Glass_L3.£li 
 
 Book 
 
 
AN 
 
 n„„£g« 
 
 OF 
 
 Manners of the House of Representatives 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONGRESS OF THE UNrPED STATES, 
 
 TO THEIK 
 
 CONSTITUENTS, 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT 
 
 OP Tiir 
 
 WAR WITH GEEAT BRITAIN. 
 
 ALEX.iNDUIA : 
 
 PRivtzD Br S. SJiO}VD£J\r. 
 ......1812 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 A Republic has for its basis the cnpr.cily amj rig;ht of the 
 
 app,-o.imalu,,..owad Y*"^^. 
 
 ^' Mcotions, such as these, have been forec<l «pon the atten- 
 tio on cu^^^^^ Men^bcsofth. House ot Represent 
 
 tati^vel of the UuUed States, by the events o the I>«ese^t ses- 
 sion of Congress. They have witnessed a pr.nciide, adoptc. 
 "sthc 1-v oftheno.se: by whi.h, unde. ''7-- Jf ^i^^ .'i 
 of ihe previous question, a power i^* assumed b; ihe MajoiH 
 toden-lheprivilesieofspceeh, at any stage, and under an^ 
 ch-eumstances of del^ate! And recently, by an unpvecede,. 
 td assumption, the right to give reasons ^o^^ -» «"5?"^^ 
 motion, has been made, to depend upon the md of the ma 
 
 '''pSieiplet more hostile than these to the existenee of i-e 
 presenlative liheity, eannot easily be l^''^^''^'^^.^''^^! 
 however on these accounts, wei.^htyas they are, t.int tne un 
 dersl,.ied have undertaken this address. A subject ol h.gl 
 er and luovo immediate importance impels them to the prt 
 
 '*T!ie momentous question of war, with Great Britain, is di 
 eidod. Oothi. tonic, so vital to your i-^terests, the right i 
 public debate, in the face of the world and c-speon^^lb < 
 their eon.tiuients, hns been denied to your represent at m 
 They have been called into secret session, on this most 1 
 terestingofall yonr public relations, although the cireumsta 
 cesoftlietime *aad of the nation, afTordcd no cue reason 1 
 
8^er*<«y, unless it be found in the appreliension of the efTect 
 of public debate, on public opinion ; oi* of public opinion oa 
 the result of the vote. 
 
 Exoeptthe rupgsaare of the PresUIent of the Uniferl Ptateg, 
 whfeh i^now befbre the pu!)lie, ntithinf; eonfidentia! \v;ts coin' 
 municated. That mcssajje eontalned no faet, not previously, 
 known. No one reason for wap was intimattd, but sueli as 
 w-asof a nature public and nolorioMs. The intention to w;>p;ei 
 war and invade Canada, had been lojiq since openly avowed. 
 The ohjret of hostile menace had been octentariously an- 
 nounced. The inadequacy of boih our arn»y and navy, for 
 successful invasion, and the -ttsuflieirncy of the foitiruations 
 forthc security of oup seaboard were, everywhere, known. 
 Yet the doors of Coui^ress were shut upon the people. They 
 have been carefully kept in ij^norance ofthc progress ofmea- 
 Bures, until the purposes of administration were eoMsuinmat- 
 ed, and the fate o^'the country scaled. In a situation so ex- 
 traordinary, the nndersigned fiave deemed it their duty bv no 
 act of theirs to sanction a proceedini^. so novel and arbilrar\-. 
 On tlie contrary, they nrade every altcni;.>t, iij their power, to 
 attain publicity for their proceed ina^s. All such attempts were 
 vain. "When this mouicntous subject was stated, as for de- 
 bate ; they demanded that (he doors f-lioi:U! be opened. 
 
 This l)eiiii; refused, they declined discussion ; bei-\£^ per- 
 fectly convinced, from indications, too plain to be misunder- 
 stood, that, in the liouse, all arj^ument, with closed doors, was 
 hopeless ; and that any act, .qivintij implied validity to so fla- 
 j;rant an abuse of powei', would be little less than trcaclicry 
 to the essential rights of a fice people. In tl-e situation, to 
 whioh the. uiuler»ij:;ned have thus l)cen reduced, they arc com- 
 pelled, reluctantly to lesort to this public declaration of such 
 \iews of »he state an<l relations of the country, as determined 
 their juii.qiment and vote upon the question of war. A mea- 
 sure of this Kind has appeared to tlie undcrsT;'):ncd|^o be more 
 imperiously demanded, by the circumstance of a mess:j_^e and 
 manifr^lo bcin;>; pre[)are!i, and circulated at {lublic expei'ce, 
 in whir'h tlie causes for war- were enumerated and the r:oMvo3 
 for it concentrated, in a manner suited to as^itale and iulliu'nce 
 the public mind. lu exccuthig this task, it will be the study 
 oi' the undersigned to reconcile the ^reat duty, they owe to tlio 
 pc«iplc, with that eonstitutioual respect, which is due to tho 
 adn«inistvatiir§ of pa'>':e concerns. 
 
 In cojuiiicnfiMg this virw of our r.ffairR, the, undersicjned 
 
 would fail in duty themselves, did t'sey reTrain fro'n reeur- 
 
 V'Mf; ((> the. ourse, in relation to public measutos, which (hey 
 
 • I'^ittidiiuU liave uaUevialingly pursued from thti noiuinencc- 
 
rnent of thh long and eventful session ; in which they dellhrf- 
 ruteiy sacrilicecl every minor eonsiileration to, what tlicy 
 dePTTied, the host interests of the country. 
 
 For u sueeession of years the iintlrrsijjfnpd liave from 
 prineiide disapproved, a scries of restricfions upon eom- 
 ineree, aceordiua; to their estimation, inefficient as re- 
 spected foreif^n nations and injiirituis, cliieny. to ourselves. 
 Success, in tJie ?ystem, had beeonie identiijcd \vi«!i the pride, 
 tl>e character, and (litf hope of our ealjiaet. As is natural 
 wi'h men, who have a great stake dependin;^ on the sueressof 
 a favoeJte theory, pertinacity seemed to increase as its hope- 
 lessness became apparent. As the inediciency of this system 
 could not he admitted, by its advocates, without ensuring it* 
 ahandonment, ill success was, carefully attributed to tha 
 influenec of opposition. 
 
 To tliis cause the people were tnu,a;ht to charge its sucecs- 
 sive failures and not to its intrinsic irnbeeility. In this state 
 of things the undersigned deemed it proper, to take away ail 
 r.palo^y for adlierenee to tliis oppressive system. They wer© 
 desirous, at a period i^o critical in public aftuirs, iis i'a.v ks was 
 consistent witli tlie independance of opiniou, to eonti ibute to 
 t!te restoration of hr.riuony in the public eouueils, and con- 
 cord among thft people. And if any ttdvantage eculd lie thu3 
 obtained in our foreign relations, the lindcrsigned, l>e!ng en- 
 gaged, in no purpose of persona! or party advancement, woald 
 rejoice, in such an occurrence. 
 
 Tfie course of public measures also, at the opening of the 
 SfSJ^ion, gavp hope that an enlarged and enl lightened systeui of 
 ^cfence, with provision, for or security of ojjr maritime rights, 
 wasabout to be coDimenced. A purpose, wliieh, wherevcrfiuind, 
 they deemed it their duty to foster, by giving, to any systt-in 
 of measures, tlius comprehensive, as unobstructed a couri? as 
 was consistent with their general sense of [lublic duty. AHor a 
 cou'.'^e of polir-y* tl.'us liberal and conciMatcry. it was cnuse of 
 regret tliat a cominutjication should have been ]}uiehascd !\v ar% 
 unprecedented expenditure of secret service money :and u?e(!, 
 by the chief magistrate, to dissemirujte suspicion and jeaiousy ; 
 und to excite resentment, among tlj* cilizens, by su<:;gestitir^ 
 imput.itious agai;:.u II portion of them, as unmerit^'d by their 
 patriotism, as unv/;irranted by e^itknce- 
 
 It has always been the opinion of the undersigned, tlmt a 
 Fvstcm of peace was rhe policy, v.hich most eonipojtcd with 
 the character, condition, and interest of (he Unit eJ Statc:^. 
 That tlicir renwteness fromihe theatre of contest, in Europe, 
 Mas their peculiar felicity and that nothing but a necessity, ;;h- 
 solutely imperious ?Uculd iuduoe them to enter as parties iuto 
 
wars, in wliich evpry considcrtition of virtue and pollrr seems 
 to het'orejotten, umK-r thcoverlK'aring sway of rapncify andtim- 
 Mlion. There is a new era in litinran aflairs. The European 
 world is convulsed. The advantages of ouroWH j^itiirill'*n arc 
 peojiliar. *' >^ by* quit our own to stand up»n foreic;n j^rcund ? 
 "Why, by inferweavincj our de-tiny with that of any part of 
 Euiopc, entangle our peace and pro-jprrily iu the toils of Euro- 
 pean ambition, rivalship, interest, humour, or capriee?" 
 
 In addition to the man^ n.oial and prudential considerations, 
 wliicb should deter thoughtful men from hasteninj^ into the 
 perils of stub a war, there were some peculiar to the United 
 States, resulting from the texture of tiie government and the 
 political relations of the peoj)le. A form of j^overnment, 
 in Jio small degree experimental, composed of powerful and 
 independent po\ereignties associated in relations, some of 
 which are erifical. as weil as novel, shoulil not be hastily 
 precipitated into situations, calculated to put to trial, tho 
 Strength of the moral bond, by which tlipy are united. Of all 
 states, that of war, is most likely to call into activity the pas- 
 sions, which are hostile and dangerous to suc!i i>- ftrm of go- 
 vernment. Time is yet important to our countiy toseltleand 
 m-otuie its recent insfiiutions. Above t'.ll, it appeared to the un- 
 dersigned from signs not to be mistaken, that if we entered up- 
 ► on litis war. we diil it as a divided people : not only from a sense 
 of il;e in:iv]< quacy of our means to success, but from mo- 
 ral and political objections of great weight and very general 
 influence. 
 
 It appears to the undersigned, (Isat the wrongs, of w liij-h the 
 ■fnittd Siatcs lia>e to complain, allhougb iu some aspects, vc^ 
 rygrie\ous to our interests, and, in many, humiliating to our 
 pride, were yet of a nature, which^ iutlie present slate if€ 
 tlie world, either vouhl not Justify war, or which war would 
 rot remedy. Thus, for instance, tho ho\ering of liriti>h ves- 
 sels upon our coasts, and the occasional iiisuhs to our ports, 
 iniperiously d( nrandcd such a systematic ajplieallcn of barber 
 a.nd sea-const defence, as would repel such aggressions, Imt, 
 ill no iight, can they be considered as nr.ikinga resort to war, 
 at the projicnt time, on the pai t of the United States, either 
 reccssary, or expedient. So also, with respect to the Indian 
 V ar, of tlic origin of which. l»ut very iuiperreet infornia- 
 lion has rs yet been given to ihe pubHe. Vnthout any ex- 
 press «ct of Congress, an expedition was, last }car, set on 
 foot and prosecuted into Indian territory. wbi( h had been re- 
 linijuishf d by treaty, on the part of the U. SUUcs. And now 
 
 • Wi^s'ij'-T it'.on. 
 
we are tolil ahout the a^cney of BiKish trailers, as toTTndtna 
 hostilities. It deserves consideration, whether there has been 
 sueh provident attention, as would have heen proper to i-Muove 
 any cause of eoniplaint, either real or imaginary, ^vhiih the 
 Indians inia;ht alledi^e, and to secure their friendi^iiip. Vvifh 
 all the syinpathy and anxiety excited by the state ofthat fron- 
 tier; important as it may be, to a:)i>ly adequate means of pro- 
 tection, as-^inst tbc Indians, how is its safety ensured by a de- 
 claration of war, which adds the British to the number of 
 enemiea ? 
 
 As •' a decent respect to the opinions of mankind'* has not 
 rndueeil the two houses of ('ongress to concur in declaring the 
 reasons, or motives, for their enacting a declaration oi war, 
 the undersigned and the public are left to searejj, elsewhere, 
 for causes either real, or ostensible. Tf we are to considigr (he 
 Preslde-.it of the United States, and the committee of the 
 house orReprcs;<-ntativcs, on foreign relation?, as speaking 0:1 
 tliis solemn occasion, for Congress, the United Htates hare 
 throe principal topics of complaint ag:iinst G rent- Britain. Im- 
 pressments ; — blockades ; — and orders in council. 
 
 Concerning tho subj;.*ct of imprcssraenis. the undersigned 
 M'mpathize with our unrortunate seamen, tlic viciinis of this 
 abuse of power, and participate in the national sensUiility, on 
 their account. They do not conceal from themselves, both its 
 importance and its difiieulty ; and ihey are well aware how 
 stubborn is the will and how blind the vision of powerful nr.- 
 ticns, when great interests grow intV) controversy. 
 
 lint, before a resort to war for such interests, a moral nr.tioa 
 vill consider what is just, and a wise nation what is expedient. 
 If the exercise of any right to the full extent of its abitrrKt 
 nature, be inconsiistent with the safety of another nation, 
 morality seems to require that, in practice, its exercise should, 
 in this respect, be modified. If it be proposed to vindicate 
 any right by war, wisdimi demands that it should be of a na- 
 ture, by war to be obtained. The interests* connected with 
 the subjects af impressments are unquestionably great to 
 both nations. And in the full extent of abstract right as as- 
 serted 1*3 each, per!ia[!3 irreconcilable. 
 
 The governnunt of the Cnited States asserts that the broad 
 principle that the flag of (heir merchant vessels slial! protect 
 the u.ariners. This privilege is claimed, although every per- 
 son on l.earJ. except th.e (Captain, may be an alien. 
 
