Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-12-22

DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANYING THE MESSAGE OF THE
acknowledgements.
MR.. SMITH, SECRETARY OF STATE, TO
gen. ARMSTRONG.
| Department ef State, 9uly $, 1870
SIR. 8.
The arrival Of the John Adams brought
your letters of the 1st, 4th, 9TH, and lo''l
April.
From that Of the 10th April, It appears
that the seizures Of the American properly,
lately made, had been followed by It's acsn-
al sale, and that the proceeds had been DE-
posted in the enperor's caisse Price. You
have presented, in such just colors, the e.
norlnity of this outrage, that have only to
signify to you, that the President entirely
approves the step that has been taken by
you, and that he does DOT doubt that it will
be followed by you, or the person who may
succeed you, with such further interposi-
ton, as may be deemed advisable. He in
structs you, particularly, 10 make the French
government sensible Of the deep impression
made here, by SO signal AN aggression on
the principles ofjustice and OF good faith i;
and to demand every PREPARATION OF which
the case is susceptible. II it Dc not the
purpose of the French government TO re
move every idea of friendly adjustment
with the United States, it would seem i'm,
possible but that reconsideration OF this
violent proceeding must lead TO redress, OF
it, as preliminary to a general accommo-
dation Of the differences between the two
countries.
AT the date Of the last communication
from Mr.. Pinkney, he had not obtained,
from the British government, an acceptance
Of the condition, on which the French So
vernment was willing to concur, in putting
an end TO all the edic,s of both against our
neutral commerce. If he should, after
wards have succeeded, you will OF course,
on receiving information Of the fact, imme
. eliatr!y claim from the French government
the fuIilinent of its promise; and by trans
hitting the result TO MIR. Pinkney, you will
cooperate with him in completing the re-
moval of all the illegal Instructions to our
commerce.
Among the documents now sent is ano-
Their copy of the act of congress, repeating
the non intercourse law, but authorising a
renewal of i. against Great Britain, in case
France shall repeat her edicts, and Great
Britain refuse 70 follow the example, and
pee versa. You have been already interim
ed that the president is ready 10 exercise
the power vssted in Tim for such purpose,
as soon as the occasion shall arise. Should
the other experiment, in the hants of Mr..
Piukrey, have failed, YOU will make the
act OF congress, and the disposition of the
president, The subject Of formal commu-
nicasion to the French government and it
is not easy 10 conceive any ground, even
speclous, on which the overture specified
III the ATT can be declined.
1.-THE non.intercourse law. in anv of its
notifications, was Objectionable to the en-
peror OF the French, that law no longer ex-
its.
If he be ready, as has been declared. 10
the letter of the duke of Galore, Of Fehru-
airy II, to do justice to the United States,
in the case of a pledge OH their part not to
submit to the British ,edicts, the opper,uni-
,y tor making good the declaration is now
afforded. Inste;d of submission, the pre-
sident is ready, bv renewing the non inter-
course against Great Britain, to oppose to
her orders in council measure, which is
of a character tina. ought TO satisfy any rea-
sonabls expectation.
fit should be necessary for you to meet
the question, whether the intercourse
will be renewed against Great Britain, in
case she should not compreh bend in th- re-
peal of her rdicts her blockadcs, which are
not consistent with the law of nations, you
may, should it be found necessary, let it be