Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-07-24

GU III tft>~tA So.saSi<t<s AsA - .slsS 10 SOslt
gres, will, in scbsrancs, at least, be
adopted FOR the present, with certain
amendments, so as 10 give some
tine previous to Its going into opsra-
|tion.
tits not, however, denied by those
even WIZ, have introduced this mea-
sure that it is only of a temporary
nature, and than the u. S. may be dri-
ven to adopt more decided course
of conduct against the belligeren:s
before the present Congress cloies, or
at any rate soon after the meeting of
the new Legislature, in consequence
Of the feelings and sentiments OF the
Eastern division Of the United States,
which has almosr universally express
ed Misrepresentation OF the continuance
of the Embargo, & has begun TO shrw
symptoms of a determination not to
endure it much longer.
The government and party in pow
er unequivocally express their resolu-
ton not to remove the Embargo, ex-
cept by substituting war measures a
gainst both belligerents, unless either
or both should relax their restrictions
upon neutral commerce. ~ )
Upon this subject some important
communications have bcen made 10:
me by MFR. Madison, and several of
the members of this government,
which / will accordingly lay before.
you, as l confidently believe they were
delivered from an unfeigned desire
that they might produce the effect of
leading if possible to some adjustment
Of their differences with G.. Britain,
SO as to enable the government and
the nation to extricate themselves
from the present very distressing di-'
lemma in which they are involved.
Mr.. Madison expressed his firm
conviction that when the documents
referred to In the Presidents Message
should be seen by his maiesty's 60
vernment, and The cofeespchdences
between their minister in France with
the French minister respecting the de-
crees of Berlin and Milan, should be
deliberately considered; particularly
the strong remonstrance of Mr.. Atm-
strong TO the French government of
the 10Th Nov. 1907, that it would be
acknowledged that the United States
had exerted all the efforts which re-
monstrances could have been supposed
/ to be capable Of producing, and that
in failure OF. any effect from them, in
perspading the French government TO
withdraw their unjust restrictions up
on neutral commerce, recourse might
have been had by the United States
to measures of more activity and de-
cision against France but, that in tpe
mean time Great sBritain had 'iissu. d
her Orders in Council, before it was,
known whether the United States
would asquiesce IN the aggrsssions of
France, and thereby rendered it inn
possible to distinguish between the
conduct of the two belligerents, who
had equally committed aggressions a.
gainst the United States.
He went also into all the arguments
upon that subject which are detailed
in his correspondence with the Ame-
rican ministers in London and Paris,
as published in the documents referred
to in the Presidents Message, but
which do not now repeat, as my OBJ
ject is merely to inform you of the re-
suit of his observations, which was,
that as the world must be convinced |
that America had in vain taken all the
means in her power to obtain from G..
Britain and France Just attention to
her rights as neutral power, by re-
presentations and remonstrances, that
she would be fully justified in having
recourse to hostiliiies with either bel.
ligcrent, aud that she-oniy hesitated to
do so, from the difficulty Of contend
ing with both but that she must be
driven even TO endeavour TO maintain
her rights against the two greatest
powers in the World, unless either of
them should relax their restrictions
upon neutral commerce, in which case
the United States would at once side
with that power against the other
which might continue its aggressions.
Mr.. Madison observed to me that il
must be evident that the United States
would enter upon measures of hosti-
lily with great Reluctance, as he ac-