 The British government asseitsthat tlie allegiance of their 
 subjects is inalienable, in time of war, and that their seamen, 
 fiiund on (he seij, the common highway of nations, shall r.ot 
 be [>rolt oted, by kiie flag of |)rivatc mcpchant vessels. 
 
8 
 
 T'lo wnflrr'.'.'i^nctl deem it unnecessan- I;ere (o <^iscnss <!jc 
 ^lusfion of the American claiin, for tl:p iminunhv of lin-ir 
 11:»j;. But (hey cannot refrain from vievins^ it as aprineipic, of 
 n nature \' ry hroj.d and conjpreliensive : tu theuhnse of whi^};, 
 the lenjMi.itioni iM-e s(ron|j; ;ind )innieroii^. And Iheydo rnain- 
 tain fli;!t, liefore (he ealansiiles of vur, in vindication of i-rch 
 n pj indole he inciirred, all tlie means of ncgo{;iation shoiiitl be 
 e>fiauss1ed. a.ui\ tliat aUo c\cyy i)rae(ic:<ble a(tenipt should he 
 in;de (o rc!;uhtte the exercise of the light; so that the ac- 
 I;r>*>\vled;^ed injury. rcsiiKinq; (o other nations, slionld he check- 
 ed, if not prevented. Tlify ate clearly of opinion that the 
 pta<eof this happy and risij!_:.'^cri)iniunity should not he aban- 
 doned, ffir ilicMii.e of afr(»r<{int; facilities to cover French pro- 
 jjertv ; oi- (d enj:>h>y Ur-itish seamen. 
 
 TUc claim of Great Britaia to (he services of ber seamen is 
 relthcr novel, nor pecnlior. Tlie d«:c(rine of aJlc^iance, fur 
 M'hich she eonfoiKls is common to all the governments of Eu» 
 rope. I'raate, ;:s avcII as I'lnjjjland, has niaiutained it for cen- 
 turies. }ioth nations claim, in time o-f war, the services of 
 their sabjects. liolh hy decrees forhid tliem entering into fo- 
 j'oij^n employ, Botli recall them hy j-'roclamation. 
 
 I^oman can douh( thai, in the present state of the Treneh 
 marine, if American m<'rchant vessels vere met at sea, havint* 
 French seamen on hoard (hat France woiiid take ihem. Will 
 any mun htdieve (hi-.t, (he United States would go to \var agaiust 
 France, cs ihis ticcount ? 
 
 ['"orvei-y idivious reasons, tiiis piinciple occasions little col- 
 lision uith Fr-.iUct , or \>ilhany other nation, except Fngland. 
 "V^ith the Knj;lish nation, (he people of the United States 
 cse closely assimilated, in hiood, languap;e, in(ereoiir5ie, hHhi(S; 
 drrss. inani.crs and chaiac(er. "\> lien Jjritain is a( v.ar and 
 <he UnKed S(a(cs neutral, the merchant service ofthe 1 nirrd 
 S,(a(es, lioids out (o British scanicn, (rn)p(ations ;thtnst iiicsia. 
 tahle ; — high wsiges and peaceful cnip'oy. instead of low wa- 
 pes and war-service; — safety, in lieu of hazard ^»— entire in- 
 dependence, in the phu e of qualificil servitude. 
 
 That Fngland whose siiuv.tion is insular, who is engaged in 
 a war, apparently foj* existence, whose seamen archer bul- 
 wark, should loo!; upon (IiccliVct of our principle upon her 
 safety, with jealousy. isiiicvi(ahle ; anti (hat she will no( ha- 
 zard (he pi:^c{ical consequent es cf its unreguhitcd exercise, is 
 certain. 'Jhe question, therc(i.re, prescntrd, direcdy, for (ho 
 decision of (he (houghtful and virtuous mind, in (his eoun(ry, 
 is — whether w:ir, for such an ahstract right he justifiable, be- 
 f< re a((emj»ciiig (0 guaid jigainst its injurious tendency by le- 
 gislative regulation, in failure of ircaly. 
 
A dubioiia r'l^hi sliould be atlvanecd with liesilation. An ex- 
 ti'cme I'if^ht sslinuld be asyi'rlcd \\ith diseretion. f.I )ral duly 
 I'equii'cs, that a niitiou, heloie it uppc.ils to ann«^. should have 
 been, not only true to itself, but that it should have lailed, in 
 ijo duty to others. Ifihe cxeiv;ise pfa i ij^'ht, in an uni-egulaleU 
 manner, be in pHTect, a standing invitation to the suhjeita of a 
 foreign power to become deserters and traitors, is it no injury 
 to that power ? 
 
 Certainly, moral ohlisiation demands that the ri,2;ht of flag, 
 like all other human ri-Iifs should he so used, as that, while 
 it protet'ts what is our own, it should n-it injure what is ano- 
 tlicrs. In a practical view, and so long as the nght of tiagi* 
 restrained, by no re«;ard te the undeniable interests of olliers, 
 a war on aeeount of impressments, is only a war for the right 
 of employing Uiilish seamen, on board Amerioan merchant 
 vessels. 
 
 The claim of Great Britain pretends to no farther extent, 
 than to take iintish seamen Irom private merchant vessels. la 
 the exercise of this claim, her officers take American seamen, 
 a-'id foreign seamen, in the American service; and althongU 
 she disclaims such abuses, and proffers redress, when known, 
 yet wuloubtedly grievous injuries have resulted to the seamen 
 of the United' States. Rut the ^juestion is, caa war be pro- 
 per for such cause, before all hope of reasonable aoeommoda* 
 tion has failed ? Even after the exting-uishment of such hope, 
 can it be proper, until our own pi-actice be so regulated as to 
 remove, in such foreign nation, any reasonable apprehension 
 of injury ? 
 
 'i'ije umlersigned are clearly of opinion that the eonploynient 
 of Britisli seamen, in the merchants service of the United 
 States, is as little reconcilable with the permanent, astia^pre- 
 se.it iiitert (it of the United States. The enoouragemeut of fo- 
 reign seamen is the discoui-agement of the native Arnci ican. 
 V The duty of government toward* this valuable class of men 
 is not only to protect, but to patronize them. And this can- 
 not be done n»ore eftectually tlian by securing, to American 
 citi'^ens the privileges of American navigation. 
 
 Tiie question of impressment, like every other question re- 
 lative to commerce has been treated, in such a manucr, that 
 what was possessed, is lost without obtaining what was sought. 
 Pretensions, right iu theory, ami important in interest, urged, 
 without duo eonsidei-ation of oiu" relative power, have eventu- 
 :itcd in a pi-actical abandonment, both of what we hoped and 
 ■what we enjoyed. In attempting to spread our lUjg over i'o= 
 
10 
 
 roic'ncrs, itsilistiiicfire cliarackn* has been lost to'ourown ci- 
 
 Tin* Ainorioan <!oaTnnn, wliose interesf it is to liiivo t^n 
 »M(;»r»pii<orH, in his <Mii'»loymiMtt, is sai'iinced lliat Biilish 
 seanu':i may li.ivc oqiial |»iiviU'j;08 Mitli Iniuself. 
 
 Kvpp since Ihv Urjilfd S(a(es have \>"t"\ a niWion. l]i:s fub- 
 icot !ias hcp»\ a ir.adpp of ro!)»|>laint itni\ n •pirutiHn : anil c- 
 ^ .Mv Innnrr ai!iMini?!traJion liavo hca^f-il it, ;i<.coi(ii!i.j; !o its 
 «)')\ioiis natiiro. n-; a s«i!tj<'ct im' Iki* Pur ana-R";<'tM(*:»t lh;in !or 
 v,ir. ]t rxisk'd in (lii? Iv.up of WH-<hir)C!;'.«n. yi*t ibis fafber 
 of bis co'.inlry leconinK'n'lc:! no sach irsort. It existed 
 ia llic fine of Adnns.. vrt, lofwiihstanjiinf; the -zna!, -ia 
 S'l'tMiirt of<)i:r maj-illiue rij;!i<s, Avliii'li (Us(ir>r;»isbt«i hU nd- 
 j'.ii ;i«ifrali »n, war' was never s(ig;ji;t^>itei'. by him. as Hie rc- 
 T!ii<ly. I>:iei'rjr the ei;^h* years Mr. JeflTei'ton stooil at the 
 lu'lm of aft'iirs, i( s'ill eoiitiuJHMl n suljeet o!* eonlr'ivcrsy and 
 iie;4jo;ii!!i:>n : !»mI it \vn< never made a cause fur war. It vas 
 i"eserv<»d lor the prejiont administrati:*'! to press lliis toi>ie to 
 t!«e esteeme and most di-eadTiil ifsort ofnatums: alfhon^h 
 Ensj;!aiid has offiei.illy disavowed t!:e ri;^!jf of inipeessnient, ifs 
 il re9;»eet!i native eiiizens. and an ai-rar'ti^'inerit i»i!?;Ii( wcW be 
 ma'e. euusisteat with the fair pictenbioiis oi' sticli as arc mUu- 
 ra-i^ed. 
 
 'rba< the real state ortliis qncption may be nndepstco:?. tiia 
 tjr.'lersi-'ned rceuv to the fo.Mowin^r I'aets as suj^poefeil hy of- 
 fKJ d docMjmenci. >Ir. Kin^;. vhen mbilstev in En-^jbrnd. oh- 
 tr.i'U'da disavowal nf l^'e Ui i.Iilj i|,!»vern:nerit of ihe ri}>ht to 
 im;>i'e«;.s »• Ain'iicjiii seasn! n," n:i(urali7«d ;.3 veil ns naliAe, 
 on file ln.j;b ?.e.)3. A'\ aj:»T> ;*eineat iiad a]v;inced. nrarly to 
 a e ncliision, n.)tn t'us !).is»s, nrj! wa* beolien ofi* r-. ;-,. '• -. 
 cause (liv.it Britain insisted to retain the ri.!;!;t orr • 
 ro'.v s"M3." What, however, was (be opinion of th. : ;<;i- 
 enn miuistei'. on llie probability of an arran'^cnient, appears 
 frorri t!»P pnblie d<u iimenis. eo:n JiUfiieated (o eon.q;eess. in tbo' 
 session of 1S05. :;s slated hy Me. Madison, in these v.f»vds,- 
 " at the ntoiaeaf the arii-des were ex,ieeted to be si;,nrd, 
 •* «n exeepMon of" t!i? narrow seas'* was ne^ed and i!isi«vi,- 
 »» ed on by Lord St, Vin«'»'Uf!j, and l>ein;^ iitrerly inadmissibis 
 •• oji our part.th:* nCj-joeiaSlin was abandoned.'* 
 
 ]\J»'. Rin;» seeiiis to b«' of n;»iiiir>n. Ijowever, " that, wifb 
 <» inoeeli'uo tin i was left him utv tlieexpei-iment. the o!)jee- 
 " tioT mi;;hthave J)een oveeeojsi!'." What time was b-fj Mr. 
 jviii^ i')r the ex »ei*i iieaf, oi* w!iether any was ever ma<!e has 
 not he«?n diseb>sed in t!ie jmblie. Mi*. Kinjj. soon after re- 
 turned to America : iL is inanifeat from Mr. Kinij's expres- 
 
11 
 
 sicn diat li(*Avns limKod in jvH'nl of tirnf. nnd i( is oim illv oIpjvt 
 thiit {lis ojiini.-Mi wv-.a tlint in •.;(!jus(ni(Mi( «" m!<I iwkv j,1ace. 
 'J'h-.it Mr. iM:nlis<)ii whjj also «>f (he sann' o;»ini()n is (lc!;!;.»!»*ilrsit- 
 e<l, l)y Ijis li'cioirt to MessTri. lUo'iroe anl Pinktu\v. <lat«H! llio 
 S.i of Ke-'iMi.'.ry, ISCr. in xvliich he uhi-s Ihrsc cxpiTHsi(.iiR. 
 •• i (r.kc it for i^ranled (hnl yoti W.isvt not fuilcd to r,ir*!:o due 
 <• use of {lie arrangoineni oorMoHt'd by .Mr. Kins^Miili I^oid 
 <« ^^:^^vksb•Jry, in (lie yrar ISaJ. for srJlIiaj^ llu* r-'.ii"<lio!i of 
 *» itiiprc^smi'iit. 0/t f/ai/ nccfi:>iou r.'i.'f T/infc/' f/,'r.'f aibii'inishU' 
 <• lion the BriU:>h yriiU-ijiJc -cf/f.v //(ir/j/ rn.o/?7M(7l iv fix'or of 
 •• ti,crh,rhlofourflMi:,jA;id ih.ri'kalnfni harlng ogiecd \o 
 " "prohlhil iinpressnienis nn the liitah -vars." and Lord 8t. Vin- 
 «• cents reqi'.li'ioa; riotliini:; more (lian ancxrc| ticu » f (lie nar- 
 *• row sens, wn exvejjiion rrstioxoi Jhe olmolrle cis.iiii of G. 
 <« Iliilain to sanjc peevtiiar doiiiiniin over <he>ii.'' Here then 
 ue have a full aelvnowlodgiaej;! that G. liritai:) v/as wiliini^ 
 tarenouDei^tlie right of iinpressriK'nt, on tlie hi.^;h st m?, in fa- 
 Yoi-ofour Ihi;^ ; — that she was anxious to arran-^r (Le su!v)r{ t. 
 It furt!»er ap[}ears that the lirilisli niioistry Called 
 for an intcrvie^v v>ilh Messrs Monrue and PinUney, on 
 this topic ; tiiat they stated -the nature (rt* (he clitiio, (JtC 
 Kind's prerogative: that thry i,ad toasultcd (he ei'o\Mi of- 
 ficers and tlie board of admiralty, who r.i: concurred in sen(i- 
 luent, tiiat nnder the cireunistancrs of tlie nation. tiiC lelin- 
 qt'.isiimeot of (he ri.^lit was a r.icasiire, ^viiieh ih^ j^overn- 
 inent ooald notado;>(. without tnkin;;^ on it^jelf a responsibili- 
 ty, wlii'-h no juinistiy wou'd be vsiiiin;^ to meet, howevei' 
 pressini; tije e::i-eney mij^ht b?. They olfe red, however, on 
 the part of Great Brltr.in, to p»S5 ]aws nr-iUin;; it penal Ar 
 Briiii-li etiijimandors to impress Arwcrican citizen*, on board 
 of AiuericT:!i vessels, on tlie hij;;h seas, if America would pass 
 a law, making it penal for the oiiicers of (he United States to 
 grant ceriifieates of eiti/ensliip (o l^ritl^Ii subjects, 'j'bis will 
 be found, in the same dtjeuments, in a Ie(ter from ]\Iessrs. 
 Monroe and l*iiiki«ey to3fr. Madison, dated ilth Xovniilier, 
 i'iOG. Under (heir pcreiisptovy iufirnetion:^, this pr</posi(ion, 
 on (he part of Great Rrltain, eonld not be acceded (o l»y gup 
 jnini<ii(ors. Sneli, however, was tlie tenijier and nnxifty of 
 Eni:;land, and such the eanilor and p;ood sense of our miijiiters, 
 tb.at on lionorahie (ind adtuiuJa^aicons avrimgewent did take 
 •place. TI;e autlsoriiy of Mr. Monroe, then Minister at the 
 eo::r( of Great Britain, nuw So.-retary of State, and one of 
 the present aduiinisdation, who hnve recommended war with 
 En^iand, and assigned iajprcssments as a cause, supports the 
 i5i:dcrs)g!icd in assertioi^, iLut it was honorable and advauia- 
 
