The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-21
Eciract IF a Letter yfj'om n,emder IF Con-
kh.. y i:.a,- e IL, u


Is. Minister, and Mr.. Monroe is inst laid on
or tables, a copy of which You'll find en-
closed.
After tedious debate, we have this
moment IL o'c.ock) passed the volunteer
bill rs amended by the committee on foreign
relations, by vote of 81 to 2S.-Thc late
communication, has greatlyinvigoratedjso mc
of our timd friends, and will serve t. sp IL
them up, to be more dccis;ve.''
MESSAGE
From the President IF tie United Safes, trans
snitting copies M a la:e corresbonasncs between
the British .ifnister and the Secretary Of State.
Affirming jwrthsr evidence Of the hostile boiler of
the British goVsranacn. against Our nationai
rights January t6sh, 1919. Real, ana ordered
to be oyinted.
10 the Senate and House Of Representatives
ofthe United States.
/ communicate to Congress letter from
the envoy extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentiary OF Great Britain to the Secretary
of State, with the answer of the latter.
The continued evidence afforded in this
correspondence, of the hostile policy of the
British government against our national
rights, strengthens the considerations re-
commencing and urging the preparation of
adequate means for maintaining them.
JAMES MADISON.
Washington, Jan. 10th, 1911.
MIR. FOSTER TO Mr.. MONROE.
Washington, Dec. 18th, 1911.
SIR did not mean to have written to
you 1T this moment on the subject of our
late correspondence, but that have had
the modification to perceive statements,
circulated from highly respectable sources,
which give Il view of the pretensioas of G..
Britain relative to the United States, not
warranted by any of the letters hich / had
the honour to address to YOU and which, at
a time when discussions are continuing So
important to the two countries, might, II left
unrcctihed, produce an effect highly to be
lamented by both the American and British
governments, nasmuch as BY creating uil-
necessary irritation, they might throw OBJ
StacleS in the way OF restoration of
friendly understanding between them. ~
find it asserted in the statement referred:
to, that have, in the name of my govern
ment, demanded that the United States go
vernment should pass law for the intro
tluction of British goods into the American
ports, and alsothat the United States should
undertake to force France to receive into
her harbours British manufactures. =
beg permission, sir, to declare, that nei-
ther of these demands have been made by
me, and that my meaning must not have
been understood, If such was conceived to
have been it's import / could not have de-
Jnanded the passage OF such law as above
stated, because my government does not
pretend to interfere with the internal gov
eminent of friendly power, nor lid mean
todemand that America should force France
to receive our manufactures.
All meant to say was, that the adnissi-
on of French commerce, while that Of Eng
land has been excluded from the u. States
ports, was regarded by Great Britain as
highly unfiiendly in America, and that
continuance of such policy, would be retalia-
ted upon by Great-Brtain with similar re-
strictions on her part, which was SO far
merely an Offering of like for like. But
while the American non-importation act ex-
Guides British trade from the United States
ports, it.must be recoliected that it goes still
further, and excludes also British armed
ships from American ports, while it admits
those. of the enemies OF Great-BritaID. +" A
naturalization is responsible for the equality
of its rules of conduct towards the bellige-
rent powers" Ito use the words of an Il ne
1ican Secretary of state in the gear 1896 y
and thereferc, the part of the law which es-
tablishes an inequality, wasSGstsy an. objcc.
of more serious complaint on tie part of o
Britain. You are aware, sir, of the advan-
tage which his majcsty's enemies have de
rived from this state of inequality, which
enables them, though possessing pore IN
this hemisphere, continually to prey Oh the
trade of his IN jesty's subjects, secure OF a
refuge for their cruizers and their prizes.
ne Vi CDITy W HIS ildJcSty
ships, under these circumstances, might
perhaps justify Great Britain in asserting
that whatever reason she may have for re-
pealing or modifying her orders in council,
so as to lessen or entirely remove the pres
sure now unavoidably laid OIL the trade of
America as a neutral nation, she might yet
refuse to enter into any discussion on that
subject with the United States, until, either
by the revocation of the prohibition aboye
stated, or the placing all the belligerents an
der the same prohibition, America should
cease to violate the duties OF a neutral ma
ton.
With respect, however, to the supposed
demand that America should force the en-
try Of British manufactures into France, it
IS most particularly necessary that should
explain myself; as total misconceptions
appears t. have taken place upon this point.
The question Of retaliation on the French
DEGREES, is directly one between England <
France. In consequence of the extraordi-
nary blockade of England, we have in our
fence been obliged to blockade France,
and prohibit all trade in French articles, in
return for the prohibition by France of all
trade iii English articles. This measure Of
retaliation it is wished, should operate on
France alone bat from the trade carried
on with France by America, it unavoidably
operates also on her ; it is measure to de-
stioy the French trade, in retuTn for the 81
10 s 1T =.