Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-01

RES that were Committed by persons acting
under her authority. Of these the most dis
tinguished, & least justi6able, are the exam
plies which occurred, of burning the vessels
Of our citizens at sea. Their atrocity forbid
the imputation of them to the government.
To it, however, the u. States must look for
which you will accordingly
clam.
1t IS possible that in this enumerationI
may have omitted many injuries of which
no account has vet been Transmitted to this
department. You will have in your power
tn acquire a more comprehensive know
ledge vi them at Paris, which, it is expected
you will do, and full confidence is reposed
in your cxertions to obtain of the French go
vernment the just measure If redress.
France, 1t is presumed, has changed her
policy towards the United States. The re-
vocation of her DEGREES is an Indication of
that change, and some recent acts more
favorable to the commercial Intercourse
with her ports, the evidence of which will
De found in copy of letter from her min
ister hereof ssrengthens
die presumption. But much is yet to.
De done By her, to satisfy the just claims
of shis country To revoke bIockades
y bcnndiesS extent In the present state
" her marine, was mak,ng no sacrifice!
she must indie mnify US for past inju-
res, and opeq ner ports to our, COM
inercc Oh fir and liberal scale. If she
wishes to profit of neutral commerce., She
must ''ecomc the allocate vt ne ,ral rights
as well by Ter practice as her Theory. The
y. states, standing IN their own ground
will pc able to support those rights with
effect and they viii certainly fail in nothing
which they owe 70 their character or inter-
est.
Inc papers, relative to the TmpeteuX,
the Revanche de Cert and the French pri.
vateer seized at. New'-Orieans, will be
delivered to you. They will, it is presumed,
enable you TO satisfy the French gov cYument
ct the strict propriety of the conduct Of the
United States, in all those occurrences.
The frigate, which takes you to France,
will proceed to Holland to execute an or.
der from the Secretary of the Treasury re
lative to the interest due on the pubic debt
she will return to France to take Mr.. Rus
sell to England, and, after landing him, sail
back Immediately to the United States. The
interval afforded by visit to Holland, will
be sufficient to enable you to communicate
fully and freely with the French government
on all the topics, to which it win be your slu
ty to invite its attention, under Your instruc-
tons. A short detention, however, would
not be objected to, if you deemed it imp ert ant
to the interest of the' United States.
have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)
JAS. MONROE.
Mr.. MONROE TO Mr.. BARLOW
DEPARTMENT Of STATE,
November 81, 1911.
SIR,
l have the honor to trsnsmit to you
copy OF the Presidents message to Congress
at the commencement of the session, and of
the documents which accompanied it.
In this very interesting communication
you will find that the President has done jus
t'ceto both the beiigerents He has $40
ken OF each as it deserves. To France he
has given the credit due for the revocation
OF her DEGREES, while he has bestowed ON.
those injuries which renamed unredresseti
their merited censure, OF England he has
spoken III terms Of censtIre only, because
she had in no respect changed her un.
friendly policy. Fins the whole subject of
our foreign relations is presented fully
and fairly before the Legislature, and the
public, and, am happy to add, that Sc
far as an opinion CAT, now be formed of
the impression made, the public sentiment
IS IN strict harmony with that expressed
by the executive. Few, if any, seem to be
willing to reiinquish the ground which has
been taken by the non importation act;
aud most, seem to be resolved, if Great
Britain does not revoke her orders in coun-
Gil, TO adopt more decisive measures towards
her. ,.-,
II the y. States experience any embar-
rassment in the course which they are pur-
suing in support of either rights, or fail, in
the ultimate success, it viii be owing 10 the
conduct OF the French government. II can
not be doubted, if France remains true 10
her engagements by faithful observance of
the revocation of her DEGREES, and acquits
herself on the various other points on which
you are instructed to the just claims of this
country, that Great Britain will be compel
led to follow her example in which event,
the war will immediately assume a new
character, such as has been the protested
wish of both belligerents, mitigating its ca
lamities to both of them, as well as diffusing
the happiest effect on neutral states.
The part which France ought TO act is
plain one. II is dictated, in every scircum-
stance, 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, by stating equally our rights and In
juries 1t will scarcely be necessary for me
to go into any oft details, which are al
ready so well known to you. will briefly
advert to them.
II is not sufficient in the final decision of
a cause brought before French tribunal,
thatit should appear that the French de-
crees arc repealed. An active, prohibitory
policy should be adopted to prevent seizures
on the principles of those DEGREES. Allthat
is expected is, that France will act in con-
formity to her own principles. If that is
done, neutral nations would then have an