Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-05-11


out the aid, the cooperation OF our own r u
lers? And if, in concert with them, how but
by treachery But, it is said, they have made
a &C compact with him: (and this is the knot
twisted about our necks:) and every agree.
ment ought to be sacredly performed True,
honest men will always fulfil their engage
ments; but where promises and "compacts
are mutual, where something is to be perform
ed on one side as we'll as on the other II one
party fails in the performance, the other IS
discharged. The pretended ''compact was
that if France revoked or modified her DEGREES
SO that they should cease to violate our neu'
trail commerce, and G. Britain did not revoke
or modify her Orders in Council In like man
ner, then the u. States were to prohiols all
importations of the products and merchandlze
of the British dominions. But France did not
SO revoke or modify her DEGREES: and Presi-
dent Madison's proclamation of November 2,
1910, stating that the French DEGREES in ques-
ton had been SO revoked or modified zvas false
in fact; for the Emperors declaration In the
letter of his minister Champagny to the Anne
rican minister in Paris, was conditional, a.
mounting only to a Promise TO revoke ms de-
crees, on certain future events, which mignt
or might not take place. But 1t was the Jacf
of their actual reDocaticn !; not Promise to re-
poke, which the President was authorised by
law to proclaim. 1t was this unfounded pro-
clamation, for issuing which Mr.. Madison
ought to have been impeached; combined with
the Emperor's conditional or promised reYo-
cation Of his DEGREES, that tzuistcd the Knot o.
bout our necks, to cut which, the government
is now preparing to plunge our country INTO
war with Great Britain. But, before this s! knot
received the finishing tzoist, by an act ca Con-
gross a new minister arrived from france
AS he had left France long after the hrst OF
November 1910, on which day Mr.. Madison
had proclaimed the French DEGREES to have
been revoked, it was supposed he could set
tie the point whether they had been revoked
or not; for the conduct OF the Emperor, III
seizing and OBTAINING American vessels sub
sequent to the first day OF November, had eX-
cited doubts even among creduloas and deYot-
ed partizans Of France, whether the DEGREES
had been revoked. The then Secretary OF
state, Mr.. Smith, ahirms that he very soon eX-
pressed his doubts to thePresident, even within
about month after his proclamation had been
issued. He was, therefore, the more ready
to seek information of the new French minis
ter, as soon as he had been received by the
President. Mr.. S. accordingly conversed With
the French minister, on the subject, OF the
DEGREES and the situation of our commerce
with Fftnce; concluding the interview by OBJ
serving to the French minister, that he would
propose in writing, the several questions VIZ a
had been stated in the conversation. I4i
Smith committed them to paper, IN the form
of a letter to the French minister. The hrSt
question was were the Berlin and Milan de-
crees revoked in zvhole or in tart on the hrst
dav Of last November Or, have they at
any time posterior to that day been SO re-
voked Or, have you instr.5ctions from
your government to give to this govern
ment any assurance or explanat on IN
relation to the revocation or modification OF
those DEGREES ?"-This letter was dated the
Goth of February 1911, and congress was of
necessity to close their session on the third OF
March. The Information sought BY that ques-
ton, was ofthe highest importance to the com
merce, and now in It's consequences, to the
.heace of our country. But Mr.. Madison dis
approved of it Mr.. Smith, " entreated him,
bot in the most delicate manner, not to with
hold from Congress any information that might
beuseful to them al SO momentous juncture."
Such arc Mr.. Smiths own words, In his pub.
lie of statement the case.
The letter was not sent. The information
was not obtained. And Congress, Cropping
in the dark, or rather walking only by the
light shed upon their path BY Mr.. Madison,
light that served but to make arkness visible)
by an act passed the second of March forbid
ding all importations from Great Britain, gave
the finishing tzvist to the knot. Our COM
mercc, consequently, for whole year and
more, has been struggling for breath under
the hands of the hang,nan, and now by the
embargo it is stranglcd. Nothing remains,
but to cut down the body and burn it under
the pallows This the impending war is TO