Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-11-17
IcoNTTNvED.J
Mn. MAprsox's LETTERS 70 GENrRAl

ssafa es
JUr. Madison, secretary Of state, to General
ARMSTRONG, minister pleniposentiary ct the
United States at Paris.
(Extract.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
1Idy 90, 1903.
6 The two last letters received from you
were Of December "a, and January Is.
{. The decree of November 81, commu-
nicated in the first, had previously reached
MS, and had excited apprehenslons which
were reprsssed only bv the inarticulate inn
port of its. articles, and the presumption
that it would be executed ina sense not In
consistent with the respect due the treaty
beuween France and the =. The expla-
nations given YOU by the minister Of marine
were seen by the president with much plea
sure, and it only remains to learn that they
have been confirmed BY the express authosi-
" of the emperor. Wears the more an1i-
Gus for this information, as i Will foitlfy
the ren1onstrances winch nave been present.
ed at London, against the British order OF
January 7th. Should it, ccntrary to ex-s
nectation, turn out that the French decree
was meant, and is to operate, according to
the latitude of its terms, you will of course
have made the proper representations,
grounded as well On the principles of public
law, IS on the express stipulations of the
CONF ention of 1900. Nothing, besides,
conid be more preposteroas, than to blend
with ar.appeal 70 neutral rights and neutral
rsttio.s, a gross insraction of the former,
and outrage on the latter; unless it be to,
iinyise species of contest On the high seas,
ii which the adversary has every possible
advantage. Button the more probable sup
position. that the decree viii not be unfa-
vorably expoundsd, it will De still necessary
TO press on the French government dis
patch of such orders to their cruizers in
every quarter, as viii prevent construction
TO the decree favorable to their hcentious
cupiditv. The moment your letter was re-
ccived the answer Of the French minister
of marine to your note was communicated
10 gen. Turreau, with call on him to trans
init It immediately to the French governors
In the West Indies. This he readily en-
raced TO do. MISUNDERSTANDING this pre-
caution. there are proofs that the West-in-
dia priyatecrs have, under color OF the
edict, committed depredations which viii
constitute Just claims of redress from their
government.
Mr.. Erving has forwarded a Spaaish
decree also, avowediy pursuing the exam
bic and the views Of the French emperor.
The terms of this decree are even more
vague, or rather more broad, than those of
the prototype; and, ifpot speedily recalled
or corrected, will doubtless extend the scene
Of spoiiations already begun in that quarter
and Of course, thicken the cloud that hangs
over the anity OF the tive nations"
Extract Of a letter rom III. Madison 70
Gen. armstrong.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
February 9th, 1908.
&c Your letters and communications by
DR.. Bullus were duly delivered on the 18th
day Of December. The same conveyance
brought copy of the sentence pronounced
bv the French prize court. in the case OF the
Horizon, giiyinga Judicial effect to the de-
cree Of Nov. &zst, 1906, as expounded in
the answer of Dir. Champagny to your let
ter of the 10Th Nov. 1907.
Whist the French government did not
avow or enforce meaning OF the decree OF
Nov. 1906, In relation to the y. ;. extend
inp it's peryiew beyond the municipal limits,