The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-08
WASHINGTON, April 4.
IMPORTANT COMMUNICATIVE

SENATE, April 3, 1903.
the President. -i0"'
rome SENATE and House Of Rehresentatiyes
Of The United States
believing that the confidence and union of
our tellow-citizens. at the present crisis
VIII be still further confirmed by the publ
cation OF the letter of Mr.. Champaign to
Gen: Armstrong, and that of Mr.. Erskine
to the Secretary of State, communicated
with my message of the 3Oth ult. and there
lore tnat 1t may be useful to except them
from the confidential character of the other
documents accompanying that message
leave to the consideration of ConpresS the
expediency making them public.
TIL: JEFFERSON.
April 3, 1903.
On motion of Mr.. Giles the following let
tiers were ordered to be printed:
Washington, February Esd, 1908
nave the honor to transmit to You the
copies OF certain orders of Council which his
majesty has thought proper to issue in con-
sequence OF the hostile conduct of France
IUo"a[uS !he navigation and commerce of
STeat-brltain and of neutral states.
HIS majesty has been induced hitherto 70
toloear recurring to measures of this ma
ture by the expectation that the govern
mehts OF the neutral states, Who have been
OBJECTS OF the French DEGREES, would have
oceh awakened to a ust sense of what thew
owe 10 thelr interests and own rights. and
"ould nave lnterposed with effect either tn
prevent the execution of the French de-
crees, or to procure their abrogation.
put ms Majesty having been disappoint-
ca IN TINS Just expectation, and perceivine
Is'. lne neutral nations, so far from oppos-
ing any ehcctual resistance, have submitted
W Whatever regulations France may have
prescribed Tor giving effect TO her DEGREES.
eah no longer refrain from having recourse
to such measures as by retortinq on the enc
my the Inconveniences and evils produced
by ms injustice and violence, NAV afford the
oh'y remaining chance of putting an end
" system, the perseverance in which is
not not more injurious to his majesty's dominions
.hdi 10 nations not parties to the war be-
tween Great-Britain and France.
L ne principle, upon which his majesty
mas himself compelled to proceed, would
JuStity complete and unqualified retaliation
Oh lsPart OF the system announced and act
ca upon by France, in respect to his maies-
aoH1liiions: & his majesty might, there
lore, nave declared in state of rigorous &
,uniiiitiSated blockade, all the coasts and CO.
lonles OF France and her allies. Such
measure, the maritime power of Great-Br,-
tam would have enabled his majesty to en-
Iorce: nor would those nations, which have
acqu1esced, without effectuai remonstrance
IN the French decree of blockade. have de-
rived any right from the perfect execution
OF corresponding determination on the part
OF MS majesty, to complain of his maiestv's
enforcing that measure, which the enemy
mas executed imperfectly, only from the
want OF the means of execution.
Ills majesty however actuated by the same
sentiments of moderation by which his ma
Jestys conduct has been uniformly govern
co. mas been DESTROYS Of alleviating. IS
much as possible, the Inconvenience ncces-
Sarlly brought upon neutral nations by
state OF things so unfavorable to the com
mercIal intercourse of the world: and has
therefore anxiously considered what modi.
hcatons ltwould be practicable to apply to
the principle upon which he is compelled
to act, which would not, at the same time
that they might afford relief from the pres
sure OF that principle upon neutral or friendl,
nations, impede or enfccble its operation up
OH the enemy.
In pursuance of this desire, the order in
council, which, fit had ended with he sixth
paragraph, would have been no more than
strict and justifable retaliation for the
French decree of November 1906, proceeds.
as you will observe, sir, to provide many
material exceptions, which arc calculated {.
qualify the operation Of the order upon pcu-
tral nations in general, but which must be