12 
 
 f^cous : for in a l«»<<er from Riolimond dated (lie 2S(h of Fe- 
 bruary, 1S08, tfjJVlr. Madigwi, (he folloAVin:; rxprcstji;):^ nre 
 used by Mr. Monroe, *' I have on (he central y ahv;u s hrliev- 
 " ed and still do bt'lieve that the }>roBnd on which (ha( inler- 
 •* est (iinpiessnient) was placed hy the paper of (he Hritiiih 
 *' Commissioners of 8th S'ovcniher, ISOO, and the exphma- 
 " tion which accompanied if, -vns both honorabJe and adran- 
 <* tagenusto the Uniled Stnlc.'^, (Iiat it condiiiiod a conces?ion 
 " in their favor on the part of Clreat BritHin. on (be ejreat 
 ** principle in contestation, never fjefore iiiade by a formal 
 « ami oblii^atory act of their governmeut, which was liighly 
 «< favoralile to their interest." 
 
 \Vi(h the opinion of Mr. King so decidedly expressed, with 
 tlie oiTicfal admission of Mr. Madison, with the explicit de- 
 claration of Mr. Monroe, all concurring that Great Bri(aiu 
 vas ready, to abandon impressment on the high sea", and with 
 an honorable ami advantageous arrangement, actually made 
 by Mr. Monroe, how can tt be pretended, that all hojie of set- 
 tlement, by treaty, has failed ; how can this suhjevt furnish a 
 proper pause of war? 
 
 Vitji resq;cct to the sn])ject of blockades ; t\ie. prineipje of (he 
 law of natioiis, asaspei'led by the U. States, is, that a block- 
 ade can only bcJustiSed when suppoi'ted by an ade(piate force. 
 In theory this principle is admitted by (Jreat Britain. It is 
 allctlged, however, that in praclkc, she disregards that prin- 
 ciple. 
 
 The order of bloekadc, which lias been Bip.dc a specific 
 ground of complaint, by France, is that of the t<5th of May 
 1S06. Yet, strange as it may seem,, thisoidi-r, which is, now, 
 made one ground of war between the two countiies was. at t'je 
 time of its first issuing, viewed as an act of favor and concilia- 
 tion. On this subject it is necessary to be explicit. I'hc vagno 
 and indeterminate manner, in which, the American and French 
 governments, in their official papers, speak of (liis order of 
 blockade, is calculated to mislead. An importance is at- 
 tached to it, of which, in the opinion of the undersigned, it 
 is not worthy. Let the facts speak for themselves. 
 
 In Aug. ISOi, the British established a blockade at the en- 
 trance of the French port p. naming them, from Fecamp to Os- 
 tend; and from (hoir proximity (o the British coasts, and the ab- 
 sence of ftll coni})lalnt, we may be j)en;iittcd to believe, that it 
 was a legal blockade, enforced aoeoiding to the usages of na- 
 tions. On thelGih of May, ISOfi, the Fnglisli Secretary of 
 State, ]\li'. Fox HotiOed. to our ^Minister, at London, that his 
 gpvernmenl had thought fit to direct necessary measures to be 
 
13 
 
 taken for the l)lopkn«^o of the coasts, rivers anrl ports, from the 
 river l^Mw to the river Ilicst. Unth imlusive.* 
 
 Jn point ()rr;i('(, as t!io lerins us*sl i:i the oiiif^r, will s]io\r 
 tliis |)ai)er, wliich has boi-onio, a siihslanlivi-: and avowed 
 cause for non-intercourse, emhargo ami war, U a hhn'ka'le, 
 only oTthr places, on the Fi-ench coast, from Ostrnd to the 
 Seine, ami even as (o Ihi'sc i( is, niiTcly, as it j)roreases loho» 
 aeontinuance of a Coriner and existintyhlix k;uh'. J"\)i-wifh re- 
 spect to the residue of tlie coast, tv.ide oi" iieiidMls is admit- 
 ted, with tlic exec|)lTon only, ofeneniy'** propei ty and ai-ti.le» 
 contrahand of war, wliieh aie liahle tohe taken, wilhoutahlo* k- 
 ade ; ami except the direct colonial trade of the enemy, wiii. h 
 Great IJritain denied to be free hy the law of nations. Why 
 the order was tijus extended, in its form, while in effect it ad- 
 ded milhinj^ tooi'ders and ref^ulations, already exisiin;^, will ha 
 known hy adverting;" to papers, which arc hefoie tVe world. Iti 
 JSOd, France, had yet colonies and ti>e vvoun*! "nflictcd on our 
 feelinj^s, hy l!ie interference of t!ie Biitisli ii;ovcrnnient iu onr 
 trade, witli those colonics, had been tlie cause of i-emonstrance 
 and nej>oLialion. At the moment when t!ie order of May IROG, 
 was made, Mr. >ronroe, thepresent Secret:iry of State, then 
 our r.iinisterplenipoieatiary at the Court of (ir:^at I'ritain, was 
 in treaty on the suhjeut of the carryini^ trade, and jiidi^iu^ on 
 the spot, and at the time, he, unhcsiiatingiy, f^j^ive hisopiniou, 
 that the order was made to favor American views and inter- 
 ests. This idea is unequivocally expresscji, in Mr. Monrt;c's 
 letters to Mr. Matlison of the ITlh, and iiOthf of May, and of 
 the 9th of June, 1806. 
 
 •TIic terms of the order are these, " That t!ie said coa&t, rivers 
 " and ports must l)e considered as bl.ckaded," but, '' iliat such block- 
 *' adc sball not extend to prevent neutral ships and vessels, laden 
 «' with goods, not heiiig the piuperty of !us majesty's enemies, and 
 " not being contraband of war lVon\ apprnacini.g; llic said coastii and 
 " entering info and sniling from the said rivers nnd ports save and 
 «' c.rce/it the coast, rivers ?.n(.\ ports from Ottend to the river Seine, 
 «' already in a st..tc of strict ami rigorous blockade ; and w hich are to 
 " be considered as so continued," with a proviso tliat the vessels 
 «' cntcrinLj had not been laden at a port belonginij to, or in pns- 
 " session of, the enemies of Great Biitain, and the vessels deparlin*^ 
 «• were not destined to an enemy pon,or had previously broken block- 
 <'ade." 
 
 t The followin?^ arc extracts from these letters. In that of the 
 1 7th, May 1806; he thus speaks of that blockade. It is " cou.ched 
 *' in terms of restraint and professes to extend the blockade further 
 *' tban was, heretofore done, 7ifverfhflr.fs it toke^ it from many ficrts, 
 ^^ already J blockudedy indeed, from all East of Ostejd, and West of 
 
Andaal:»to ^'s Oc'tn!>rr. ISIJ, tl-.ps.iinr Ocntli-mnn. v rifini* 
 as Secretary oT SfiJe to the ij:ih.li nii(ii>.for, sDPakinj.; «»!' t!ic 
 same oivicr of Ijlochr^d.' o!' ^Jiiy, 1806, jtjvs. "if slri((!y \v;is 
 *• linlc moretljaB-.i ijloc'Kwdi* oTlliP const iVom Seine toOiifrnil.'* 
 *< The Oi>je<'t was to affDul to the Uniti'd States an attoiu- 
 ** noilatlori respeeling thi* colonic' trade." 
 
 It appears, then, that tl-h oi\:e:% \va«, in point of fact, 
 jjiadc to favor our trai5e nrul \v:is so uaJet stood and adiuiited 
 by the govcrnim'ut of t!iis C!:iirj(ry, ni that tiuio foid si.iec : 
 th-dt, JDsteud oreitendiui; piiii" hloeka^les it K*s*ened t!:;>m ; 
 that the coautry from Sei';? (s lircst, and from Ostend io 
 £11)0 was inserted to open them to our coloniiil trads and {'or 
 ouraeeomHirMiati;):), and l!i<i< il was never made the siiMject 
 of comphiiot, hy tiie America!i government, duiin;* its praeli- 
 <?al continirin'jc : - tljatis, not until tlte fa'st order in poumcII ; 
 and indeed not until after the Isl ofxM^y tSlO ; ; r»d until af- 
 ter tlis Airieriran :;'»ve:'!i:ieni v»as unitized of the ji^rojif^d, 
 vhich it w;ijt!:o v»:;I uTFr^i^cc :^!t::::!.! he taken upon tlic sub- 
 ject.. 
 
 Of (his we h.iv . . .. »*;- ■ -.> ^ . . ; ...iT, In the. olTers, made 
 under the adnjinisJration of Mr. Jtiferson, for tiiedis.eon?inn- 
 anee of the Kiiihargo as it related to Great i»rilain ; none cf 
 whieh rcfjuired the repeal of Jl;e hloekade of !May ISCU j and 
 t^!sointhe arran,::jrn)eni nyade durinj; the administration of Mi*. 
 X^lndison, an<l rnU-!- his eye wit'.i ?»Ir. ErsUine. The nun-in- 
 tereouise aet ofMareh lfi09. and the act »* foneerniif;;' conj- 
 *' mereial iniercoMrsti" of May ISIO, vest the Pre^ide^t of 
 tJieUnifed States \vit!i the verysauie [>ower, in tht- v<'ry same 
 terms. ]?o(!i nt'.(Ito!i-<e hi;a "incase, eitlier G\eai Uritaln or 
 ^' France sliall so revoke or ineiliiy her e<Iicts, as that t!iey 
 « shall cease to vi«!«to the neutral eomnarce oftljc United 
 *' States'' to declare flic sap.je hy proclamation. And In the 
 provisions of one law ia tuoh c.i&e, non-intercourse was to 
 
 " the Seine, except in aiticlcR couti'ab.'.nd of .war and enemies pro- 
 •■ p< rty, whicii are Sv ,. (jl(jcic«de. And in like lonn yf 
 
 '= cxrcpticn, roiisicU ny a» one puiver, it admits llie 
 
 ' trade of m (itrals, v. iiiau v..: .-.....>-• lim'ts, to be tVec in the jn-oduc- 
 ■ lions of enemies colonics, in < vc:y. bw ihi direct roiiic between 
 'Mhe colony ari.l t'.ie parent ct>iiitiy." -Mr. Monroe acMs, ''It can- 
 " not bedoubtcfl tlwit the note vv:,s virawri by the Korcraneiil, in rc- 
 " fcrence to tiu- qcs'tion, atid il' iu'-i'iKicd as the fonnd.ni )n of ^ uea- 
 •< (y must be viewed in a Tavor. blc lii,'bl." On the 'ioili oi" M»iy, Mr. 
 >!onroc, vriios to Mr. Mti'Ii^on. tint tie b.itl l)ceii " strrni^lhcucd in 
 'the opinion l!;nt ihc order of ibe i6tb was tlta^n wub a view to 
 :lie qucbl'.on of our trade witii eneiiiies coloities, ami ibat it piuiai* 
 'cs to Lc h'.-!.!',' ijillir.cift'v to vui c^r.i...'viciiil i.iteicols." 
 
oonse ; hr tTio.=ie of 1^0 o«':-<'lt \vn-. (n lio rpvivrd. In conss- 
 nuc!irc orpowtT vestrt!, i.y tljc llrsl jk 1. \\\e arrauL^enicnt \vi(!i 
 Kr^.;ine was iniidc and the r<*vor'5Ui(»:i cfJlio Cfiilors in council 
 of'Jnmiarv and ^^nviMJiher 1807, wa.s<'Ojisi<!^Tod asa full coiii- 
 plinnce wiili (he l:nv and fis riMJioviiif; all tlic and Drutral 
 edii'ts. TIu' f)!o(kad(' «;f .M;iy 1S0(>, v,;isr.()t Jiuliidi'd in Ihc 
 arraii.2,f int'!i(, ai;<l il (Iik-s not :ii)j>t'Ui'. llr.it it '.vus di-eint-d of 
 S!'.!&!L'ii'Uf i»!>i)()i Jani't* to cMii-ujxt' tM'n a tlioiii^l-il. Yet under 
 tr.e art ot May, 1810, vliieli vests tie very same p«»v>er, a 
 leroeatimi of this l>Ioek.u!e of May, ISOG, is Miude hy our 
 cabitiet » sine fjunvnn ; an indisper.sjhlo re(j(iisii:' ! Anii now, 
 afJertiie Kritisli lainistei* lias direclly avowed iiiut tliiti order 
 of ble,i'kade wouhl noJ ooMiuue. iStcv a revorati' n of the or- 
 ders ineoiiseil, will.oai a due aj'i>ii(:i«ion of an adequate iuree, 
 ^he exUleiieeof this bloekside, is insi^tnl !I[k>;i. asa jiislifiahle 
 eauseofvvar, nolwithstaiidioi^. that our ^cvernment adtiiitg a 
 h!oekade is le.';al, to llic r.^i.ialcnaiuc (u' wliieli an adequate 
 forec is aj);>lied. 
 
