Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-02
DOCUMENTS
COPY
Nh. MoNRoE, TO Mr.. BARLOW,
nehnrtnaent of STATE, .Wov. 81, 1911

= .
I HAVE. the honor to transmit to you
conv Of the presidents message to congress at
th.. commencement of the session, and OF the
documents which accompanied It.
In this very interesting communication you
viii find that the president has done justice
20 hoth the belligerents. He has spoken OF
each as it deserves. To France he has given
the credit due for the revocation OF her dc
crees. while he has bestowed On those lnJa-
r;es which remain unredressed, their merited
censpre. OfEngland he has spoken In terms
of censure only, because she had IN no re-
snect changed her unfriendly policy Thus
tbe whole subject of our foreign relations Is
nrexented fully and fairly before the leglsla-
ture and the public, and, am happy to add,
that so far as an opinion can now be formed OF
,ba ;nnression made, the public sentiment Is
n strict harmony with that expressed by the
execntive. Few, if any, seem to be willing
70 rehnouish the ground which has been Ia
teo nv the non-impoltatlon act; and most
aseem TO be resolved, if Great Britain does not
ravoke her orders in council, to adopt more
decisive measures towards her.
Iftbe United States experience any en-
horra ss,nent in the course which they are pur-
suing in support of their rights or TAIL IN the
ultimate success, it will be owing to the con-
duct of the French government. II cannot
he doubted if France remains true to her en-
oapements by faithful observance OF the re-
Tocation of her DEGREES, and acquns herself
IN the various other points ON which you are
instructed, to the Just claims OF this country
+h,+ Great Britain will be compelled 10 iolto"
her example: in which event the war Will I'M
shY sss ppfgsssr new Character s senl
rents, niti eating its calamities to both them,
as well as difuslng the happlest effect or
neu raj states.
The p.at which France ought to act is 4
,lain one. Il is dictated, IN every clrcum
s,ance. by the clearest principles of justice
and soundest maxims of policy. The presi
dent has presented to view, in the message to
CONGRESS. the prominent features OF this plan
bv stating equally our rights and injuries Ii
viii scarcely be necessary for me TO SO into
anv Of the details, which are already so wei
known to YOU I will briefly advert to them
II j. not sufficient in the final decision OF
canse brought before French tribunal, thai
if should appear that the French DEGREES are
renealed An active prohibitory policy should
he adopted TO prevent seizures on the Princl-
-lss Of those DEGREES. All that Is expected IS
tnat France will act in conformity to her own
PRINCIPLES. If that is done, neutral natlons
would then have an important object before
them. and one belligerent at least prove thai
= contended for principle rather Than for pow
ar thar i, sought the aid OF neutral nations
in support of that principle, and dld not MAKE
il pretext to enlist them on Its SIDE, 10 de-
molish its enemies. the abuses that are prac-
Used by French privateers III tAe Baltic, the
Channel, Mediterranean & wherever else tney
e.n;ze. have, of late more especially, reached
an enormous height In the Baltic they have
Keen more o5ious fromthe circumstancethath
Ivasexpectedthatt they hadbeencompetely sup
,recsed there. Till of late these abuses were
in,n,tcd to the privateers of Denmark, which
induced the president to send special mis-
IN 70 the Danish government, which 1t was
,,nde.stood, was producing the desired CT
fsct But it was now represented that the
same evil is produced by collision between
49, ,,rivateers Of Denmark & those OF France
IIance il assumes worse character; to sell
lures equally unlawful, is added by carrying
4ha causes to Paris, still more oppressive de-
lays. ,;,,;,u .,
II the zFehCh S"NS 'uti'@'' :. r. . E
adoDt the general rule alluded to, ID tayor OF
American commerce, it is presumed that 1t
willpot hesitate to define explicitly the causes
of seizure, and to give such precise orders TO
It's cruizers, respecting them, with an assuf-
auee CT certain p,niShmentto those VINO Vlo-
late them. as will prevent all abuse In future.
Whatever orders are given, 1t would be satls-
factory to this government 10 DC maze ac'
=. - u
ouainted With them. The president Wlshes /, 70
Know, with great accuracy, the principles oy
which the French government INTENDS 10 DC
governed, ii regard to neutral commerce. a
frmk explanation on this subject will be re-
ea,acd as proof of the friendly policy which