Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-06-14

ed 10 the Newspapers he copy laid before
Congress by the President hid been cut cut
of newspaper and so had the substance,
il NOT the words of Rsgnier's letter. bus
they had excited little concern among our
merchants and sra.taring peoples because
they saw in the proclamation, not an ia.
creased, but diminished danger of Impress
ments; and they knew that the Berlin de-
cree and the empsror's Interpretation of IL,
though violating our rights by treaty with
France, and the law of nations, would noe
endanger many of our vessels, seeing the
number of French armed vessels, COM
0fssone to capture them, was not yer, con-
siderable. That Bonaparte has possessed
himself of so many vessels and SO much
merchandise of our citizens, has been chief
ly owing to his practising various dccep-
tions, against which our government inter-
posed no eifectual guard on the contrary,
their negotiations and proceedings in rela.
ton to France, rather tended TO put our CT.
tizens of their guard, and to render them
lnsensble to the Imperial snares in which
so many have been caught.
The third paper was letter from Gen.
Armstrong to the French minister Cham.
pagny; aud the fourth, Mr.. Champsgny's
answer. On these two las, papers, made
the following remarks, in my letter to gov.
Sullivan before mentioned; viz. " Both
these ought, in form or substance, also to
have been made public, The letter Cham
paguy's answer would have furnished to
our nation som. idea Of the views and ex.
pecta,ions of France. But both were with-
drawn by the President, to be deposited A.
mong other executive secrets: while nei-
Their presented any neru ground to justify
an embargo" Why these two papers were
for a time kept secret, YOU will presently
see. But hrst be pleased to read the letters
| the mselves.
Gen. Armstrong $ letter to Mr.. Champagne.
PARIS, Sept. -, 1907.
SlR--I have this moment learned, thata
new and extended construction, highly in-
furious to the comMerce OF the United
States, was about to be given to the impe-
rial decree Of the 2tst OF Nov. last. Ii is
therefore incumbent upon me TO ask from
your Excellency an explanation OF his Ma.
iesty's views in relation to thIsss0bject, and
particularly whether it be his Majesty's in-
tentions, in any degree, to infract the OBJ
legations of the treaty now subsisting be-
tween the United States and the French
empirel
Ipray your excellency, &c. &c. &c.
(Signed) JOHN ARMSTRONG.
His Esc'y heA1iaister efForeignRelations.
Mr.. champagny's Aaswer.
| FoNTAINBLEAU, Oct 2, 1907.
| SrR-You did me the honor, on the oath
of Sept. to request me to send you some ex-
plantations as TO the execution Of the decree
of blockade of the British islands, as to yes.
sells of the United States.
The provisions of all the regulations and
treaties relative to state oil blockade, have
appeared applicable to the existing circum.
stance, and it results from the explanations
which have been addressed to me by the
imperial procureur general Of the couucilof
prizes, that his majesty has considsred eOess
ry neural vessel going f,on, English porfs.
NTH cargoes Of English merchandise. or ef
English origin, as lawfuAy seed BY French
armed vessels.
The decree of blockade has been now is.
sued eleven months. The principal powers
of Europe, far from protesting against its
provisions, have adopted them. They
have perceived thar ITS execution must be
complete, TO render it more eHectusl; and
il has seemed easy to reconcile these mea-
sures with the observance Of treaties, es.
pecially at time when the infractions, ~
England, of the rights of all maritime pow.
ers, render their interests common, and
tend to unite them in support of the same
cause. Accept. &c. &c. e
(Signed) CHAMPACNI.
His ExceAency General armstrong.
Minister Plenpotentia,y 81 she u States.
Every reader can now judge of the corr