Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-21
CONGRESS.
Senate eftte United States.
THuBsDAr, Novea'6fr 80.
EMBARGO.
DEBATE On 1r. Hill2lotsse's motion jar q
repeal.
[coNTINuED.l
.CONGR ES S.
.ElNr. Pickering's Speech continued.

iNr. Pickerine's Speech communal
OF the French papers, supposed to De
brought by the Revenge, none were com,
municated to Congress, save letter dated
SenteYnber "a, 1907, from gen. Armstrong
10 Nj. Champagny, and his answer, OF the
9Th of October, relative to the Berlin de-
cree. and letter from Regnier, minister OF
Justice to Champaign, giving the emperor's
Interpretation of that decree. These three
papers, with newspaper copy OF a Procla-
nation of the king of Great Britain, issued
IN. the same October, were all the papers
communicated by the president to Congress,
as the grounds on which ne recommended
the embargo. 6 These papers, he said,
showed the great and increasing dangers, to
which our vessels, our seamen, and our
merchandise, were threatened on the high
seas and elsewhere by the belligerent powers
of Europe"
AS to the proclamation OF the king OF =.
Britain, requiring the return OF his sub
iects, and particularly the seamen, from TO-
reign countries, it was no more than every
country has right to issue, and commonly
does issue in time of war. This proclama-
ton contained no evidence of Increasing
danger 6 TO our seamen;" on the contrary
if mistake not (for Ihave not the procla-
nation BY me1 there was a solemn public
Injunction to his naval officers, to conduct
impressments with increased caution and
care /; so that impressments on the whole
would probably rather be diminished than
increased.
Let us now examine the three other pa
papers, all of which, as | have noticed, and
as gentlemen remember, related to the de-
cree Of November 81, 1906. This decree
was issued at Berlin, by the French empe-
ror, at the moment when, inflated with
more than ordinary arrogance and pride, ne
was sitting in that capital of the Prussian
monarch, Just then subverted by his arms.
The first article declared all the British
isles in state of blockade. This, accord
ING to its terms, subjected to capture and
condemnation all neutral vessels bound to
and from British ports but it seems to have
been held in a state of suspense. But ano-
Their article declaring " all merchandise be-
longing to England, or coming from It's ma
nufactures and colonies although belonging
to neutrals) to be lawful prize" was to be
carried into execution. Such was the decl-
sion of the emperor as stated oy his MINIS
ter of Justice on the 18th of Sept. 1907, In
his letter to Champagny.
THIS decision coming to the knowledge
of gen. Armstrong, he, on the Oath OF Sept.
wrote to Mr.. Champagny, and asked " whe-
therit was the emperor's intention to lniract
the obligations of the treaty subsistlng be-
tween the United States and the French
empire Mr.. Champagny IN his answer
of the eth of October, inclosing the letter
of the minister of justice, with wonderful
ass anee tells general Armstrong, that it
,saS Se reconcile the execution OF the
decree with the observance of treaties -
Although nothing was more obvious Gas
Mr.. Madison on the 9Th of February last,
wrote TO gen. Armstrong; than that it vio-
lated as well the positive stipulatlons of our
treaty with France, as the incontestible
principles Of public law.
5. In the European ports under the empe-
ror's control, and even inneutral ports, the
decree was vigorously executed. And altho'
tits said, there was no formal decision IN the
Frenchcouncil of prizes, condemning Anne
rican property under the decree, until the
18th of Oct. 1907, yet Mr.. Madison states,
as early as the 2sd of May, 1907, " There
were proofs, that the French w. India priva-
teers had, under color of thee dict (the Ber-
lin decree committed depredations,n on our
commerce. And moreover, that Spain, g a.
vowcdly pursuing the example and the views
of the French emperor, had issued a similar
dsSTee, and even in broader terms, if not