Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-03
From the Connecticut Msrro'.
FRENCH DEGREES.

,ion subject, which, III our Opinions 10
deeply interesting to tbs integrity aud
honor of our national administration, anu
that is--ths rtfeal Of tie Beri," ana l'4'-
Ian DEGREES.
On the 18th of May, 1912, Mr.. Bar
low wrote letter to Mr.. Msnroe, IN
which he says" When IN the CONVEX
satian above alluded to. the Duke o.
: Bas.ano] frat produced to me the Ds-
cree of the 2Sth of April, 1911, ! made
ne commsnt on the straoge manner I'D
which it mad so long been conces'ed
from me, aud p''obabiy from you. only
asked him if that Dscgce bad been puo.
lished. He said, no, but declared 1T hAc
been communicated to nv predecessor
here, snd iiI,ewisc sent tn Mr. Serruricr,
with orclcra TO communicate It to YOU.
A question Of the utfnost Importance a.
rl.ss he?e--Dia the DIXIE Il Fassdno
assert % Mr. Bari9sv "a /alSshoa0 AZ.
though We have q miserable opinion OF
French vetacity, particularly ct their
ministerial veracitF, ii seems scarcely
credible, thar mkn no ding tl'c ugh-
station wl,ich ia occupied by tia Dake,
could have ultsrsd 40 shameless story
as this, if il were false, when no good
end could be aasworcd py it. as,d When It
would nd. be posslb;c for h'Fn to escape
eventual detection. II II DC falss, II Is
the most tlsgraCsful transaction record
ed in tho history of national intercourse.
Il it bs false, Mr.. Madison, il he had ss-
minated tho true naturs OF his oa'cih
character, and had possessed even mo-
dcrats share Of the dignity which ought
ever to accompany Chief magistrate CT
q nation, would have not only denied 1t
in, the NEST public and decisive msnne','
bu, he would nave demanded the SAITH
faction due ia his wounded honor. In
deed, it is inconceivabis, that the Prcsl-
dent OF the United States. could nars
tam ly borne suchs gross * outrageous
insult
It,sesms, however, that whether trne
or false, he nsver took the least notice
of ii, Dor was the seccet finally dawn
from him BIZ, with the most extrcms dl'.
hculty. NVAen he communicated 1t TO
Congress, it was a!uIust year after the
date of Mr.. BarleW's &ter, 1t WAS eX-
tsrsed from hin.hs cal from the House
of Representatives, ard it wss ssnt M
dsr iniunctiqns Of secyccY. Aswe can
discover nothing II this CORE pondence,
esceat this single fact, that seems to re-
qaire cuncealmsnt, no arc forced to
conclude, that it vas fof 'hc purpo'e a.
lone of coneesling this, maj tive Pfesl-.
dent sent tia Message anoe' injunc'Dns
at secrecy Ifth', declaration eas i&.'e,
the President BY Ell niltlrg to / win
out murmnr ar compliant, las liked a.
ind,liblc rcproscb dpna the nHlre1ai
character Nos opip -, but he has
Given the nost uadenishis eviience.
mat on the great qncs;la's o' policy re-
specting our relations with q. Britaiu
and France, he has boon the Autamaton
OF the later.
Let u. examine this subject for mo-
meat. The matter Of impressHent,
though always a bonc of contention be-
tween us and Great Britain, has never
been brought dl.,inctly into view US 4
cause of war until quite lately. When
the celebrated adjustment with Mr.. Err
kline took place, viz. in April, 1903, II
was not even mentioned. The Orders
il Council were the great topic at com.
p!aint, and irritation, until Jus' previous
to the declaration of war, The British
have ever declared, .tat when the Der
lin and Milan Declees were repeated,
their Orders in Conncil woi,d hs rcvok-
ed-5utnot MI then On The SIN of An
gust, 1910, the DIks Of C<dore wrote tu
Gen. Armstrong letter, in which he
says" In lhl. new state Of things, am
authorised TO declare 10 ycu, sir, thai
the Decress Of Berlin ARD Milan arc re-
vok.d, and that sitter the ii"stni Soyem-
Der, they will cease to nave effect 1t
being un0ers,o"d tHat 10 consequence oil
this dccl..alion, the English shall revoke
their Orders IN Council, and rci.punoo
Inc new principles OF blockade which
they have wished 20 cs!ablish" On the |
strength of this letter, and this letter a.
lone, Mr.. Madison, on the 2d day 81 No
senbcr issued his proclamation, dccl'-
ring ,tha, the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
zvere reheaird Notice Of this dcclara-
ton of the Duke oi Galore TO General |
Armstrong, VAS communicated by Mr. |
PinAney, to Lord Wellesley. on the 2slh
Of August, 1910. On the Slst of the
same month, Lord Wellesley answered
Mr. Pinkney, by saying" am com
nanded by his Majesty to assure YOU
that, fohsaever fh- rsheat Of fhe French
dscrees shall haze actually taken .fecf,
and the commerce OF neutral nations
shall have bssn restored to the condition
in which il stood previously TO the pro-
mitigation Of those DEGREES, his Majesty
will feel the hishes, satisfaction in rein.
gushing system, which the conduct o.
ira enemy colnpelled him to adopt