 The i!n(ierNiji,'?ed arc avr-rc*. that, in -iisiiriearutn cf this new 
 ,^ro;jnd, i% is now s.iid that the exie.'jsion on p;'.[:yi'f i'oi- what- 
 ever ])U!'i)osi' i.'lendod, favrTs l!je prineirdc of^fuiper bJocl;- 
 ades. 'J'his hftwevvr, can hardiy be ni'i:e<l, si?5ta the liiitish,"* 
 r.rinally, disavow tlte |iri!ui|de ,• and siaee they aeknov Icd^^e, 
 tie \er\ <h>ctnne of the law oi' iiatroiis, for whi^h the Ame- 
 rican admifiislra.tion contend, l.ieiicefurlh, tJi*.\ c?;istecte of a 
 block.adci beronir sa queiiiJion of fad: it must de}t( nd nj'-o!! tl.a 
 evidence adduced, ia siiMpoil cf the adequacy of ihcbIock;.r:- 
 ja.c loreo. 
 
 i'ro'Ti the prerodin,^ statcmpnt ii is appp.rcn}, tliat vviiutc- 
 
 vor there is objectionable, in Ihc principle of the or.d?r of 
 
 ?>;ayl80'3. or in t'l,? practice under it, on giound mciely A- 
 
 ;ierifcan, it. cannot be set up as a snllicient cau-t? of w«r ; for 
 
 Mitil Franec, poiateil i: out, as a cause of co:itjwvcr«y, it wus 
 
 * Mr.Fosler in iris Iclier <.f tLc 3;] July 1811, to a.Iv. Tvionroe tlius 
 tt&tcs the (Irctrine, nii«ii tyir.'jd l:y iiii t^overnir.ent. 
 
 " Great Biitran hr.s never a'tt.niptc(l lo t'isj.ule that, )!i 'he «rdl- 
 " nary coii"sc cf the I.-.m- of iictions, no hlock.^ilc can lie jiiSJiGub'e or 
 •' vajiclj'unlfss it be suppMUci by an " adcqiijto U vrz cichiii.cd in 
 " maintain il nnd to c::posc lo hazard ali \co6( !^ ..-U r-.T;tvi .,* 10 c- 
 *' varic it.i opcriition. 
 
 " Mr- Foster in his letter to y,v. Monor <J '. , ' ili J '■.. ISP, 
 " als-v-says The blockade of May 1306, will not continue aficr the 
 «' lepcal r)f the orders in council uaicss his M:<]t;sty's t^overnm'. f.t 
 " shuil think 6t lo sustain it by ihe speci.il ap-Jicaiiou Of a suifi- 
 " cseiit naval force, and the fuel of ils btint^ so conliauv;' • ■■ : ' r, 
 " will be noiiiisd at the liaic." 
 
i6 
 
 so far from hf in.'^re^ardfd, as a source ofany new, or iriieroiis 
 coinjjlaint, that ii was actually considered, by our-goveininuut, 
 in a fuvoi-.dde liulit. 
 
 The Briii>h Orch rs in Couiicil are flic rcpininin.!^ source of 
 cliiscontciit. ;ind}svov*cd cause ol »ar. 'I'iicse, liavc. lurcloroic, 
 licen < tdi'i'MiC'cd, hy oiir i^ovrrniiicnt iii coniicxion villi the 
 Ficncli dc<Tccs. Certainly, ttieBiilish Orders in Council and 
 French dccr<-cs. locni a system subversive of neutral ri;Jits 
 and conslifutej i^t .grounds ofconiplaiut. >et, vicMcd, relative- 
 ly to (he. conditi(»:i of those |)owers towaiils each other, and 
 of (lie United i?tatL8 towards boih, the nndcisii^ned cannot 
 j)ctsuade jIicidscIvcs that the Ord»Ms in Comui!, us tlicy uaw 
 exist and villi their |, resent effect and oju-ration, Justiiy the 
 gclcciion of Givat Britain as owv eneuiy; and rciidtr necessary 
 a declaration of unqiialiticd var. 
 
 Every consiucvaliiiii of moral duty, and ijolilical expedi- 
 ence, seems to concur in vaniiui; the United iSlates, not to 
 mingle in tl. is iujieless, and, lohuniancye* inteiniinable Eu- 
 ropean contest. iNciilerEiance, nor Ens;laud, prc-leuds that 
 their ;;j.:yressions can !)e defended, on thegr«»und of any other 
 bt-lliai-rcntri^ht, than that of particular necessity. 
 
 Both littcM'.pl to justifA their encroachments, on the j^cncral 
 lav of nations, by the pica of retaliation. In the relative po- 
 sition, and 1 rojMjrtion of strength of the United States, to 
 cither helligciei.t, there appeared little probability, that ve 
 eoni<i compel the one, or the other, b,> hosiilc operations, to 
 abandon this plea. • 
 
 And as the field of commcitial enterprise, after allov-int; 
 to the decrees and orders, their full practical effect, is still 
 rich ami exiensive, there seemed, as little visdom as obliga- 
 tion to jield, solid and certain realities, for unatlaituible pre- 
 t^nsions. 'J'he right of retaliation, as existing, in either belli- 
 gerent, it Avus impossible, for (he United Stales, consistent 
 vith either iisduty, or interest, to admit. Yet such vas the 
 state of (hedetrees, and orders of the respective belligerents, 
 in relation to the rights of neutials, that, vbilc, on the ona 
 liaml. It f<;rmed. no juslificatign to either, so on the other, 
 concurrent rlrcnnistances. formed a ccnipletc justiliciition to 
 the United States, in maintaining, not viihstanding these en- 
 croachments. proA i«ledi( best comjjorted with their interests, that 
 ^ystcnl of im[taitial neuti-ality. vbich is so dc/irable to their 
 peace and prosperity. Eor if it should be Hdmiltcd, vhieU 
 no course of argunfent win maintain, that the Berlia 
 dfecrce, vliicb was issued on the '21s( of ?\ovember, ISOfi, 
 vas justiiied, by the antecedent orders of the British admi- 
 raiiy, r«specar»g tUe auluuial ti'udtt, uud bj the oidei* of bloet- 
 
17 
 
 arte or the 16th of May, pwceiling:. yot, on this account, f])erft 
 resulted no riglM of letaliation to Fiiinee, as it icBpccfrd the 
 United States. Tbey liad expressed no noquiesrence either 
 in Hie British inferferenoe with the eolouial trade, or in any 
 extension ot* the principles of blockade. Besides, had there 
 been any ^ueli nej;leet, on tlie part ol* the Tniled Slates, as 
 trariunted the French emperor in adoptiuj; l»is principle of 
 relviliution. yet in the exercise of that pretended right, he 
 past the hounds of both puhlic law and decency; and. in the 
 >ery exiravaa^ance of that exercise, lost the a<!vantage of 
 V hatcver cwlour the Kritish had flfforded to his pretences. 
 Not content with adoptin.^ a principle of retaliation, in terms 
 limited, and approj)riate. to the injury of which he com- 
 plained, he declared. " all the British lilands, in a state of 
 <• blockade ; prohibited all eomraerce and correspondence with 
 « them, alltrade in thtfir manufacture-! ; and made lawful prize 
 «< of all merchaiKliz^, telonginj^ to Knj^land, or coming from 
 ** its mauuiactories, and colonics." 'J'he violence of these 
 encroachments Avas equalled only by tlie insidiousness of the 
 terms, and manner, in which they were promulgated. Tlie 
 scope of the expressions of the Berlin decree, w a* so .general 
 that it embraced within its sphere, the whole commerce of 
 neutrals with England. Yet Decres, Minister of the Ma- 
 rine of France, by a formal note, of the 34th December, 1S06, 
 assured our minister Plenipotentiary, that the imperial decree^ 
 of the 5tlst November, 1806, "Toa-s not to it^'fct our com- 
 «< mcrcf* xvliich icniild still be governed by the rults of the tvea' 
 *' tij* estatliahed hdiceen the tioo counlries." Notwith- 
 standing this assurance, however, on the 18th September fol- 
 lowi;^. Reguier Grand Minister of justice, declared <* f/jaC 
 •• the inlentiuiis of the Emperor rcere that, by virtue of that 
 ■*' decree, French anned vessels, mi^ht seize in neutral vessels, 
 *' either English pr^iperttf. or merchandise jtroceedin^ from the 
 *» English manufuctories ; and that he had reserved, for fu- 
 « lure decision the question 7chelher they might not poxsess 
 <* themsdveg of nentval vessels going to, or from England, al- 
 «« though Iheij hud no English inanufactitres on hoard." Pre- 
 tensions, so obviously, exceeding any measure of retaliation 
 that, if the precedent acl«, oftlie British governnjcnt, had 
 afforded to such a resort, any colour of right., it was lost 
 in the \iolence, and extravagance of these assumed princi- 
 ples. 
 
 To the Berlin decree* succeeded the British orders in conn^ 
 
 fil, of the 7tb of .Tunuary, 1807, which were mcrgod in the 
 
 orders of the 11th of November following. Thes'.' tie. 'a red 
 
 - «♦ all ports, and places belonging to France, and il^ nllie*. 
 
« fromwliirh flic T^ritlsli fla-^ wns cxcludeil, all. in llie onlo- 
 ** lonicR of !iis Britannic nv.ijfsly's cneinjr^, in a state of block- 
 »' adr; — prohibiting all (]-;i(!(*, in t!ic produce and mituunic- 
 « fni'i"*, of (lu^ said countfii'? or colonics: and tnakini; all vessels, 
 *< tradinj^to or (Voin (hem, and all mercliaiy.]i?c, on board sub- 
 *' jectto capture and condoinnalion, Nvilb an excepiion, only 
 ** in favour of the direct trade, between neutral countries and 
 «» the colonies of hi?; ujajeslics eneiuics." 
 
 Those extri»va;2;'.H>t protcubions. on t!ic part of Great Bri. 
 tain, >vcrc, imincii'tclv succeeded by otiuM-s, still more ex- 
 trava,2:an>. on the part of France. "NVithoiit \vai{in2:for any 
 Ixuowlcd^'c of tl;c course, the American government wouUI 
 liike, in iclalion to the Brilish oi'ders in council, the French 
 Kniporor issued, on the 17ih of December following, hislMilani 
 decree, bywiiicli *< every shir» of vimtcver nation, which shall 
 *« have subr.iitlcd to search, !iy an I^^nglish ship, oj- to a voy- 
 «< age to England, oc paid any tax to that government, are dc- 
 *♦ flared ilen(ifioiiuli~c(L and hnvful piize. 
 
 ♦♦ The British Inlands are declarcil in a state of blockade, 
 *^ bv^eu and land, and everj'shijiof whatever nation, orwhat- 
 « soever the tiatnce of i's cargo maybe, thiit sails from Kng- 
 « land, or (hose of tlie J^nglish cohmies, or of coimtries oceu- 
 ** pied by English t loops, ;jnd pioccoding to Fn^;land. or to 
 *« the Jinglisii colonies, orto countries occu'iicdby theFnglish, 
 ♦« to be good prize.*' The nature and extent of the*e injuries 
 fhus aecuninlnted by mutual efforts of both belligerents, seem- 
 ed to teach the American statesman this important lesson ; 
 not tonffach ihee-.uiscof his country to one, or the other: hut 
 by *ys<c;natie und solid provisions, for sea-coast and nniritl ne 
 til fcn.-c. to place its in<ecests, us fiir as its situation, und 
 resources permit, beyoud the reach of the rapaciry. or amhi- 
 tioa ol'any Europeau i)i>wei-. Ila;»py would it have been for 
 our country, if a course of policy, so simple and obvious, had 
 been adojilcd ! 
 
 Uiifortunntely administration bad recourse to a system, com- 
 plicated in its nature, ami dcslrur 'ive in i's effrcts ; whicli iu- 
 stciid of relief, from the aecuniuiated injuries of fireign go- 
 vernments served only to fill u ), what was wanting ii> t!ie mea- 
 sure of evils abroad, l»y ai'lificial einbamssments at home. 
 As long ago, as the year ITOi-; Mr. Madison, (he present Pre- 
 sident of tlic United Ststes, then a member of the House of 
 Representatives, devised and proposed a system ofcoinmercial 
 rcst-.i( ti'»ns. which h;id for its olfject the coei'cion of Grcat- 
 Jirilain, by a denial to her of our products and our market; 
 as-sc'ting tint the former Mas. in a manner essential to her 
 prosperity, cither as necessaries of life, or as raw materials 
 
^9 
 
 fi)r'her ipaniifactiirps ; aiiJ?, that v i(ho ut flie loflop, a ,{»reat 
 proporlion o!' licrhilfouHii;^ classos, couldoiof siilisist. 
 
 lij tliut dciy ot* Siifre uiid vii-tuous fuiTlii(iiig!it, <li«i pTopoid- 
 (ion was rt*jt'('to(l. It remained, IkowcviT, a (lienie ol' pmi o.h- 
 ii>g pntM'^.yrie aiuooj;' un active class <jj\\im'iifiiu polili i:.Ms, 
 w!»o Willi a »:yHtiMiialic iwrlijiaeifj iticiilcated amon^' tl»e imo- 
 ple, llia< <'ouiJucri ial resd iciions weio a s;;('«'ies oP warTiire, 
 \v>uh vvoiijil cnsari' siiocess to l^c I'liittd Stittcsi, and huiiiiiiu- 
 li to Circat )'i]-W:iiu. 
 
