Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-11-18
EcoNT1NUrD.1
\ Mn. MAprsoS's LETTERS TO sGEEERAL
Armstrong.

:
Exsract ofs letter from II. MADISON 20
Gen. armstrong.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
.lltag Cd, 1903.
Since my last, Of which lieut.. Lewis
was the bearer, have received your seve-
raj letters of the 9th December, 2sd Janu-
ary, 18th and i7th February, with their re-
spective Enclosures.
9. That of the 18th January, from Mr.
Champagny to YOU, has, as you viii see by
the papers herewith sent, produced all the
sensations here, wkics the spiritsand stile OF
81 were calculated to excite IN minds alive
T. the interests and homer of the nations -
To present to the United States the alter
native of bending to the S-ieNTs OF France
against her enemy, or OF mourning combs
cation of all the property OF their cItizens
carried into the French prize courts, in-
plied that they were susceptible.of impress
sions by which no independent and honora-
bic nation can be guided; and to PREJUDICE
and proa., sace for them the effect which the
scanduct of another nation oughtto have on
!, thsi , councils and course Of proceeding, had
the air at least Of an assumed authority, not
less irritating to the public. feelings. In
these lights, the president makes it your
dnty TO present to the French government
the contents of Mr.. Chaapagnys letter,
taxing care, as your discretion will doubt
less suggest, that whilst ycu make that go
svernment sensible of the offensive toneseH
rsoyed, you leave the way open for friendly
aud respectful explanations, if there be 2
disposition to offer them, and for a decision
l.:.s an e.ntx uhica NAV be of
cnt character.
q Congress closed their session on the
S5th ultimo. For a general view Of their
proceedings, | refer to the series of news
nSpers heretofore, aud now forwarded, and
to other prints which are added. Among
their acts of chief importance is that which
vests in the president an authority to sus-
pend IN whole or in part the embargo laws.
'y.ss The conditions on which the suspendiag
authority. lis to be exercised will engage Your
particular attention. They appeal equally
10 the justice and the policy of the. two
great belIigerent powers now emulatipg each
other IN violations of both. The psesiden.
counts on your best endeavors to give 70 I
this appeal all the effect possible with the
French government. MIR. Ptnekr:y will
be doing rhe same with that of Great sEri-
tain. The relation in which a recall of its
retaliating DEGREES, by either power, will
place the United States to the other, is OBJ
vious, and ought TO be motive to themea-
sure, proportioned to the desire which has
been manifested BY each, to produce 1colli-
sions between the u. States and its adver-
sary, and which must be equally felt by each
to avoid one with itself.
6 Should wiser councils or increasing dis.
tresses induce Great Britain to revoke her
impoiitic orders against neutral commerce,
and thereby prepare a way for : removal Of
the embargo, as it applies to her, France
could not persist in the illegal part OF her !,
DEGREES, If she does not rnean to force a con-
test with the United otates. On. the other I
hand, should she set the example of reyo. /
cation, Great Britain would Be obliged, ell |
.ther by following it, TO restore to France
the full benefit of neutral trade, which she
needs !. or by perseveriug IN her obuoxiogs
orders, after the pretext for them had ceas- |
cd to render collisions with the u. States
inevitable.
e Inevery point Of view, therefore, it is
so clearly the sound policy of France to re- !
scind so much at least of her DEGREES as J,
trrspass on neutral rights, and particularly
to be the first IN taking the retmgade step, {
that II cannot be unreasonable to expect that .
it will be Immediately taken" i
In whatever degree the French govern :
rnent may be led to change its system, YOU (
viii lose no time in transmitting the infor-
nation to this department, and 10 Mr.. Pink
Asy and by hired conveyance, if necsssa-