Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-11-29
TslioD Citizens Of the Senate, and
of NE Heuse of Rebresentatives

" 60e 11eaSe " NfpFeStUt0IVfS
At the period OF our last meeting, ha
the satisfaction of communicating an adius,
mcnt with one of the principal beligerer
nations, highly important in itself, and still
more SO as presa9ing a more extended &C
commodasion. II is with deep concern,
am nov to inform you, that The favorabl
prospect has been overcloudcd, BY refusa
of the British government to abide by tn
act of its Nsinistersp ienipotentiary and b,
Its ensuing policy towards the e.. States, a
seen through the communicates Of the MI
mister sent to replace him.
Whatever pleas may be urged fora e,isa
vowal OF engagements formedby diplomats
functionaries, n cases where by the term!
OF the engagements mutual ratification is
reserved; or where notice at the time may
have BEEN given, OF departure from instruc-
lions /; or in extraordinary cases, essentially
violating the principles Of equity disa-
vowal could net have been apprehendrd in
a case, where 10 such notice or violation
existed; where no sach ratification was re-
served and more especially, where, as. is
now IN proof, an engagement. to be execGt-
cd Wlthou. any such ratification, Was con-
tcmplatSd by the instructions given, and
where it had, with good faith. bscn carried
into Immediate execution ON the part Of the
United States.
These considerations nns Sewing rrssrsirl-
-sdtne British government from disavow ins
the arrangement, by virtue OF which is or.
ders Ia council were to be revoked, and Ike
event authorising the renewal OF commercial
intercourse, having thus not taken place !;
1t necessarily became question Of equal
urgency and importance, wlt1her Inc act
prohibiting that intercourse was not 10 be
cons idsred as remainingin legal force.---
ms question being, after due deliberations,
determined in the affirmative, proclams
ton to that effect was issued. 1t could not
bat happen, however, that a return TO this
state OF things, from that which had followed
an execution OF the arrangement BY the u.
States, would involve difficulties. With q
view TO diminish thess rs much as possible,
Tue instructions from the secretary of the
srsasury, now laid befor: you, were tran $
United to the collectors the several ports.
1t permitting British vessels to dspart,
without giving bonds not to proceed to
their own ports, 1t should appear that the
TENOR OF legal authority has not been strictly
pursued, It is TO be ascrihed TO the anxious
desire which was felt, that no individuals
should be injured by SO unforeseen an oc-
currence And rely on the regard ol
Congress tor the equitable interests of our
own citizens, 70 adopt Whatever further
provisions may be found requisite, for a
general remission ofpenal,ies involaatarily
incurred.
The recall OF The d;savowed minister hav.
ing been followed by the appointment OF a
successor, hopes were INDUCED that the new
mission would contribute to alleviate the
disappointment which had been produced
and to remove the Car es which had so Ions
embarrassed the good understanding of the
TWO nations. Ii could not be doubted, that
il woald at least be charged with conciiiato.
ny explanations of the step which had beer
taken, and with proposals to b. substituted
for the rejected arrangement. Reasonable
and universal as this expectation was, it also
has not been fulfilled. From the first 9th.
Sial disclosures or the new minister, 1t was
found that he had received no authority te
xnicr inso explanations relative to either
branch OF the arrangement disavowed; no.
any authority to substitute proposals, ..as &c
that b.alch, which eonceraed the British
Orders in Council: And finally, that MI
proposals with respect 10 the other branch
lne attack ont..e irigate Chesapeake, were
isandrd ON presumption, repeatedly de
ssasea to Sc madniss1le by the y. ss''-s