 'i'Lere ver«' (u<» ciroiinistanrcg. inltcrrntin this systom of <•(>.- 
 eicir.!;;' Gi'cal iJri(;«iu I>y {'oinmcrcia! pc.efvieiions, vl.itb oup^ht 
 to havt? made practical politkiitns, very doiditiul ot'ils irsult, 
 and very cautious oC its trial, These woee the state oTopi. 
 iii.in ia lelntioji (o its cilleaey amonjx eoimneecial men, in t!;e 
 T'nited Staler : and th** state of Itciia.i;;. uhicli a resoi-l («> it 
 V uiil<! u»)avoid;d)Ly pi oduce. in Ueeat Britain. On the one hand, 
 it was Kodeninhie that tiie threat body of couiiuei'cial men, in 
 the Uuited States, hud no be'iefin sneii adependanceol' Gi'eat 
 Bi'ifaiii, upon ihe United Spates, either for onr produce, or 
 one market, as the system implied. 
 
 Without the hearty eo-operation of tljis class of men. suc- 
 cess in its attempt was oTiviously ima.ttainable. And as (»n 
 then* (he chief sutreriug would fall, it was aJtogether unreu- 
 bonablc to expect that they worild become oo.ojjcratin^ in^tru- 
 mcnts iii suppcirt of any system, w hich was ruin to them, and 
 without hope to theif country. On the other hand, as it rc» 
 spccts (ireat-Brilain, a system proc^eeding upon the avowed 
 principle of her »le})eifdanee upou us was anions;- tlie last, to 
 which a proiid and powerful natian would yield. 
 
 IS o(\>illistaniIins; these oiiviouscousidcnitiori!-:. in Ap.iil ISOo, 
 Mr. Aladison, beinj^ thya Secietaiy of State, a law jjassed 
 GoK^TCss, prohibiting^ the importation of certain specified nja- 
 nufactures of Great Britain, an<l her dependencies on the ba- 
 sis of Mr. ^ladison's 0!J£:inal jToposiiion. 'i'hns the United 
 States entered on the system of eommwreial hostility aj^ainst 
 Groat Biitain. 
 
 The decree of Berlin was is^^ued in the ensninj^ Xo^emher, 
 (180^3.) 'j'he treaty, whichliad been sit;!;cd vA London, in De- 
 cember, ISOti, having: been rejected by .Sir. Jefferson, wit!»out 
 })ein.!jj presented to Ihe Senat« for ratiticati(.n, and llie non-im- 
 poitation act uct bcinji; repealed, but only suspended. Great 
 Britain issued her orders in uouutil, on the lllh November, 
 1S07. 
 
 On Uie 21ts of the same month, of Nov. Champaj^ny, French 
 minister oi" foreign atfairs, wrote to Mr. Arujstroni; tbe Anie- 
 fc-icau jMiuibter, in the words following. **AI1 the diftictilties. 
 
2© 
 
 y< \T!iieh hr\re £»i\'cn the to your tro]nrr!a(ion«, *!ir, vould 
 f* he romovt'd with ease, if (lie f^oveniiiicnt of the I'nlteil 
 " States, afYer conijilaining in vain of the injustice aiul vio- 
 " lations of Knj^land, took, with tli« whole confinent, the j»art 
 ** of guaranteeing it therefrom." 
 
 On the 17th of the ensuinj; I>r^-e)n!)fr, the IMilan derrecg 
 li^as issued on t ho part rtfFianre.and fivednysaftciwardsthe emi- 
 bargo was passed on the j)-.irt of the United Sfatps. Thus 
 was eon)p!eated. hyaets nearly eoteniporaneous, the circle of 
 somniereial hostilities. 
 
 Aftei" an inttFectuiil trial of four rears to eonti'oul tlie poli«y 
 of tlift two licllii^erenls hy this system, it was on the part of 
 the UjiiJcd States, for a tinie, l•^^m(J^i^ll^•d. The actolUie 
 1st of May. 1810, gave the aiitliorify, Jiowevep to the Presi- 
 dent of the United States to revive it against Great Rrilnin, 
 in case France revoked her decrees. Sueh reroeation.. on the 
 partof France wasdeclai'cd, h} the PresidenCsiiroclaniationon 
 the 2^1 November, 1<S10, and, in eoasequeuce non-intercourse 
 was revived Uy our administration, against Great Britain. 
 
 At all times, (he undersigned have looked, with much anxi- 
 ety for the evidence of tliis revocation. They wished not to 
 question, wliat, in various forms, hus been so (jften asserted 
 hy (he udmiuistratioM and its agents, by (lieir directions. But 
 neither as jiuMic men, nor as citizens, eon they consent 
 that (he peace uiid prosperity of (he country should be sacri- 
 ficed, in maintenance ofapo-iiion, wliicli on no principle of 
 evidence thei deem tenable. 'J hey cannot fiilsify, or conceal 
 their eonvictitm, that the French decrees neither have been, 
 nor are revoked. 
 
 Witiiout pretending to occupy t!«e whole field of argument, 
 Tvhieli (he question of revocation has opeue<l, a concise s(a(e- 
 |rji!il seems inseparai)le from the occasion. 
 
 The condition, on which the non intercours?, according t» 
 the act of 1st MaylStO, might be revived against Great Bri- 
 tain, was, on tlic part of France, an ejrctnal vcrocuHon of her 
 decrees. What the President of thcU'nited States was bound lo 
 require from (!ie French Government was. ijic evidence of 
 such eflfeitual revocation. U()on this point both the right of 
 the United States and (lie duty olthe I'TCsidcntseem to he resolv- 
 able into veiy ili-tioct and u:idcni<il)le principles. The object to 
 be obiained. for the I'nitt-d States from France was an ejj'cctu- 
 id revnodlinn of (he decrees. A revocation (o be eftc*e(u;U, 
 ii;t!st, inchule- in the nalwre of things, (hisessential lequisite:— 
 il'.i- \vi-ont;'» done to (he neutral commerce of (he United States, 
 by (lie «;pcra(ion of the deciees. must be stopped. Nothing 
 short of bais could be an eticolUf^l lovoeatioa. 
 
21 
 
 Without rcfd'cncrto the ntlier wronajs rosulnnii; Prom flica 
 decve»'s to the ((Miiineifeor tho L'niU-d Suites ; il vill lie suf- 
 ficient to stitte tlie prominent wronj; dune hy tlie .'id, artiele of 
 the Milan (U'ciTe.'= I'he nsUiire olthis wron^ rss»nti;ilJy con- 
 sisted in Uie nnflwrilii s;ivcn to Freneh ^hi()s. of v\ur und I'li- 
 viiteers to make prize, at sea, of every neutral vessel, sailing 
 to, or from, any of the Kn^lish possessions. I'he iiulhority to 
 capture was the very essence oT the vsronj*. It follows there- 
 fore, th;it an ejrcclual rrcocution vequind Uiat llw tiulho}'itii to 
 eapluve slwuldhc aiiHvllcd. (ii'antin^ Iherefuie, for the sakq 
 orare;iiinent. (whnt IVouj its terms and its nature wns eertain- 
 ly not the case) tliat (he noted letter of iho Duke of C'adore 
 of the 5t!i of An.aiust ISIO, held forth a revocation, jjjood in 
 point of form, and unconditional, yet ilxvas noL Hint ejj'eciiutl 
 rn'ocatioii. for which the act of l»{May ISIO, alone author- 
 ised the President of the United States to issue his proj'lania- 
 tion, unless in cnn)<e(juence of ilutl letter, the nuthorily to cap- 
 ture iiHts anuidhd. The letter itself is no annniinent of the 
 authority to capture, and it is notorious, (hat no tviuenee of 
 tlie annulment of this authority to capture, ever has been, ad- 
 duced. It has not even, heen, prelended. On (he con- 
 trary there is decisive, and almost dail^ . evidence of the conti- 
 nued existence of tliis aulhoiity to caplare. 
 
 The charge of executing the decrees of Berlin and JMilan 
 was, so far as concerned his department, given by the terms 
 of those decrees to the freneh ministerof Murine. Aeeoi din;^ 
 to established principles of g;eiieral law, the imperial act, 
 which gave the authority must be annulled by another impe- 
 rial act, c<iually formal and solemn ; or. at least, the author- 
 ity to capture must be countermanded by some order, or in- 
 Btruetion, from the minister of marine. Nothing short of (his 
 could annul the authority aceoiHling to (he rule of the sea ser- 
 vice. Was stich annulling- act ever issued by the French Em- 
 peror ? Were any such countermanding orders, or instruct ioMs, 
 ever given by the French minister of msriue ? In exercising 
 a trust, committed to liim, by the legislature, on a i)oiuL, so 
 
 * This aiticlc is in tliesc words : 
 
 " Jrc. III. The British islands are declared to 1)0 in « state of 
 " blockade, both by l?.nd and sea. Every sliip of \v!iatcvt;r n^aion, 
 " or whatsoever the nature of its cartjo fni<y be, th.it sails from 
 <' the ports of Engla'^.d, or those of the English clonics and of tiic 
 " countries occupied by English troops and proceeding to England, 
 " or to the English Colonies, or to countries occupied l.y tntjliuh 
 " troops is good and lawful prize, as contrary to the present decree 
 " and may be ca/uured, by our ahi/is 0/ lyur or our /irrvutcert and 
 f* adjudged to the ca/itor." 
 
22 
 
 intprcsdiig, io ihr^ neutral camrnerec oPtJic U4ii<cd Sfafcp, and 
 so important to the peace of the niition, uiis it not l!ic tluty 
 oT tho Presitlent t« have thocvidencc oi'sucli amiiilnit'nt, be- 
 fore tlieis.'^nin.c; ofaiiy procliinnition ? IIj;shc ever, inaisit* <• up- 
 on such cvideiioc ? \\-a% if o!" no eoiiscqcnec jh tbc rel.iiivo 
 si(u;ition ol'tliis ooinitry, a^ iu lorpit^ri powers, fhal^tlic lei^ii- 
 lar evidBuee shoiiM he i'r(«MM<d i)_v oiii- vvdmliii^ti-ndon ;iud m;.de 
 known? Why bus a inilici' urc^ii!i«nce. s<» o'lviouely proj/i-i*, 
 so simple, in its (iat<irfs so level ;;> gt-urral apprehension and 
 «o impcriouslv d».'niajnled, by (he eireumstances of the e;ise, 
 been wholly omitfed ? And why. iJ'fiiO Jierlin and Milan de- 
 crecB nreannuUed, as is pvele^ided. dues the Frent-Ji Emperor 
 Avithhobl (his evidence ol' tiu-ir anniduitnt ? AVhy dors h« 
 withhold i<, w hen the ((iiestion ofrevoeation is presented under 
 »irer.nisfanct's,or so ninch ur^'cney ? 
 
 Not only has it j;cvcr b^en pretended that any siicli isnpe- 
 vitil act ol'annninient Ijas issned, or Ihatiiny sueh orders, or 
 instructions, eonnlernrandinf; ihe authority to oaphire, were 
 ever given, but tliere is drei.sivc evidpnce of the revei>ti 
 in the conduct of the Freufh pu!»lic armed ships a')d 
 privateers. At all titnes since !\ov. 1810. these shi[)s 
 and privateers have eoufinned <o caj)lure our vessels and pro- 
 perty, on tiie high seas, upon the principles of (ho Berlin and 
 IMilan dcctces. A numerous list of American vessels, thus 
 taken, since the 1st of Xoveml)er lf?10, now cxirfts in the of- 
 jiee of (he secretary of state : and among (lie captures are se- 
 veral vessels witii tJieir eai;^oc», l.itely, taken and destroyed, 
 at sea.. \>itI;out the formality of a dial, by tlie comnnindc-i' of 
 a French s.jaadron.at this moment, cruizing against our com- 
 merce, under orders, given by the miniaiter of marine, to wboru 
 the execution of the decrees was comujitted ; and these to© 
 issned in .January last. In tlie Baltic and Medi.terranean seas, 
 captures by Frenc!) privateers are known to us, by official 
 documenls to Iiavu been made, under the authorlly of titesc 
 decrees. How then ai-e (hey revoked ? How iiave they ceas- 
 ed io violate our nenJral eommerco f 
 
 Had any repeal, or mudiiieatioa of tliose decrees, in trulli 
 taken place, it must have been cemmunicatwl (o the prize 
 coiirts, and would have been evidenced by some variation either 
 in tbcir rules, or in the pi'inciplos of (heir decisions, lii 
 vain, hovvver, will this nation seek for such proof of (he re- 
 vocation of the decrees. No ai*f|nittal bn?> ever been ha«!, ia* 
 any of thi* prize courts,. upon (he ground tliat (lie lleriin and 
 ^itiiran decrees had ceased, c^eu a? itrespe.ctsthe rnitedStates, 
 On the coidrary the evidence is decisive that iliey are con- 
 si»it:red by (lie FiencU «uurts as nxisiiBg. 
 
