The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-06-30
y II cofyof This NOTE has nos been recA-
ped by the sefartmenr Of StGte.
lCOPY.l
Mr.. Russell to Lord Castlereogh.

18, Bcntick-street, 25th April, 1912.
$ My LoRD--l have the honor to acknow-
ledge the receipt of the note which your
Lordship addressed to me ON the 21st of this
month, inclosing, by the command of His
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, copy
of a Declaration accompanying an Order
in Council, which had that day been pass
ed.
1t would have afforded me the highest
satisfaction, in communicating that deClara-
ton and order tony government, to have
represented them as conceived in the true
spirit of Cancellation, and with due regard
TO the honor and interests OF the United
States. regret, however, that so far from
being able to perceive in them any evidence
of the amicable sentiments which are pro-
tessed to animate the councils of his royal
highness, am compelled to consider them
as an uneeuivocal proof of the determine
ton of his Britannia ma;esty's government
TO adhere to system, which, both as to
principle and fact, originated, and has been
continued in error and agains. which the
government of the United States, as long as
1t respects itself and the essential rights of
the nation over which it is placed, cannot
cease to contend.
The United States have never consider
I'd it their duty to inquire, nor do they pre-
tend to decide, whether England or France
was guilty. in relation to the other, of the
FIRST violation of the public law of nations
but they do consider it their most imperious
duty to protect themselves from the unjust
operation OF the unprecedented measures of
retaliation, protested by both powers to be
sounded on suchviolation. In this operation,
by whichever party directed, the United
States have never fora moment acquiesced,
nor by the slightest Indication of such ac-
quiescenCe afforded pretexs for extending
10 them the evils by which England and
France affect to retaliate on each otter.@
They have in no instance departed from the
observance of that strict impartiality which
their peaceful position required, and which
ought to have secured to them the unmo-
Tested enjoyment of their neutrality. To
their establishment, however, they percei-
we'd that both these belligerent powers. UNI
der the pretence of annoying each other, a
doptcd and put in practice new principles
of retaliation, involving the destruction of
those commercial & maritime rights which
the United States regard as essential and
inseparable attributes Of their independence.
Although alive to all the injury and injus-
tice of this system, the American govern
ment resorted to no measures to oppose it,
which were not of the most pacific and i'm
partial character in relation to both the
aggressors. Its circumstances, its restric-
lions of commercial intercourse, and its O.
ventures for aCcomm odation, were equally
addressed to England and France and if
there is now an inequality in the relations
OF the United States with these countries, it
can only be ascribed to England herself, who
rejected the terms proffered TO both, while
france accepted them, and who continues
w execute her retalatoiy edicts on the
high seas, while those of France have there
ceased to operate.
< fGreat Britain could not be persuaded,
by considerations of universal equality, to
refrain from adopting any line of conduct.
however unjust, for which she might disco
yer precedent in the conduct OF her enc
my, or 20 abandon an attempt of remotely
and uncertainty annoying that enemy thro'
the i'm mediate and sure destruction OF the
vital interests OF neutral and unoffending
state, yet 1T was confidently expected that
she would be willing to follow that enemy
also. III his return towards justice, < from
a respect to her own declarations, TO pro-
coed fari fiGssn with hIm in the revocation
OF the offending edicts. This just expecta-
zion has,. however, been disappointed, and
AN eXenis ion Of The, flag of the u. States
from the operation oS the. Derlin and Milan
DEGREES has produced no corresponding
modlf7catiOH OF the British orders in council
On the contrary, the fact of such exempt
ON on the part of France appears by the
declaration and order in council of the Bri-
J.,
TO be denied, and the engagement of the
latter to proceed step by step with its enc
my in the work Of repeal and relaxation, to
be dIsowned or disregarded.
nat France has repealed her DEGREES, SO
Tar as they concerned the United States, has
been established by declarations and facts
satisfactory 20 them, and which, it was
presumed, should have been equally salts
factory to the British government. A for
mai and authentic declaration Of the French
government, communicated TO the minister
pienIPotentiary of the United States at Pa
Tis, OH the 5th Of August, 1910, announced
that the DEGREES OF berlin and Milan were
revoked, and should cease to operate On the
1st OF tho succeeding November, provided
that condition presented to England, On.
another condition presented To- tbc II. States,
should be performed. The condition pre-
sented to the u. $. was performed, & this
performance repdered absolute the repeal
OF tic DEGREES so far, therefore, FROM this
repeal depending Oh conditions iu which
Great Britain could not acquiesce, it be-
came absolute, Independently Of any act of
Grcot Britain, the moment the act proposed
for tic performance OF the u. was ac-
compiislcd. Such was the construction 81
ven 10 this measure by the u. s. from tie
FIRST and tiatit was a correct one has been
sufficiently evihcsd by tie subsasuentpcqc-
tisc Of Francc,