Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-14
The cat let our of tie bag.

The re-admission of French armed
vessels into our waters and ports at the
extra May session, 1909, appeared in
a great measure understandable. till the
publication Of Mons. .Turrean's insoleDt
and imperious letter, which fully au-
thorises the above motto. The non
intercourse act of March, 1909, held OUT
equal terms OF punishment and pardon
to Britain and France. The Presidents
proclamation of April 10Th, 1909, and
his message to Congress at the extra
May session, 1909, announced that u.
Britain, through the negotiation with
Mr.. Erskine, had become friendly, and
France rema ned at least In sfatn quo,
if not worse Still, under these cir
cumstances, France was most essential
" favored by the re-admission OF her
armed vessels, and Britain most mate
rally injured thereby, though it was no.
torious that tae exclusion otFrench ARM
ed vessels had chiefly influenced Mr..
Erskine in his amicable negotiation
True it is, that the law for their read
mission was carried by a very large ma
iority, among whom were seve, al fede-
ralists; but this was through the lnge-
nuity of the French party, in blending
that per6dious act with ether important
objects, which the federalists had al
heart, in securing which they fell into
the trap. On recourse TO the Journals
of the Congress at the extra May ses-
sion, 1909, it Will appear obvious, that
Turreau, either by verbal bullying or
by his letter, had been busy. The FIRST
symptoms of attention to his complaints,
and desire to conciliate him, was a
motion to exclude from our ports and
waters The armed vessels Of all nations
ixdi,c,iminately. This would nave been
better than nothing. The exclusion OF
British armed vessels, recently admittsd
by the negotiation with Mr.. Erskinc,
would have been some little consolation
for the recent exclusion OF French arm
ed vessels by the non intercourse act
of March 1909; but the letter in cues.
ton critically presented in the midst oil
the discussion of the subject, viz. about
the middle of June, 1909, caused his
friends to be less mealy moulhed (; and
beyond all doubt. paved the way Tor tnai
partial, disgr. business. In the
course of the debate Oh the final Passage
of the bill in the House of Representa-
tiyes, Mr.. Taylor said, the government
was pledged to exclude French armed
vessels during her non conformity to the
terms of the act OF March, 1909. Mr..
Quincy insisted that the pledge only em-
braced commercial considerations; but
il was evident at the time, that he was
chiefly actuated by his anxiety to secure
other objects arttully included in the
bill. Mr.. Dana appeared much nettled
at, and was very sarcastic ON Mr.. Quin.
CIV. Messrs. TAYLOR and Dana, much to
their credit, preferred the dignity an5
good faith of their government to all o.
Their considerations.
Remember, fellow-citizens; that this
perfidious measure was adopted long
before i, il was known that Great Britain
bad rejected Erskine's treaty. And here
the question fairly occurs-did not our
government, by the .re-adnission OF
French armed vessels give room for
more than strong suspicion that they
knew that Erskine's negotiation, from
being unauthorized, would to certain
ty be rejected? Else, how is 1t to be- be-
lieyed that they would have consented
to an act which would at least hare Civ
en- plausible pretext, if not full JUS
,i6cation for revival of the orders in
council, ifthey had been takes oH'thro
that negotiation, as they sstensibiy pre-
tend to expect Fellow-citizens, exa-
nine this letter, and attend to the con-
duct Of your government since It's date,
and YOU will find that it matters not
whether the original was hIed or not
MIR Graham's translation has made
Sufficient impression for securing aiuli
qualification Of its debasing, disgusting
object. Turreau must indeed have been
as crazy as he is notoloasiy vie, 70
have persisted in a formal Official recep-
ton oG his letter, when about to be pre-
scented with so unequivocal pledge OF
remaining and determined partlality TO
France, and enmity towards G Brltaln
a, the re.admIssion of French armed
vessels under the then existing circum
stances undeniably afforded! 4!
The Executive language mus have
been-Withdrav your letter, and you
shall promptly receive such pledge as
must al once remove every apprehension
e the smallest intention Of reconcllla-
ron With Great Britain, and claim your
.nsire can6''ence tsat every thihg 'aVof~
Die towards France, and injurious TO-