25 
 
 Tljore nrp r.x^ny rtvcs corroborf><'V(» oT t]\\n jiosition. It is 
 eiioiijjjh to sdile, ovv, (wm, >\hicb Jipfoaritj the ol75<'ml re;)»jts. 
 The Anioncnii .<lt\^t Jiili-.^ii was cnj)tin('(i hj ii Freru;h juiva- 
 tccr, on liic illi July 181t.«nil ou \ho te!5<h of Sftpitmbcr 
 ISIi, the vessrl and cars^o were confltMnnrd. by tlie cownoil 
 ot* {Maze's j»< Putis junonp; ofher reasons. Iifcnuse she xcas "Oisiti'd 
 bii si'TCritl EffUshvCoselff. On flic s;ii;io dHj' tlie ITo";'ulcs ;m 
 Aniciiciin vliivi was condemned l»y tlic im;;ei-ial cMJurt ofpr-i- 
 7.PS, ;ilIe(lL';iii?: '• that it ^u?; i;n;>os.si!)le, fhiit sjje was not visit- 
 ed, hv the enejov's sliips of Wite/* So f.nniruir te tlicm w;»s 
 the exJK^enoe oftJie deeires, and such theie(ni;;'<'.rness to aiive 
 fikcni e(ieet aj;^;iiiist one commei'oe, that they ieii^ricd a vlsi-- 
 tation to have taken pJaee, and that notwithstandint^, the ex- 
 press declination of Iheeaptain aru! erew. to tiie eontrary. la 
 addition t«) \vhi<'h evidence, Mv. Jl'.\^s<i\l'6 letter to the See- 
 rctvu'y of folate, dfited S(li May ISll, says " it may not he 
 « iaipropeiMo eeniaik that no Ameriorn vessel captui'cd since 
 »< the 1st November, ISIO has yet been i'c1«uumi."-' 
 
 From tliis it is appai*eut, that the commandei's of the nation- 
 al vessels, tlio jirivateeesmen, and the jud.'ycs of the prize 
 toni-is.lo whieh may i>e aihleil also the eustom house olUeers, 
 >vho, as the instruments of earryin.e; into etfett the decrees, 
 mu::<t have been made aequainted witli the repeal had it exist- 
 ed, have been from first to last, ijjnnrant of any revoea- 
 tion; and uniioj-mly aeted npo«i the nrineiple of their existence, 
 
 Ifotlierevidenee oflhe continued exisfenee of tliose deerees 
 were requisite, tJie aefs of the Frenih government afford 
 sueh as is full and explieit. CUanipa^ny, DnUe of Cadoie, 
 mitiisler of foreit^n relations, in his repoit to his majesly the 
 Emperor and kint;, dated Paris 3d. December, ISIO, speakinc;; 
 of the decrees of IJerlin and Milan, says expressiy. •< As 
 ^ lonu; as En.i^land shall p^^rsist in her orders in eounci!, your 
 »' majesfy xvill persist, in youv decrees." Than which no de- 
 clnralion can be more direci not only that iheiierlin and 3ii- 
 lu.i decrees are unrevoked, but that they will so remain, until 
 the Eii;[^lish ordci-s in council arc withdi-awn. And in t!»c ad- 
 dress deiivered, by bis imperial majesty, Napulcon, to the 
 cotineil ofoomtneree on the .^>lst jMarch iSil, hethus declares 
 *■ The decrees of Berlin and Milan are the fundamental' laws 
 " of ray Empire. For (he utMitral navigation I consider (be 
 •* ilag as an extension of ter:iiury. Tiie power, wliicli sulFors 
 « its ilag(») l»e violaicd, cannut b^'coasidered ;is neutral. 'Vha 
 *• fate of the Ameiiean connnert'C will soon be decided. I will 
 «* favor it, if the V'uilcd States «<Mifonn theaiselves (o these 
 " decrees. In a contrary ease, tlicir vessels will b>; dvivtii 
 ^ ftoui uiy eujpirc.'' 
 
24 
 
 An(1 as lo.fess tho iOtli of March last, in a report of the 
 FrcK-li ini.:.sf,T of ford;?n n-hitioas. commiiMi.-arcil (o the 
 conservative Senate, it is deelared, *«(lmt :»s Ion- as the Bi-i- 
 *' fish orMers in ..ouncil.an- not revoked. anJ thoVinciples of 
 *• the treaty „| L (teeht. in rdurion to nenfpais put in force the 
 '* neerces or RrrlJn and Milan, on-ht to suhsist : lor the powers 
 *• who sufl.-r rheirfln.q;to he denationalised." Jn none ofthese 
 aels. IS there, any exeeplion in favor of the United States 
 And on the eontrarv in the report of March hvst, hv plaeing 
 those .h-en-es op the hasis of -the pviueiples of.he'treatv of 
 .• Ltrer!.(.^ the Freneh Minister has extended the teVms 
 el revoeiition iM-yond all prior pretensions. 
 
 Those who maintain the revocation of these deeree«. as it re- 
 spects the Uniiod Stf,tes. rely wholly npon the suspension of 
 t.u- i.ec»<ioniof fh'> Frcn.-h prize eonits. in relation to son.c 
 fewvess.'ls. ami (he liheration of o(hei-:«, hv the soeeial di- 
 reedonoP.hc Froneh Fniperor. Can there he stron-n-r pre. 
 sunipJive eviJenee, of the existence of those decrees than this-, 
 that no y ssel js excepted from their operaiion. ur^fil after 
 the spcoiai exercise of the Emperor's will, in the particular 
 
 Jfthe decrees were effectively revoked, there would be n» 
 eaptuirs; oril any were made, liheration would he a matter 
 of course and of^^eneral ri.sjht; instead of hein- an alHiir of 
 particnlar lavor. or caprice. Is i( for vexations alid int.'ul-er.- 
 cifs like these, that the people of the United States are to a- 
 
 han hH,the,n-c.omme.ce and peace? Is). ;o,.suchiavors.thevare 
 to invite. he caam-ies of war? htlie resources of ne^otiatio^ 
 xverrexhau.ted. had the .^'ovcr.iment nopowers remaining to di 
 
 m.msh heeausesofn..iiu.alcontrovetNy.bypn.ventinL^^rhu^es^ 
 Aferthis. had ,t no powers to provide forpiotectino- i.-disMu, 
 talile and ..nportant rights, without wa^^n^ a w.r .H" oilVu/.c ? 
 Jnthere.^nHr exere.se. of legislative andexecuJivc powers; 
 
 im^^ht no. the lai,M>I,jeets of interest for our countrv have heen 
 secured ccnplctely. hv consistent and uhoies.mie olans for de- 
 fens.ve pr.rec.ion? And would not a national position, strict- 
 h delens.ve. >ct h,;;!.>y respectable, have been less burthen- 
 soM.e to the people than the projected war? Would it not bo 
 more fne.dly to the cause of our own seamen;-more safe fop 
 our nav.;.ation and eo .ruerce ; more favorabi;to the interests 
 of our ajvnrulture; less hazardous to national character 
 i;r;r '■' '• '' '' ^""'''^^ •''••'*'^"- '' *•-- libert/and inicien! 
 Forenjmn- info these hostilities is there any thin-, in 
 i.c lr,en<!.h,p.oreom ne:-ee, of France, in its n.tnij v I'^v- in 
 ^--uu,, or alluring? Will the reapin, J, u:::^:::;'^^ 
 
^5 
 
 fjf Frvn-^li <i'a(^«?, Avliioli we prrk, in ftnj v/ay cornpnnsa^eftil- 
 Mic ricli harvst of erncial ioinnicrcj'. Mhicli hv wajwe are 
 ahowt to abalnloii ? ^VIlc^ j'ntejir.j:; inlo u war, with Great 
 Jiritain. foi* poinmercial rJj^lits smil interests, it semis impos- 
 siMe not to onquiro. into the state ofcur conirncni.il lelatinns 
 ivith Franco, and the I»d^at^t^•Jrl'S the Lnited Statrs will olifain. 
 We uiaj thus be enabled to judge whether the prize ia woith 
 thi' eotitest. 
 
 I^y an oiTieial statement, made to Congjress diirinj^ the pre- 
 feenf session, it nnp.'ars tlr.it of ^5,^29 '» .000 dollars of domestic 
 pi-odiietions of the I iiited States, e.\poi t( d from September 
 .'jOth, 1810, to October 1st. ISil. only 1 ,tJ)i. 275 dollars were 
 f'xported to Fiance und Italy, including Sicily, nut a dcpeo- 
 dency of Kranec, 
 
 I'iMiiee is ijow deprived of all iter foreign colonie*, and by 
 reviev, incj our trade with that e(»5intry f;»i' several years past 
 and l)e:«)re the date of the orders in eoiUicil, it will appear that, 
 exclusive of herfwreij^n possessions, it hasheen eotnparatively 
 ineoi'iiderable. 'I'he annexed statement marked A. taken 
 from official doeiunents, shows the quantify of pai'tieular arti- 
 cles, the produce of the United Mates exported to aU the 
 world, riistingnishinj; the amount both to France an«l to Eng- 
 land and her dependencies from ISIO to 1811. Fromthii 
 statement it appears, how small a proportion of the great sta- 
 jdes of our country is taken * by France. While France re- 
 tained her colonies, her eolonidl produce found its way to the 
 mother country thiongh the United States, and our trade with 
 her in these articles, was not inecnsiderulile. But since she 
 lias been deprived of her foreign possessions, and since the es- 
 tablishment of her municipal regiilations, as to licences, this 
 trade has been in a greatdegree, annihilated. M ith respect to 
 colonial produce none can be imported into Fi-.uice except I'.^oni 
 ])urticular porfs of tiie United Slates and »Hder sptciat imperial 
 licences. For these licences our Kicrchants must pay what 
 
 * It appears by h tliat for twelve years past, Fiance has not taken 
 in any year more than 
 
 Cotton 7,000,000 Pounds j T. Ijcicco 16,000 Hoj^sheads 
 Kice 7,000 Tierces | Dii-JFibh S7,000 Quintals 
 
 Of ttour, naval stores unci lumber, none of any in)))ortarce. 
 It also appears, by it, that the annual average t.'.kcn by France for 
 fwelve years, was- of 
 
 Cottoa 2,664,090 Pounds I Tobacco 5,927 Hogsheads 
 Rice 2,253 Tieices | Fish 24,735 Quintals 
 
 Of late years some of tliose articles liave not bet n shipped at all 
 directly to France, but they have, jMobabiy, found their way lhijh«'7 
 ^Jirough the nerlheru ports of Europe. 
 
20 
 
 Ae nf^i?Dts ofllicFreiii'l! ;;ijvrrnn»rji< think f.ioperto jltinanit. 
 As to attiolcs of our donjcsdc, nrndm-e, tlipy r.ir I'l'idincd 
 With such exoi l)itut)t duiit?, J.i;d aie suJtjorlcd to such icirula- 
 tioi'.a and iTsti'lttions on (lu'Jr iniiJoriJ.dim as. in nidini»rj 
 limes, uill amount to a pi oMhilion. i'n the 5(}i of Avtiusi 
 ISIO, thf very d;iyof'<hc fJuko of* Cadore's roted lelfci*. a 
 duty was imposed on all >ra-isijind cotton, jnipovted ii»(o Fiance, 
 ol' wuivc, th;:n cic.hiy cents \i(v pound, and on otiiei- cotton of 
 ai'dut sixty cents per pound. auioMntint; to (livec, oiioui. tinges 
 ihrir ovij^inal cos! in tlie United States. And asto to!i>jecr>, *lic 
 l''rer.«|j niinistee here on the 23d ot" .lulv ISIi. informed our 
 ^oveninieut that it was »• uu«iee an r.<i!uu)i^lra(ion (en rcjiie} 
 in Fi-ance ; tiic administration (he hays) i^tliconly consun.ep 
 and can purcfiase ordy the cjujintity ucces::;«ry lor its consurap- 
 lion.'' And hy other l'ee;ulaiioi)s not more than oucjffcratih 
 of all (lie tohaceo eoM»^un»ed. in p'rancc, c:in he ot fori ij^nf 
 g!*o\vth. The ordijiaiy quantity of tohaceo annually consuui- 
 »;d in Fiance is e^(ini.i'Je<l at lllii-fij iJionnond lo~y}ie<i(l,'<, leav- 
 ing only ahout two thouriand hogahfads of foieififn tobacco to 
 be purchi'.sed in France. 
 
 In addition (o tiies:e impositions and restrictions, Vrc- im- 
 porter is not feft at liberty v^ith nsjxct to l^is retui/i car- 
 go. By other edicts, he is con.pi ikd to \« ?t the avails of 
 his jinportiitions^ if. after j)ayitii; duJies and seizures, ariy 
 remain, la such articles ci' Freueji jjrcduce! and manu- 
 faeturo, as the French goveruiuent thinks pi oper to direct. 
 Two thirds i-.i least must h? laid out in silks and tiie other third 
 in Mints, brandies, and other artales. of that country. T'o 
 show that this aceount of OH.' eomr.iereial relations v. iih France 
 does not rest on douhtftii authiM ily. t!i«' uiidersii^ncd wcukl 
 refer to f)ie statements aivd «lo<'h»:';iti»ins of our ij,<;>ertinieul oi* 
 tills !<ahject. In a letter IVoui .^Jr. ;-5Uiith, tlii^ laic ^ecrctarj 
 of Sfate, to thft inMiiitei" of J'^ratrce here, of ti:e ISlh Deccraher 
 1810, speakinq; 'jfoiir teaiie to that country, uraler its vejj;r.la» 
 lions, afiiithepreiended ivncafof the drerees, IVIr. SuiitJi sa;\s» 
 •' The rebirictiunn <if the licriiii and jMilau decrees had the 
 «{tt"ct of revjij^inins; tlie /siueriean merchsint^r frcm semliti:? 
 thcjr vessels to Franc*?. The i';1er:iieti<.ns iii the system 
 that lias 1)4 en ^^uhstitiit* d, a:jj-;:ist (he adnii-sion ol American 
 produj'ts, will Lave the effect of imposing upon them an ejjual 
 restraiut.*' 
 
 »*lf then, f<.?Mhe revoked decrees, municipal faws, producing 
 *fie ivame couMiierdyl eill't 1 yxi* lieci subsdtuted. the mode 
 «Hiiy, and not llie uieasure. has iinderi^one an alter;;tion. And 
 S^\vever true it imiy he, that l!'e chau!;;e is lawfiil in form, it 
 i*> Bev<?i'tlieles"<, as true, (hat il is essciUially uiifiieudlv, ami 
 
