Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-11-20

sented this proposition, or insult, asst was
by many considered. We shalt first hear
what Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney said,
when the subject was first started by the
British commissioners.
!" Wereplied in very explicit terms TO the
British commissioners that we considered
their proposition altogether lnadmissible on
our part, and not likely to accomplish, if we
could agree 10 it, the object which they con-
templated by it: that such proposition to
our government, under the circumstances
attending il, would amount, in substance,
70 an offtr 10 it of the alternative between.
the treaty, and war with France, since If
our government refused 10 give the salts
faction which they desired, the treaty would
be lost: and If such satisfaction was given
and the treaty concluded, & France should
persist 10 execute her decree, according to
the construction given OF it here, war seem
ed 70 be inevitable: that If it should hap.
pen that our government should approve
the treaty, it was not to be presumed that it
would make any sacrifice, or stipulate any
thing not contained in the instrument, espe-
ciaIly so very important an act as that allud-
ed to, as the condition on which it was to
be obtained that the arrangement OF our
differences and other concerns with Great
Britain. was an affair which rested on its
own ground and had no connection with our
relations with France that his mslesty's
government ought to suppose that the u.
States would not fail in any case to support
with becoming dignity their rights with a.
ny power, and that it must be sensible that
it would be more at liberty TO enter into
suitable friendly explanations with the go
vernment of France, on the subject of the
decree in question, after the adjustment Of
their differences with Great Britain, than
while they existed, as it likewise must be,
that the prospect of obtaining satistae-
tory explanations on that point, OF France,
would be better while they acted under theli
own impulse as an independent power, than
it would be in case they entered into an en-.
gagement Of the kind proposed with her adj
versary."
rYide Manroe and Pmkney'' letter to Mr.
Madison Of Sd gaauary, 1907
mHear what Mr.. Madison himself says, in
stating his objections to this treaty, and the
note appended:
&c No treaty can be sanctioned by the u.
States under the alternative presented by
the declaratory note on the subject of the
French decree of November 81. 1t is hop
ed that the occasion which produced it will
have vanished, and that it will not be re-
newed in connection with future sigma
ture on the part of Great Britain: The ut
most allowable in such case would be a
candid declaration that in signing or ratlfy-
ing the treaty, it is understood on the part
of Great Britain that nothing therein con-
tanned would be bar to any measures
which, if 10 such treaty existed, would be
lawful as retaliation against the mea-
sures Of an enemy. And with such de-
elara,ion, it would be proper, on the part
Of the United States, to combine an equ'.
valen, protest against its being understood
that either the treaty or the British decia-
ration would derogate from any such rights
or mmunities, against the effect OF such re-
taliatinc measures, which would lawfully
appertain to them, as neutral nation, IN
case no such treaty or declaration existed
wide Mr.. Madson's letter to Monroe 81
Pinkney, ef 2oM May, 1907
mo treaty can be sanctioned by the u.
States under the alternative" &c. Then
we would ask how the president can consi
der the Berlin and Milan DEGREES revoked,
when that revocation is presented wnder tie
alternative that the United States shall
cause their rights to be respected, or, in 0.
Their words, to go to war with England.--
The British commissioners asked no more,
than that we would resist the operation Of
the Berlin decree, which we did admit, if
persisted in by France, would be viola
ton of our neutral righta, or permit Eng