Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-17
= - tse .ys.o- Yors Commercial .adoer-

P:as, os Nous. Scra:,ier i'll this country,
81" "a ub;,e the non-intercourse bill was
SsSo,. Congress, he had a conference with
p;,, Mons. Serurier) in which he propos-
~ % him several questions relative to
a,,r ,fFairs with the French government.
rrl,ese questions. 1t seems, were answer
- NV Mems. Scrurier in the negative.-
Mr. Smith proposed to ''propound the Sc
-ar,, questions in writing, that he might
10 enabled to lay the answers before the
president with the utmost precision.
The qpesticns were reduced TO Wf.shSS'
o,J were as follows -
mtst. Were the Berlin and Milan de-
crees revoked in whole or In part on the
Srst day OF last November Or have
they at any time posterior to that day been
30 revosed =? Or have you instructions
from your government TO give to this go
ycrrment any assurance o. explanation IN
,.a,a,;on to the revocation OF Modification
oc these DEGREES
SIS I'D. Do the existing DEGREES Of France
admit into Frensh perts with or without
licences. American vessels laden with
the nroduce oSthe United States, and I'm
der what regulations and conditions
sc s,I. Do they admit into French ports
with or without licenses American vessels
Laden with articles not the produce OF the
II. s. and under what regulations and con
d;tions
ath. Do they permit American YES
se,s with or without licences to return
from France to the .. S. and upon what
terms and conditions
:. sth. Is the importation into France
of anv articles of the produce OF the u.
States absolutely prohibited and 1t so,
what are the articles so prohibited, and
esDecially arc tobacco and cotton.
9Th. Have you instructions from your
government to give to this government "a
nv assurance or explanation IN relation 10
the American vessels and eargoes seized
under the Ra,nbouillet decree:
Mr.. Smith submitted these questions to
Mr.. Madison, and stated to him the SUD-
stance Of the conference with Mons. Sc
rurier. Mr.. Madison refused to have the
questions put, for no other reason IL ap-
nears hut for fear Congress should call Tor
the information, and he should he under
the necessity of making communication
which would give his famous proclamau-
Oh the lie direct.
These questions the reader will Observe
were answered in conversations by Mons.
Serurier, in the negative, except the last
with respect to which Mons. Serurier &c
o,,red. and communicated to our eXecu-
five officially, says MIR. Smith. $ the fix
OIL determination of the French govern
mept not to restore the property that hGd
BEEN so ssised." Mr.. Madison then had
nmc;al information from the French go
yerpment before the passage oil the non
intercourse, that the property uWuso.
taken from our citizens. would not be re-
storcd. He had also Information, anu
u;sht have HAT, information officially ana
in writing, il he had not refused TO receive
Il tb., the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
we're not and would not be revoked. lie
knew then officially before the noa-'n'er-
course law was passed, that Ills p:oci.-
nation Of the ed OF November was found
oil on talsehood. and that it WAS the liked
denomination ofthe French government
never to perform an act that could in any
way Justify such a measure as the non
intercourse law against Great-britain.
This information was in the possession OF
the President previous to the passage Of
the non-iatereourse act.--He dld not com
muuicate it to Congress, though they we're
at the time legislating on the very snhjecl
and for want ofihis information they pass
ed one of the most foolish and wicked laws
that ever dissraced or distressed any ma,
ton which law could not have passed
had the President communicated the
information then in his possession
and that which he might have obtain
ed officially from the French minister
The constitution Of the United States.
which the President is sworn to support
says -" He (the FresidenD shall IRON
time 10 time Give, to the Congress infer