27 
 
 ihni it i!rf <« nat n< uil fo:n;»r.i't v. Ii!; (1»? lucn"., i:jsplrrd by your 
 Ji«((tr iiitlif^ 'Z7th i:lt. in \vliich vf)n v.-.tp )i'o:ise«! to (It'cl-.irft 
 tin? '• <lis(iM<'t!y |;i'(/noMMr'(M< iufcpiion of his iip,p'M'i;ii i.i;i;(-'^(y 
 of t">.v!»riu;; (be (•(•;niLtotx*tnI r«'l.>tio'is. Itet\vrrn Ftiincc -and (li« 
 Tjul(f<l :"fut»'s, in «ll llw oI)j»'<<s oi'lrufljc, \\hi(;!i chall evidenily 
 |)fO('oo(! from t!K'iri!»iT:'uUijn'.nrin!\nuractii!"Cs." "If Franfc, 
 hy lu'r own suis. lias Mockaficd up licr jhuU nj;ainsl the in- 
 tvodui'titm of (lie orndiK'fs <>!* («<• I'nUrrl St.ifes. v.liat iiiolivn 
 bus (hii povei'iinKMif. lii a discuss'xMi ui<li a tliird jjowcr, to 
 i:jvi-t on tl:»' prhih'irr ofi^oiiiii^ lo l^'ruu'c; r \\ heiir:'' tlie in- 
 d'.if'cjuent. t(» iir<3;<' itie an.j'iluuMif of a hlockrtdci of Frunze* 
 V,lu-!>, if anmiilfd, no Anu'iiciiij caj'.ujoos cinld ob(Hi:> a mai'- 
 \jn i\\ any ol' ii'c j»or(«i ? I;? such a s(a(i* of Jhinc^s. a b'.oi-kade 
 of ti»c fo.«st of l''i-;unu' wouhi h\\ Iq Jho Unilcd 8Ja(cs, as iin- 
 i ojjorlunt, as ViOijM be a uloikadc tif (bo coast of the Caspian 
 sea," 
 
 And so far bis 1))(> French enin«M-n:' b?e3 from rob.ixini*, in 
 >vhoie. or i'l pari, {h''s(* o^lioM:-: ro;;uhiti<tnH as (o us, in conse- 
 <]ueno(* ofour submittinj;- to !:;ive ii;) our Knglisb trade, that 
 l.'u'v h;ive hern uuMh' a siiiijic-t of sprnial instj'uotions, to tlio 
 niiiiisler, wlio has bei'ii seni to (ijcpourt of France. Mr. Mon- 
 roe, in hish'tter of instructions to Mr. Barlow of.fuly 20, 1811, 
 says, »• Yuure.irly and particular attention will be drawn ta 
 the £;reat siib;(;it (tf t!ic iiOMiia.'ici;-.! r<dation, which is to sub- 
 sist, i'l future, bct\Aecn the United Stales and Franco, TUo 
 I*resi<U'nt exjiects tirat the conuiurce of Use United States will 
 Le p!:iccd, in tlje poitsof Franco, on such a footin;^ as to altord 
 it a fair luarket ; and to the i!i<histry and enterprise of tlieirci-. 
 ti/'-ns, a reasouitble encoura?4;cuifnt. An arranj;enient to tliis 
 cftoci was b)oktMl for. iuiiriof'iatoly after the re\ocation of the 
 detroes. but itapitearsfroin the dceajncnts. in ibis departujeat, 
 t!ntt that was ncM'he ease; on tiie contrary f?iaf oifrcomtnerct; 
 has been siihjivti:d lo the gveuii'st tliscoiwugcnient, or raihei', /c« 
 the vwjit oppresi^T'i: reMrc.ints ; that thu vessels, whi<^h earried 
 rrofTee sa.:jar&e. Ihougii sailin:^ directly iVoni the United State» 
 to a French jtort, were held i:i a stale of «^equestrat)on, on the 
 I>r)nci',;!'\ that tiie trade wa^ prohibited, and (hat the import 
 tjtion \A' t'lese articles was not only iiiilawfnl, but cviiuinal ; 
 «hat even the ves-ols, wbieb carried the un<iUestionable produc-^ 
 ti>)ns of the United States, were exposed to threat and expimsive. 
 tlelays to tedious ir.vestifi^ations, in imusual forms, and to ex-^ 
 HJ'hitant duties. In short t!«at the o'.diuiiry usages of com*' 
 liieree I»etween frJcnd/i/ notions were abandoned.'* 
 
 Again JMr. I^lonroe, in the same li*tter. says, »• If tbeportc 
 of Frances and lier allies, are liot opi;ii:nl to the- eommevco 
 of the IJuited 8taie8> on a Ubcyad 5.eak and on fiur coaditk>i!»^ 
 
2B 
 
 iit- %]ir\i avfiil to tlieoi, it nny H© askftil, ^r'lll he t]\§^ rcvocatiou 
 of tho Brldsli orders in council? In conlernliiij^ fi>; thn re- 
 Yocnlio!! of these oimIpps, sofaras it was a ohjccl of interest, 
 the United States hatJ in vit;\v, a trade to tli'.» eonfirient. It 
 xras afiiii* le.^itiurate object and worfh c(>ntpn(!rii^ for. while 
 France cncnurn^al it. But if she, shiu^ her ports on our eom- 
 Jiierce, or burdens it with heavy duties, that motive is at aa 
 end." Jfe again says, •♦ you wsJI see the injustice an<I en- 
 deavour to prevtMf tlie necessity of hifinjrioj; ir) return for A- 
 lueriean car;;oe«;, so^d in ri.mce, an eqiiiil aino'.i!)t in //ic j»'0- 
 ri?fC(', or manapichivcs of tliat couniry. Xo siich ohli^aiion is 
 in);)oscd ou Fren;^)i nierelc.tnts, fradiii;; to (lie United Stair*. 
 'I'I'.ev enjoy the liberty of sellin.;^ tljeir cnpf^oes for cash, nnii 
 tak ins: back wha* they pleased from this eountry.in return. . It 
 is iudis'>eusai)le. t?jat the trade be free, (ir.»t :ill Arneriean ci- 
 tizens enija2;ed ir\ it he placed on the Bame fooJin^, and, widi 
 this view, that tlie system of earnnng it ou, ^j; //ceiices, grant- 
 ed by French assents he iiuoiediately annulled." 
 
 The des>patchi-s from Mr. liailow, by the Hornet, most clearly 
 shov; tl)at the exj*4.rcta/ions of our government luvc not ci.ly not 
 been realized, but that even the (tromises obtained, by our niinibtep 
 are of a very uiisatiufiictory nature. Indeed while IJonapaitc is scnd- 
 injj; armies to the north ot Europe, to t.ike possession of ihe po.ts 
 on the Baltic, and by his fast anilin:^ squadron?, is burning Ameii- 
 cvn vessels, on the Atldntic, ali cspecttttipus of u fice trade froin 
 France, nuist be worse thaii vain, , 
 
 Notwithst.iiulinij the violence of the beliis;ercnts, were the re- 
 strictions ot our own {government removed, tlic commerce of tl»e 
 United States mii^ht be extensive and profuable. It is well hnowa 
 that from the g:aii«ntry of our seamen, if mcrchaut vessels v.cre 
 allowed to arm auji associate, for self dcfenccj they xyould be aide 
 tn repel many unlav.lul ag'^^ressior.s. Tljc damaier of capu;rc v.'ould 
 be diminiahc-d, and in r«-laU»n to one of the bcllij^crents at least, the 
 risk, Otider such cli-cumstanc.cs, would sci.n be measured by insure 
 ance. 
 
 The discussions of our govcmnient, in relatloi; to the Brjtisli 
 orders in council, gi»e a currency to the opinion tlrCxt they exist, 
 without any moditication according to the extent of tlio first princi- 
 ples, on v\hicli t!)ey were issued. And the French minister, in his 
 iastcomnnini<:anon,on this r.\ibjcct, made tothe Conservative Jpenat^'j 
 ou tlie lOlh of March last, speaks of the blockade of the lOih of Miiy 
 isOG "as annihilatiiii; the ri^hticf all maruime states and puuin^ 
 under interdiction whole ccasts and empres;" and of the orders in 
 council of 180?', a^ thouijb tiill subsistinp;, and that accordin-^- to 
 their princ.ij^lc-. all vessels were compelled " to pay a tribute t© 
 England, and al! cargoes a tarlf! to bcr customs." What the real 
 extent and princii'Ie oftbe blockade of May I8.0t> were, have already 
 btfcn explained. With respect to the British orders of 1807, tlis 
 •if^^h is, that by « n-'"' ' ^; '-•■ i--<;»e<1 o-n f'vi ^c\h o'" Anrit J80P^ t.bc7 
 
^9 
 
 fg^re reva3<»d or modified, and the obnoxious trantit duty called hf 
 tlie Fiencli Minisfer *' tribute and lariir* waB done avvay. The ne«r 
 ovdor of April 1809, which, if.i.ow ihc subject of coinplaiKt is limited 
 to " all tiic ports and phices an far noith as the river Ems, in- 
 clusivelv, u:idci' the govcnimfnt stylini; itself tlie Kiiif^dom 
 of Hoilaiid, and all ports a!>d plnces lindor the jjoyernmcnt of 
 t'l'ancf, lojjrjtiicr with the colonies, plantsuions, and scttlcinenla in. 
 tlio pONsassiuii oftliose {.ijoveriuneuts respectively, and ttil ports and 
 places iii tliL* northern p^ris of Italy, to be rcck-oiicd from the purta 
 of Oruitello and Fcsat'o, inclniively " 
 
 Tue ciX.-ct thin of the rsriiisli ordcs of blockade, now in forre» 
 Js to deprive u* of tiie coiTiinercc of France, Holland and a part of 
 Xtaly. And they leave opsa to u? tUe commerce of all the rest of 
 the vv^irld. \yiiat that i^ soiic esumite nxdy be formed by recur- 
 rence to the subjoined tabk*, which exliibits the state of our corn- 
 liierce during 180j and 1807— Tlie two laat years antecedent tu the 
 opeiMlion of our restrictive svstem By that tal)le it pppears that 
 the value of ihe exports of our domestic products to Frauco 
 Holland and Italy was {luring tho«ie two years* at an averaeje oidf 
 of ai>ouf sir and a half miHions nj' dollars. Whereas the averarje of 
 our di)int'stic exports, to all other parts of the world, and which aret 
 now left IVee, to us notwitlist.tndintj the erfect of tlie Uritiah orders 
 jn council exceed (/lirry eight 7)iiUio!u- ! So extensive a comtjierce, 
 it is proj^osed to sui rendor, f.-^r tlie restricted trade the French empe- 
 ror will ullaw. A tradij burdened bv impoiltioiia, or harrassed by 
 vexations, from French domination, and Frencli iJouankrs^ or 
 cu:itom liiuse officers, in almost every port of continental Eut- 
 rope.. 
 
 As in the scale of commercial advanta5;es France has little to offer^ 
 in reiurn, for the many obvious hazards, which accordinjj to the 
 wish uf her Emperor, the United States are about to incur ; so, in 
 
 * Value of articles of domestic produce, exported to all the world* 
 In 1806. In 1807. 
 
 Whole Amount 241,253,727 Whola Amount S4S.699,592 
 
 To France 3,226,698 3,7it5,Ul 
 To Holland, now 
 
 part of Franco 3,609,964 3,093,234 
 
 To Italy 185,346 250,257 
 
 7,023,00^ 6,064,652 
 
 , , ,;:., 
 
 To Enrhnd and 
 
 dependencies 19,179,981 27,915,07r 
 
 To all other parts 
 
 of the '.vorld 15,05l,74Q 14,719,835 
 
 »» ' .. 'f ' •- — • 
 
 34,231,731 42,634,960 
 
3^ 
 
 the moral estimate of nati'mal p'-ospccts. t'lere is little character (o 
 f;aiii, or consolation to expect, in tlie dark scene of things, on which 
 we are entering 
 
 A nation, like the United States, happy in its great local relations ; 
 rf moved iVoin the bloody theatre of Europe ; witii a niavitinie bor- 
 der, opciiinj^ vast ficlils for entcrpiizc; — witi: territorial possessions, 
 excecdins^, evcrjr real want ; — it'^ lin-sitles safe ; — its alt.irs undcfiN 
 cd ; — from invasion notun'jj to fcai* ; — from acquisition potliinir to 
 liK)pc ; — hrvv shi^M su^'i a nalion look to heavei) for its smiles, whilo 
 tIirowinp;a\vay,as lhou;j;h tl\cy wcra worthless, all the blessint^s arid 
 joys, which peace and such a disiingu'shed lot, include? With 
 what prayers run it address tlif. most lii^^h, when it ])repHres, to jjour 
 tuiih its youihh;! rage, upon a Hi'jv^hborinjf people ; from vlK)he 
 *'.renglh, it haa notliing to ciread, fiom whose devastation it has no-^ 
 ihinR to gain ? 
 
 If ouf ills were of a nature, that war wouW remedy ; if war v. oiild 
 compensate any of our losses ; or remove any of our conipLants, 
 thtic might be some alleviation of the sUiTerini», in the cliar n of 
 tin- prospect. But how will war upon t!ie land, protect commerce 
 upon the ocean ? What li^lm has Canada for wounded honour? 
 ilow are our ir)ariners bfiicfiied by a war, which exposes those, who 
 arc free, without promising release to tliose, who are impressed ? 
 
 But it is said that war is demanded by honour. Is national honour 
 a princijde, which thirsts after vengeance, and is appeased, only, by 
 blood ; which, trampling on the hopes of man, and spurning tlie law 
 cf G(j(l, uiituiight by what i» past and careless of what is to come, 
 jfi! c-cipilales iisvlf into uny folly, or madr.css, to gratify a selfish v.ii 
 iiity, or to satiate some unhallowed rage ? If honour demands a war 
 wu!» England, what opiate lulls that honour to sleep over the 
 v-rongs done us by France ? On land, ri>I)beries, seizures, irupri-. 
 suiiiner.ts, by f n r ch authority ; at sea, pillage, sinkings, burnings, 
 voder French ordeis. These are notorious. Are they u-felt be- 
 cuiue they ae Frencli I Is any alleviation to. be found in the cur- 
 ^espoiidrnce and humilio.tions of the pi'cs<nt JSIinister Pienipnten- 
 liary of the United States t.t liie French Co\irt ? In hiscommuiiicai 
 ^ions to our government, as before tlie pul>lic, where is the catise 
 iornoiv s;'lccting France, as the friend oT our country and F.ni^laiit^ 
 as the enemy ? 
 
