The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-29

gress of both the Presidents, Jefis rson aud
Madison, ever since the autumn of the year
1867, are record evidence that the Execu.
tive has never, failed to admonish the natl
on, in n constit ntional way. of the dangers To
be apprehended. as well from the French
Emperor as from the British Cabinet -
| Let US go to the facts at once, and appeal
20 testimony which is universally notorious
Ertraet from Mr. Je6erson's Message TO
Congress Of the dute of Decem6er Is,
| 1907.
he communications now made, show
| ing the great and Increasing dangers with
which our vessels, our seamen. and merchan
disc are threatened, on the high seas, and
| elsewhere. from the bsHigcrent ho7vers Of
Eurohe and it being of the greatest inn
| portancc TO keep in safety those essential re
sources, deem it my duty to recommend
the subject To the ConSidera tioa OF Congress,
who will doubtless perceive all the advan.
tage Which may be expected from an in
hiDision oil the departure of our vessels from
the ports'ot the United States"
The words ION The high secs" manifest
| ly refer to Great Britain willis. the words
and elsewhere" clearly indicate the
ports OF France and those of her allies. -
That France and her dependencies were in.
Guided, appears also by the phrase "6eIE.
Seren ftoTvers Of Euf0he ;" which, of course
\
vel as by one OF the documents accompapy-
ing the message which announced the deci-
sion ct the council OF prizes. in the case of
The Horizon.
| On the 22d of March. 1905, Mr.. Jeffsr-
son transmitted to Congress another mes
sage, with certain documents relating to
French affairs, among which was letter
from Regner, grand judge and minister of
justice, wherein he says, =" His majesty no
hat he aI mi
per 10 express any exception in his DEGREES
lof Der'nl there is no ground to make any
IN the execution. with respect to any fAing
zohntSoeVer." No warning could be more ex :.
piIcit than this.
letter from M. Champagny to General
Armstrong, OF the date OF October z 1907
also communicated to Congress bv the Pre-
sident, states that his majesty has consi-
dered every neutral vessel going from Eng
lish ports, with cargoes of English merchan
die, or of English origin, as lawfully seiza-
| Die by French armed vessels Tins was
quite sufficient notice to put cur merchants
ON their guard.
On the S0th of March. 1903 Mr.. Jefferson
likewise communicated To Congress n letter
from NJ. Champagny to Gen. Armstrong,
! dated January Is, 1907. In this letter the
French minister says: His majesty ready TO
consider the United States as associated
/
to defend themselves against England has
not taken any defnitive measures towards
the American vessels which may have been
brought INTO our ports /; he has ordered that
they should remain sequestered, until de-.
ciSion may be had thereons according to the
dispositions which shall have been expressed
by the government of the United States -
| This language was sufficiently explicit to be
comPrehended by the NEST shallow under
standing.
Indeed. so particular was Mr.. Jefferson in
giving information to Congress, and so lit.
tie did he rely upon the friendly intentions
OF the European powers, that in a message
| bearing date the 22nd of March, 1903, he
I says, "\Vhen we find that no conduct on our
part, however impartial and friendly, has
been sufficient to ensure from either bellige.
rent Just respect for our rights, am desi
rous that nothing shall be omitted on my
part which may add to your information on
this subject, or contribute to the correctness
OF the views which should be formed" Ac
cordingly he submitted to the representatives
| OF the people the documents from which we
have quoted, together with others, all hav
| ing paipabIe tendency to shew the encreas
| ing dangers to commerce from the French
as we'll as from the English system of res.
| trictions.
At the opening of the second session of the
| iShlh SOuSr6SS, on the otn OF November,
1908 Mr.. Jefferson, after stating that new
efforts had been made to effect an adjust
ment with the belligerent powers, declares
that g from France no answer has been
received. nor any indication that Tie re
qHfStte change tn her DEGREES is conten,hLa
ted Can any arrangement of words, in
the English tongue, be more plain and IN
Eteili8ible This message was accompani
ed by the documents on which the assertion
was made ; and, in particular, by an Elk
tract OF a letter from Gen Armstrong to Mr..
Madison, dated Paris, 5th April. 1903"
wherein the General says, " The Emperor
has left Paris, [it is said for Spain and had,
ut no time before he set Our, Indicated anu
| 6tferaf.oH in the Uie7vs which ORIGINATE hro
duced The der eeS in question:" what could
be more admonilory
There also accompanied the same mes
age, an " extract of letter from Genera,
Armstrong to the Secretary of State, dated
Paris. 26;h July, 1909" in which our minis.
ter uses the following language : - owe it
as well to you as to myself, to declare. that
every attempt for that purpose fan adjust.
ment OF dlfierences] hitherto made, has fail.
ed, and under circumstanceS. (Which. 6y no
means, indicate any charge, in this RESPECT,
/or me bctter."
BY the time Congress met in the summer
lof 1909, Mr. Erskine's arrangement had ia
Ken place. and new complexion was, for
the moment, given To our foreign affairs by
/ that transaction. Reconciliation with Eng
land, it was confidently believed, would lead
70. rarC iiat., Al