefore, it is improper, and
would be unjust, that he should be consider
ed as having any concern i'll it.
The impressment of seamen from our mer-
chant vessels is topic which claims a pri-
mary attention, from the order which it
holds in your letter, but more especially from
some important considerations that are con-
nected with it. The idea entertained by the
public is, that the rights of the United States
were abandoned by the American commissi-
oners in the late negotiation, and that their
seamen were left by tacit acquicscence, ifnot
by formal remuneration, to depend, for their
safety, on the mercy of the British cruizers
have, On the contrary, always believed, &c
still do believe, that the ground on which
that interest was placed by the paper Of the
British commissioners of November 8, 1906,
and the explanations whichaccOmpaned it,,
was both honorable and advantageous to the
United States that it contained concessi-
on in their favor on the part OF Great-Britain,
on the great principle in Cohtestation, never
before made by formal and obligatory act of
the government, which was highly favorable
to their interest and that it also imposed on
her the obligation to conform her practice
under il, till a more complete arrangement
should be concluded, to the just claims Of tie