Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-29

oxc;ted little concern among our merchants
and seaE,ring people because they saw il
the DrociaInatlOD, hot an WcTtd"e@, OUT al"
miuished danger OF impressments and they
knew that the Berlin decree and the emperor
Interpretation oft, though violating our rights
.by a treaty with France, and the law OF hat
ons,---would not cndanger rlahy-oi our Ves-
sells. seeing the number OF French armed YES
scs. commissioned to capture them, was Eot
very considerable. That Bonsparte has pos
sessed himself of so many vessels and somuch
merchandise of our citize:ss, has been chiefly
owing to his practising various deccptions,
ooanst which cur cynt government lntcrpos.
ed to eFectual guard on the contrary, their.
neooc;at;ons and proceedings In relation &c
France, rather tended to Put car citizens OF
their guard; and to rende: them lnsensible &c
the imperial srarcs in which so many haze
been caught.
The third paper WAS a letter from general
Armstrong 10 The frcrch minister Cham
pagny and the turn Mr. Champagny's AZ
swer. On these two last papers, made the
following remarks, in my letter to governor
Sullivan before mentioned viz. " Both these
ought, in form or substance, aso to have boca
made public The latter Champagny's al
swerl would have furnished to our natio. sol.e
idea of the views and expectations OF france.
But both were Withdrawn by the Prcseci.',
tobe deposited among other executive secrets:
while neither presented any nesy ground 20
justify an embargo" WHY these two papers
were for time kept secret, you will presently
see. But first be pleased to read the letters
themselves.
Ger. .4,mstrsns's letter 20 NJ. Chantas"y.
PARIS, Sept. 24, 1907
S1R--I have this moment karned that a
new and extended construction, highly injuri-
Gus to the commerce Of the United States,
was about to be given to the imrerial decree
of the 2lst of Nov. last. It is therefore III
culnbent upon me to ask from. your excellen-
cy an explanation of his m, jestys views IN re-
lation to this subject, and particularly whether
it be his majestys intention, IN any degree, to
infiact the obligations Of the treaty now sub
sisting between the y. States and the French
empire
l pray your cxcellency, sc. sc. sc.
(Signed) JOHN ARMSTRONG.
His excellcncy the minister OF
foreign relations. ,ro,s
Mr.. Ckamtagnv's anssver
FoNTAINBLEAU, Oct. 7, 1907.
SIR--You did me the honor Oh the Oath of
September, tie request me to send you some ex-
plantations as to the execution CT the decree Of
blockade OF the British islands, as to vessels
os the United States.
The provisions of all the regulations and
treaties relative to a state of blockade have APP.
peared applicable to the existing circumstance,
and it results from the explanations which
have been addressed to me by the imperial
procurcur general of the council Of prizes,
that his majesty has considered every neutral
Ucsset going from English forts, zuAh csnsoes
Of English merchandise, or Of English origin,
aslazyfuHy seized by French armed UesseIs.
The decree of blockade has been now lssu-
cd eleven months. The principal powers OF
Europe, far from protesting against Its provi-
sions, have adopted them--They have per-
ceved that its execution must be complete,
to render it more effectual and it has seem
ed easy to reconcile these measures with the
observance Of treaties, especially at time
when the infractions by England, OF the rights
Of all maritime powers, renders their interest
common, and tend to unite them in support Of
the Same cause. Accept, sc.
(signeN CHAMPAGNy.
His excellcncy Gen. Armstrong,
minister plenipotentiary OF the
United States.
Every reader can now Judge Of the correct
ness of my observations on these letters, made
more than three years ago He will see that
the only subject of Armstrong; letter, WIS
the emperor's Interpretation of his Perrin dc
cree, as stated in Regnier's letter, of which
Gas have already remarked) no secret was :.
made and that Champagny's answer repeats
the cmpcror's decision and SO tar neither
contained any secret. But mark the last pa
ragraph of Champagny's letter OF which ,
said, that it " woaId have furnished to or n'-
ton some idea of the views and cSpcctar :
tons of France" | now add, that 1t also
presents to us All idea sufficiently clear OF Mr.
Jcfferson's views in recommending the per.
manent embargo--viz. to cooperate with the
principal powers of Europe in rendering
- ,rf consequently g more effSS.