Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1812-11-23
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANYING Tbs
Prsfdent's Me0age TO COngrsG.

LzTTERs FROM Mr.. MONROE TO MR. RUS
SELL, CHARGE DIES AFFAIRS IN cREAT-,
BRITAIN.
Extra9 Of a letter from Mr.. Monroe TO
Mr.. Rg6siI, dated
"JUNs a6th, 1874.
This letter is committed TO MIR. Potter,
who has promIfed 10 deliver il 10 you in
fafety.
On the 18th Of this month declaration
of war againa Great Britain paiied Con-
grefs. fend you copy Of the act, of
the Pre(dent's mehage, and of the report
of the Committee Of Foreign Relations,
which brought the fubje6 under conhder-
alton.
This meafure has been produced by the
continued aggrefIions of the Br.tiih gov
ernment on the rights of the United States,
and the prefumprion ari6ng from that and
other, facts, which it is unneceliary TO re-
cite, that no favorable change OF policy
Nigh. be esSpeeied from 1t. 1t was inn
pofiible for the United States to furrender
their rights, by relinquiihing the ground
which they had taken, and it was equally
incompatible with their istereas and char
aeter 10 rely longer on meafures which
had failed to accomplish their Objects.
War was the only remaining alternative,
and that fact being clearly aicertaired, you
will find by the documents tranlmlttsd
that it was adopted with dec6on.
AS war has been refoned to from necef-
fly, and of courfe with reluctance, this
government looks forward TO the rehora-
tion of peace with much Intereit, and
hncere delire to promote 1t on conditions,
juf, equal and honorable TO both the
parties. 1t is in the power of Great
Britain 10 terminate the war on iuch con
ditions, and it would be very fatisfa6t Dry
10 the Prehdent to meet it 10 arrangements
20 that effect.
Although there are many iuf and
weighty caufes of complaint againlt Great.
Britain, YOU will perceive, by the docu-
ments tranfmtted, that the orders in Coun-
Gil, aud other blockades, illegal, according
10 the principles lately acknowledged, and
the impeachment of our leamen, are con-
lidered TO be Of the highelt Importance.
Iffbe orders ia council are repealed, and no
illegal biockade5 are flbRituted to them,
and orders are given TO dijcontinne the i'm
pre7inent ofJsamen from our ve0tJ. and TO
fey9ore tboNe ALREADY imp eJed, tbere is no
reajon qUby b0RiLitie, Iboald not Immediate
b eeafF. Securing thefe Objects, you are
authorized 70 ftipulate an armifticc, to
commence from the hgnature Of the in
ftrument providing for Il, or at the end
of fifty or fixiy days, or other the hor;eit
term that the Britilh government will as
fent 10. Dchnitive arrangements will be
made on theie and every other difference
by treaty, to be concluded either here or
At London, though it is much deGred that
the fublSet ihoIld be entered on in this
city.
AS an Involvement to the Britifh govern
ment to diicontiuue the practice OF i'm
prefIment from our velicls, you may give
sdurance that a law will be paffed Ito be
seciprocaD 10 prohibit TIE employment q
Briti6 yeanie8 Ia fbe public or commercial
Eeyzice Of The United States. There can
be no doubt that fuch an arrangement
would prove much more tficaciOus in fe-
curing TO Great Britain htr feamen, than
the practice TO which it is proPoled TO be
a fubRitute, independent Of all the other
objections to it.
indemnify TOT iuIuiiSS ISCClNtQ uHOCl
the orders in council, and other edi6s
violating our rights. ftems 10 be incident
to their repeal but the PreGdent Is vii
ling that the c1nlider'tiOn ct that clam
fhould not be prtfied At this time, e. as TO
interfere with the preliminary arrangement
alluded to- II will be proper to bring It
into view merely to iheW that It is expected
that prcvlion will be made for If IN the
treaty which is 10 follow Every Other
intereit may ALTO be provided FIR at the
fame time.
1t IS hoped that the Briuih government
will find il confident with lis interelt and
honor, 70 terminate the war by an armis-
tice in the manner and on the conditions
propofed In 70 doing il will abandon no
right, it will facrifice no intrrelt il will
abRain only from violating our rghts,a
in return, it will refore peace with the
power from whom, 10 friendly CONNER
cial inteTcouife, 70 many advantages will
be derived, not 10 mention the injuries
which cannot fail to refuIt from proiecu-
zion Of the war"
Mr.. Monroe to Mr.. Russell.
Dated Department ofISfate,