Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-07-08


icousentedt to such change; but, without sucl
an acquiescencc, it could not, upon anv prin.
ciple of natural or political law, be done.
| Ii, however, the emperor OF the French did
| ngpt in fact revoke, AS declared by the pro-
clamation, the Derlin and Milan DEGREES, the
act OF May did not become a compact be-
tween the Z. States, and France, ard, in that
case, his imperial majesty had no claim a.
gainst this government, founoed upon that
statute, to enforce the Inn-intercouse against
The other belliserent.
What, then, was the evidence, which had
Induced congress to consider these DEGREES
repealed, and which had accordingly in,lu-
ced them to pass the ron-intercnurse law ?
TO the president in this as in every other
case touching cur for isn relations, the le-
gislat;ire mast necessarily have looked for
pSf0'Diafiyn and recoRHlC aGdfion. FTona him
they ladin due Germ received what, tieyitI-
agined, they were officially bound 70 c0nsid-
er as satisfactory evidence of The REPEAL Of
these DEGREES, namely, his fTociamatn1t and
his message Containing a recommendation 70
enforce tile act of May, lS1e. In tcspect
then TO THIS evidence and in pursuance If this
recommendation, did congress pass the act
called the ncn-intercourse law Of the last
session.
The non intercourse law, let it be distinct
ly kept in mind, was passcd after Jhe arrival
ut Washington Of the new French s,ilisccr,
viz. on the Cd day Of March, 1911. And /
have, moreover, TO entreat my couDtrymen
deliberately and dispassionatety to view it in
connection with ny letters p togeneral ARM
strong OF the 5th OF jane and the 9Th of July,
1910, with my letter to general Terrcau q
the 1854 December, 1910, and with the iafor-
mationalereafter tetliled in the 8th article
OF this address. And then, thrust, they viii
have clear perception ofthe real ground Of
Mr.. Madison's enmiiy to me with respect TO
this measure.
Notwithstanding the precise protestations
so!emniy communicated TO the French gov
erIiment and openly promulgated 60 the whole
world, invirmeof theletters fromthc state de-
partment of Jmeand July, 1910, that salts
factory provision for restoring the properly,
lately surprised and seizedby the order or at
the instance Of the French government must
be Combined with repeal of the French G.
diets gyit2 q 1'iezv 10 q Uon-il4fcTcoAFSr 9Th
Great SsTtGiH, q yet, It is fact, that before
the passing OF the non-interCourse law OF the
last session, viz. on the Both February, 1911,
the French government did officially and f.r-
mally through their minister Mr.. Suirielir,
communicate to this vernment their liked
determination NOT 10 restore the PROPERTY 50
seized: And, moreover, from the informant
on, which had been received by Mr.. MAdi-
son, prior to the date OF the eon-iniercourse
low is ''.re =, ,sias Of passing 4, evident
to my mind, THAI the Bs,i.- and .liial--
erees lad not been reyoked, as, had 3een &c
ciared by tne proclamation.
5th. AZ the session OF Congress l9O9-l0, a
law was passed making some new regulations
as TO ministers and Barbary consuls, L this
law Mr.. Madison saw strong o5jections--so
strong, indeed, thathc has hitherto utterly dis
regardcdits provisions. Not having deemedit
advisable, at the time this bill was submitted
TO him for his appreciation, to returnIt with
mis- gative, and ncthaviBg considered il c5-
pedient 1T the last session TO Recommend, IS
the constitution requires, its repeal or It's mo-
dification; he at a late period of the stssi-
en- pressed me much to prevail upon some
member to introduce, with that view, Bill
into congress. / remarked to him as res
pectfuliy as could, that had powerful CD
| jcctions to every kind Of private mtcrmed-
ding with tire business Of members Of the le-
| gislature, and especially TO such secret modes
| of Recommending public measures to the con
sideiation of cougresss-de received my re-
/ mark with great perturbation and was evl-
! dehtlysmaCh dispjeased.
I Owing to the ,untoward provisions OF this
Law and to the unfortunate rules Of Mr.. Ma
! disun's calculating policy, SIX at least OF oui
| flnctionaTies abroad, not holding their APP
! pointments as this law directs, are not enu-
| tiedto and cannot receive the compensation
provided by law for their services.
| 6th. Sensible IS have ever been, TO The
insults and injuries, which the United State!
have. received, again snd again, from Cree
| britain, have at nGtimc beeubiind vothe rei
terated ou,Fages Of France. And whatever
] may have been ny view OF the c6icts ahC
| Proceedings Of elder CT these powers com
| pared with tho.e Of the other--I, in my dis
cpssisns with Their respective functionaries
| have invariably had my eye steady on thi
| rights, the interest ard the honor Of the Uni
[, ted States. Never have felt a dispsfitiei
to identity my country with either ofthebel
! l;gerent nations. Never I'D / abstain from
! deserving the rights or from vindicatiug "a.
| ------------------------
Eplrect9 a lettsr Jf0atthe SECRETARY Q
sue 70 Gen. .1r1sSgr0Ng, dated
June 5.b, 1910.
of, hover, the arrangement cohtempiat
/ cd ~ the law should be acceptable to III
Ffench government, you win understand
to be che purpose OF tie President, not to pro
coed IN gndasit effect III Gaze the late seizure
/ u 'the propefty of the citizens Of the UnNe.
States mas been followed by an absolute CO..
fsclGcn, md restoratan be finahy rcfusct
/ The only groand, short % d preliminary gcs
toration o. TIC property, on winch the con
tsnPla.c1 arrangement. can be made, VIII u
i ga understanding that the cont,scation IS &c
vertiO G, and thas il viii become Immediate
| ly taC ai5ject 81 discussion with a REASONABLY
I prospect di justice 20 our injured citizens"
| gy-f--..-s r =, y.t,.. f.., sI. &C., ,,...,. i.