The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-11-25
From the same 10 the same.
(EXTRACTS
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

From the same 10 the same.
(EXTRAcTS
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
April 4, 1908.
{" NV last was of March %, and went un-
der the care of Mr.. Rose. now forward
printed copies Of the correspondence with
him, on the sub ect OF his mission, and of the
antecedent documents, relating to the case
of the Chesapeake. AS soon as the volumi-
nous residue of the communications made to
Congress issues from the press. it shall al
so be forwarded. You Fill find that they in
Glide certain documents relating to France,
which were thought proper for the know
ledge of Congress at the present crisis.
To thore communications, I add copies of
Mr. ErSkinc's letter TO me, on the subject of
the British decree of November last, and of
my answer. And, that you may have view
of the ground which has been taken, with re-
spect to the French decree of Move mber,
R8o6, and to the judicial exposition, in the
sc of the Horizon, giving to it an illegal
grafton against the U. States, l enclose
pies of two letters to general Arm strong
those subjects.
The President made to Congress, few
PGlays ago other communications relating to
the present crisis, with Great Britain and
France, among which were Mr. Erskine's
letter, nov enclosed and a letter from Mr.
Champaign to gen. Armstrong, explaining
the Course meditated by the French govern
ment, with respect to the commerce Of the
United States. These, being excepted from
the confidential character attached 10 the o.
theirs, have been published, and will be
found among the printed enclosures.-Your
letter of Feb. 26 was included i'll the commu-
ncations to Congress, but not in the excep-
ton"
The conduct Of the two great contending
nations towards this country, as it will no v
appear to it, and to the world fully displays
their mutual efforts to draw the u. States
INTO war with their adversary. The efforts
OH both sides, are too little disguised to be
worthy the discernment OF either, and are
addressed, moreover, to motives which prove
great ignorance of the character of the Unit
ed States, and, indeed, of human nature.'
g From the posture in which MIR. Roses
final reply TO the compromise proposed to
him, placed the question of adjustment in
the case Of the Chesapeake, it remains with
the British government to resume it, if adj
iustrnent be their object. Whether tender
OF PREPARATION will be made here, or to you,
viii also lie on that side. 1t will Certainly
be most becoming that government, under all
circumstances, 20 make the Ieparation here !;
and this course might, Of right, be insisted on
BY this government The President, never
theless in the liberal spirit which always go
verns him, authorizes You to accept the re
paraticn provided it be rendered spontane-
ouslv be charged with no condition, unless
it be, that on the receipt of the act of repa-
ration here, the proclamation of July 3 shall
be revoked and provided the reparation
shall add 20 the d,savowal ofthe attack on the
Chesapeake, an express engagement, that
the seameb retained shall be Immediately re-
stored, and that the guilty officer experience
an exemplary punishment The PREPARATION
will be the more satisfactory, and not exceed
a Just expectation, If the restoration of the
seamen be made to the very ship from which
they we're wrested, and if provision he made
for the wounded Survivors, and for the fami-
lies Of those who lost their lives by the at
tack
must repeat however, that it is consi-
dered entirely proper, that the PREPARATION
should be offered here, rather than in Lon
don and it is onl, in the event of decided
repugnauce in the British government to
make il through functionary here, that you
arc to accept itthere."
The answer to Mr.. Erskine's letter oil
the British orders will furnish the grounds to
be taken in your communications with hisgo-
vernment on that subject. IT the cabinet can
be brought to view the orders in their true
light, revocation Of the whole Of them can
not fail to take place, unless they mean to
violate every maxim of justice, or are fixed
iu ho$tie purposes against the United States
Jn not V garding the orders, indeed, as acts
of hostility, and in trusting for redress to
the motives and the means, TO which they
have appealed the United States have given
thc most signal proof of thea love of peace