The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-12-06

This ddy at - o'clock, the Presidens eommnsa-
Gated to tofh Houses Of Congress BY his Sc
crefary, Mr. Graham, the Joilozyirg
M E S S AG f.
Fellow Ciiizens Of The Srnate, and
Of the House Of RetrcsentatiDes,


nations, highly important in ITSELF and still
more so, as presaging a more extended ac-
commodation. 1t is with deep concern, am
now to inform you, that the favourable pros
pect has been overclouded, by refusal Of
the British government to abide by the act Of
Its Minister Plenipotentiary, and by its enst-
ing policy towards the United States, as seen
through the communications Of the Minister
sent to replace him. rl.HH
Whatever pleas may be urged for disa-
vowal of engagements formed by diplomaiick
functionarics, in cases where by the terms of
engagementsa standardization is isrcscrved-;
OF where notice at the time may have been
given, of departure from instructions orin
extraordinary cases, essentially violating the
principles Of equity a disayowal could. not
have been apprehended in a case, where no
such notice, or violation existed where no
such ratification was reserved ); and more cs-
pccially, where, as is now in proof, an engage
ment to be executed without any such rati6ca-
ton, was contemplated by the instructions
given and where it had, with good faith, been
carried into immediate execution, Oh the part
of the United States. -.
These considerations not having restrained
the British government from disavowing the
arrangement, by virtue of which its Orders in.
Council were to be revoked, and the event
authorising the renewal Of commercial inter-
course, having thus not ta,.en place; it ne
cessarily became'a question of equal urgency
and importance, whether the act prohibiting
that intercourse was not to be considered as
remaining in legal foroc.-This question be-
ing, after due delibertion, determined in the
affirmative, proclamation to that effect was IS
sued. 1t could not but happen, however, that
return to this state of things, from that
which had followed an execution of the ar
rangcment by the United States, would in
volve difficulties. With view to diminisll
these as much as possible, the instructions
from the Secretary of the Treasury, now laid
before you, were transmitted to the Collectors
OF the several ports. If in permitting Brit
ish vessels to depart, without giving bondsn not
to proceed to their own ports, it shouldappear
that the tenor of legal authority has not hecn
strictly pursued, it is to be ascribed to the
anxious desire which was felt that no indiyid-
uals should be injured by SO unforeseen an oc-
currence And rely on the regard of Con-
gress for the equitable interests of our own
citizens, to adopt whatever further provisions
may be found requisite, for general rerhis-
sion of penalties involunsafily incurred.
The recall of the .disayowed Minister hav-
ing been followed by the appointment Of a
successor, hopes were indulgcd that the ncw
mission would contribute to alleviate the dis
appointment which had been produced, 'andto
remove the causes which had SO long embar-
rasscd the good understanding of the two ma
tions. 1t could not be doubted, that it would
at least be charged with conciliatory eXplana-
tions of the step which had been taken, and
with proposals to be substituted for the rejcc-
ted arrangement.--Reasona and universal
as this expectation was, it also has not been
fulfilled. From the first official disclosures
of the new Minister, it was found that he had
received no authority to enter into cxplana-
tions relative to either branch Of the arrange
ment disavowed ). nor any authority to sub
stitute proposals, as to that branch which con-
cerned the British Orders in Council and
finally, that his proposals with respect to the
other branch, the attack on the frigatc Chesa-
peake, were founded OH apresumption rcpcat-l
cdly declared to be inadmissible by the Uni.
ted States, that tue first step towards adjust
ment was due from thcm--the proposals at
the same time, omitting even a reference to
the Officer answcrable for the murderous ag-.
grcssion, and asserting claim not less con-
trary to the British laws, and British practise,
than to the principles and obligations CT the
| United States.
| The correspondence between the Depart
| mont of State and this Minister will show,
how nncssentially the features presented in its
ommcnccmcnt have been varied in. its pre-
grcss. II will show Slso, that, forgetting the
respect due to all governments, he did not re-.
frain from imputations ON this, which reqvir-.
| ed that no further recommendations should be
| received from him. The necessity of this
| step will be made known to his Britannick'
Majesty through the Minister Plenipotentiaty
Of the United States in London. And IT.
would indicate a want of confidence due TO \.
| government which so we'll understap|s, and
exacts what becomes foreign mimic. ers near il,
not to infer that the misconduct of is own n.
preventative will be viewed in the same hight,
IN which it has been REGARDED here The,