The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-11-11
WAsHINGroN Nov


L., -, WAsHINGToN, Nov 8.
HIS BAY, AT IL O'CLOCK, tn. PRESI-
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES coMmu-
NIcATED, BY Mr.. CoLEs, HIS EcRETA-
RY, FOLLOWING 1fESS.dGE porp
HOUSES OF CONGRESS-.
To rte Senate and House of Rr4.resenfa-
fives Of Ire United States.
1t would have been source, Fellow Citi-
zens, of much qualification, if our las, COM
munications from Europe had enabled me to
inform you, that the belligerent nations,
whose disregard OF neutral rights has been
SO destructive to OUR commerce. had become
awakened to the duty and true policy Of re-
voking their unrighteous edicts. that no
means might be omitted to produce this sa-
lutary effect, lost no time in availing nv
self or the act aushorising a SUSPENSION I'M
whoe OF. Ill part, of the several embargo
laws. Our ministers at London and Paris
wereinstructed to explain to the respective
governments there, our disposition to exer-
else the authority in such manner as wonld
withdraw the pretext on which the aegressi-
ons were originally founded, and open the
way for a renewal of that commercial inter
course which it was alledgcd on all sides had
been reluctantly obstructed. As each of those
governments had pledged its readiness to
concur Ii renouDcing measure which reach
rights OF neutras only, and as the measure
had been assumed by each as a retaliation
Tor an asserted acquiescence in the aggressions
OF the other, il was easonably expected that
the occasion would have been seized Inv both
tor eyIncing the sincerity of their professions.
and Tor restoring to the commerce of the n
States its legitimate freedom. The instruc.
tons to our ministers with respect to the diff
terent belligerents were necessarily modifi
ed with reference other different circum-
stances. and to the condition annexed bv law
to the Executive power of suspension. feouir-
ing degree OF security to our Commerce
which would not result from repeal OF the
DEGREES OF France. Instead of pledge
therefore, of a suspension of the embargo as
to her iii case of such repeal, it was pro,um-
ed that,a sufficient inducenent mightbe found
IN other considerations. and particularly in
the Charge produced by compliance with
cur just demands by one belligerent. and a
refusal BY the other, in the relations between
this other and the United States To Great
Britain, whose power on the ocean is SO as
cendant, 1t was deemed not Inconsistent win,
that condition, to SKATE explicitly, that ON
her resembling her orders in relation to the
United STATES, their trade would be opened
with her, and remain shut to her enemy. in
case OF his failure to rescind his DEGREES also.
FROM France no answer has been received.
nor any indication that the requisite change
IN her decreesis contemplated The favor.
able reception of the proposition to Great Bri-
tain was the less to be doubted as her orders
Of council had not only been referred for their
vindication to an acquiescence on the part Of
the United States no longer to be pretended,
but as the arrangement proposed, whilst it
resisted the illegal DEGREES of France. in
voivcd moreover Substantially the nrec;s.
advantages pfofessedly aimed at by the Bri-
fish orders The arrangement has never
Iheless been rejected.