 If no illusions of p'^'sonal feeling, and no 80ii*;itudv f'^r elevation 
 of place, should be permitted to misguide the public councils ; if it. 
 is, indeed, ht^norahle for the true statesman lo cyiuult the jiublio 
 ■welfare, to pro iile, int'uth. for the pul)'>c dcienco, and imjuise no 
 yoke ofborulavie ; with full hnouledge ci the wrongs inflictefl by the 
 Frencl). ought the goverimitiii of this country, to aid the French 
 cause, by engaging in war, against the eaomy of France ? Tc sup- 
 ply the waste of svich a war aufl to mfct tlie appopriations of mil- 
 iions extraordinary, lor the war cxpf nriliures, invisv our feilow-cil\- 
 icns, througl»;)ut the union, be doom-jfl tn suslaii;. the burden of 
 war-uixcs, in vHvious forms of direct and ii.\direct imposition ? Ftif 
 tejicial inion.«iiion, respecting the miLiion!; dcem.ed. jequisiiclor 
 bo.ri^ts of the t^.if ; for like information, respecting the Tic^turi m^^ 
 
3i 
 
 ainntint of tnxcs, deeired rcquisiti! for drawihg those tnilliors from 
 tlic couin.iiniiv, ii »s licre hiiiliciLi.t to rcf< r to tbtinvti b aid it pniis 
 riii.fleby ilic Sicictary of llie '1 rtasury ai.d ll.c Cun.nuttet t.f ^^\^ys 
 iiiul Means, ..nd to ti.e I ocly of resolutions, pabscd i.i Maitli last, ia 
 tbt House of Ri|)itsci.tatives, 
 
 It would 'oc soB^e rtlitfto cur anxiety, if amends weie likely to 
 be made, for the wtaknesa aiid wildnestS c-flhc project, Iv the pru- 
 (leiict of the preparation. Uiitin no aspecl of this antMvialous afliiir 
 can wc trace the gicut and dibtinclive pinpcriies of \vis(l( ni. Th( rc 
 is seen a headlong lushint,', into difticullics, with little calcnlatioa 
 ahciit the means and little concern about the conbequences With 
 a nary comparatively nojminal, we are i^boti' to enter into the lists 
 jt^ainstthc greatest marine on the globe. With a conimerct, un- 
 protected and spiead over every ocean, we propose to make profit 
 by piriviiteering, and for this endanger the wetdtb, of which we are 
 Iioncst pioprielors. An invi-.sion is threatened of the colonies of a 
 power, wliich, without putting anew ship iiito commissii ji, or tak- 
 ing anot!:vr soldier into pay, can spiesid alarm, or desolation along 
 the extensive lange of our seaboard. The resources (four ccontiy, 
 in their natural state, great beyond our want*, (<r our hopes are im- 
 paired ijy the effect of artificial restraints. Before adequate foitifi- 
 caiioiis ere prepared for domestic defence, before men, or nu^ney 
 arc p.ovided lor a war of cTtack, why hasten into the midst of 
 that awful contest, which is Itiying waste luuopc ? It cannrt be con- 
 cealed, that to engage, in the piesent vur against England is to 
 place out selves on the side of Frai ce ; aiid exposes us io the vassal- 
 age of states, serving under the banners uf tliC French Emperor. 
 
 I'he undersigned cnr.not refrain from asking, what fare tlic; Unit- 
 ed States to gain by this war ? Will tie gratiiicution of some pii 
 vateersniin compensate the nation for tl-at *v. eep of oor legitimate 
 commerce by the extended marine, of ou'' enemy, whicli this despe- 
 rate act in\ites. Will Canada compersate the middle states, for 
 Xew York ; or the western states for New Oi leans ? Let us not bs 
 deceived. A war of invasion n;ay invite a retort of invasion. tVhcii 
 we visit the peaceable, and, as to us innocent, colonies of (ireat Britain 
 with the horrors of war can we be Assured that cur own coast uili 
 not be visited with like horrors ? 
 
 At a ciisis of the woild such as tl.e present, and under impres- 
 sions such as these, the unilcrsigned could uot consider the war, in 
 wh'ch the U States, have, in secret been prccijntated, as necessary, 
 or required by any moral duty, or any polilical expediency. 
 
 GEORGE SULLIVAN, 
 
 ISLVUTIN Cnin ENDEN^ 
 
 ABIJIL BIGELOW, 
 
 ELIJAH DRIGHAM, 
 
 WILLLVM ELY, 
 
 -lOSLVH QUIXCY, 
 
^ntUAM REED, 
 S.VML. TAGGART, 
 LABAN WUEATOX, 
 XEONAKD TMIITE, 
 RICHARD JACKSOX, JimV 
 ELISIIA R. POTTER, 
 EPAPH R O DITUS CII AM PiO^l' 
 JNO. DAVKXrORT, Jua. 
 
 ly:man law, 
 jona. o.moseley, 
 
 TIBIO. PITKIX, Jun. 
 
 LEWIS B. SPURGES, 
 
 BENJAMIN TALLMADGB^ 
 
 II. CLEECivER, 
 
 JAMES EI\rOTl\ 
 
 ASA FITCH, 
 
 TUOS R. CCLD, 
 
 JAMES MILNCR, 
 
 H. M. RIDGELY, 
 
 €. GOLDSBCROUGIf 
 
 PHILIP B. KEY, 
 
 PHILIP STUART, 
 
 JOHN BAKER, 
 
 JAMES BRECKI^NRIDGE^ 
 
 JOS. LEWIS, Jun. 
 
 THOS. WILSON^ 
 
 A. M'BRYDE, 
 
 JOS. PEARSON; 
 
S3 
 
 NOTE A. 
 
 (Quantity of pariicular ankles, the produce of the Vnited States, ix» 
 jiortrd^from 1800 ro 1811,T;ir: 
 
 COTION. 
 
 To allfiarts of the world. 
 lbs. 
 
 1800 17,789,803 
 
 1801 20,911,201 
 
 1802 27,501,075 
 J803 41,105,623 
 
 1804 38,ll8,0il 
 
 1805 40,383,491 
 
 1806 37,491,282 
 
 1807 66.612,737 
 
 1808 12.(.?4,345 
 1809* 53 210,225 
 ISlOf 93.«74,201 
 iSllt 62,136 
 
 To France, 
 
 I'o England. 
 
 lbs. 
 
 11)3. 
 
 none. 
 
 I6,179,5IS 
 
 844,728 
 
 18.C'53,06> 
 
 1,907,849 
 
 23473.925 
 
 3,821,840 
 
 27 757. 30r 
 
 5,946,848 
 
 25 770.718 
 
 4,504,329 
 
 32,571.('7l 
 
 7,082,118 
 
 24,256,457 
 
 6,114.358 
 
 53,h80.21l 
 
 2,087,450 
 
 7,992.593 
 
 hone direct. 
 
 13,365.987 
 
 do. 
 
 36,171,91J 
 
 do. 
 
 46,872,453 
 
 RICE. 
 
 
 To France. 
 
 To England U 
 
 Tierces, 
 
 Tierces. 
 
 none. 
 
 77,547 
 
 3,724 
 
 65.022 
 
 7,186 
 
 37,393 
 
 S,116 
 
 33,200 
 
 6,014 
 
 24,97.'; 
 
 1,601 
 
 24,737 
 
 3,392 
 
 39,298 
 
 3,006 
 
 37,417 
 
 none direct. 
 
 4,2'>8 
 
 do. 
 
 32,138 
 
 do. 
 
 31,113 
 
 do. 
 
 40,045 
 
 To all parts of the •morUl. 
 Tierces. 
 
 1800 112,056 
 
 1801 94,866 
 
 1802 79,822 
 
 1803 . 81,838 
 
 1804 78,385 
 
 1805 56,830 
 
 1806 102,627 
 18 7 94,692 
 
 1808 9,228 
 
 1809 116,907 
 
 1810 131,341 
 
 1811 119,356 
 
 * In 1809, in consequence of the embargo and noh-intercourse 
 act, 4 millions pounds ef Cotton were shippcl for Madeira, 10 and a 
 halt millions to tlie Floridas, 6 millions ti) Fayul and other Azores, 
 I million and three quarters to Porlug l,and 10 niili:ons to Sweden. 
 
 t 1810. about 4 millions of pouiids of Couou were shipped for 
 Spuin, 3 millions for Portugal, 3 millions for Madeira, 10 millions 
 for Floridas, 2 millions for Europe generally, 4 tTillions for Fayal 
 and the Azores, 14 millions for Denmark and Norway, and 5 mil- 
 lions for Sweden. 
 
 \ In 18U, 9_miUions of pounds of Cotton were shipped for Russi*^ 
 
 £ 
 
34 
 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 T^ 
 
 all pans of the 
 
 Kvorld. 
 
 To France. 
 
 7^0 England tf Cole. 
 
 
 Hluls. 
 
 
 Hlid«5. 
 
 Hhds. 
 
 1890 
 
 78,680 
 
 
 143 
 
 37,798 
 
 isa 
 
 10S,758 
 
 
 5,006 
 
 55,256 
 
 1802 
 
 77,72 1 
 
 
 16,216 
 
 29,93$ 
 
 1803 
 
 86,291 
 
 
 9,815 
 
 47.82-9 
 
 1804 
 
 83.34C 
 
 
 14,623 
 
 24,700 
 
 1805 
 
 ,71,252 
 
 
 12,135 
 
 18,169 
 
 1806 
 
 83,180 
 
 
 9.182 
 
 26,272 
 
 18.7 
 
 62,232 
 
 
 2,876 
 
 21,047 
 
 18-8 
 
 9,576 
 
 
 566 
 
 2,526 
 
 1809 
 
 53,321 
 
 
 none direct. 
 
 8,965 
 
 1810 
 
 84,134 
 
 
 do. 
 
 24,067 
 
 i.811 
 
 <35,828 
 
 
 569 
 
 20,342 
 
 
 FISH, D 
 
 ried r.r Smoked. 
 
 
 To 
 
 all par (It of the world. 
 
 To France. 
 
 Ta Jl'.r^land iJf Coil. 
 
 
 Quintals. 
 
 
 Quintals. 
 
 (Quintals. 
 
 1800 
 
 392,727 
 
 
 none. 
 
 1-11,420 
 
 18 ,'1 
 
 410;948 
 
 
 1,637 
 
 111 030 
 
 1SU3 
 
 440.925 
 
 
 27,067 
 
 92'679 
 
 lb03 
 
 461,870 
 
 
 3,491 
 
 7! 495 
 
 1804 
 
 567,828 
 
 
 S.765 
 
 76,822 
 
 1805 
 
 514,549 
 
 
 73 004 
 
 55 ne 
 
 1806 
 
 537,457 
 
 
 19,347 
 
 66.377 
 
 1807 
 
 473.924 
 
 
 87.654 
 
 55.243 
 
 1808 
 
 155. 808 
 
 
 16,144 
 
 26,998 
 
 1809 
 
 345,648 
 
 
 none. 
 
 66 566 
 
 l8:o 
 
 280.804 
 
 
 S.l.'^O 
 
 55 456 
 
 1811 
 
 216,387 
 
 
 28,622 
 
 33,242 
 
 PICULED FISH. 
 Xonc exported to EurojiFan Fiance. 
 
 FLOUR. 
 
 7^0 all parts of the ivorUL To France. To Evtiland '<Jf CoU^. 
 
 Bhfs. Bbls. . Bbls. 
 
 IROO 653,052 none." 365 739 
 
 1801 1.102444 none. 758.023 
 
 lyo;: l 156.248 14,628 484 886 
 
 1803 1, .11 1853 18,045 502,006 
 
 1304 810,008 1,074 258,515 
 
 1803 , 777,51.1 none. 235,176 
 
 1806 782 724 Bonc. 308 043 
 
 1807 l.,249.8.i9. none. 6\9.91.8 
 
 1808 263,813 none. 7...084 
 
 1809 846,247 r^qne. 230 822 
 18,10 798,431 none. 192,477 
 .■i\\ ;,i«.:,012 2;966 275,53'^ 
 
35 
 
 
 NAVAL STORES- 
 
 TAR. 
 
 Toall iiurtioj the 
 
 world. 
 
 To k'rc'i 
 
 f f. To £nglnnrf isi> Coicl 
 
 
 Bbls. 
 
 
 Bblj 
 
 i. i< Is. 
 
 1800 
 
 59,410 
 
 
 none. 
 
 68.7*^:^ 
 
 J SO! 
 
 67,487 
 
 
 none. 
 
 62 .32 
 
 1802 
 
 37,497 
 
 
 797 
 
 21 :r.o 
 
 1808 
 
 78.989 
 
 
 ni^ne. 
 
 75 2'1S 
 
 180i 
 
 58 181 
 
 
 flo. 
 
 45 210 
 
 1805 
 
 72 745 
 
 
 do. 
 
 59 439 
 
 1895 
 
 62 723 
 
 
 do. 
 
 5U .65 
 
 i8or 
 
 59 282 
 
 
 do. 
 
 51 232 
 
 1808 
 
 18 764. 
 
 
 do. 
 
 17.7 
 
 1809 
 
 19S 090 
 
 
 do. 
 
 33 07 3 
 
 1810 
 
 87 310 
 
 
 do. 
 
 50.1)21 
 
 1811 
 
 149 796 
 
 
 do. 
 
 123.U3* 
 
 
 
 TURPENTINE, 
 
 
 1800 
 
 33,129 
 
 
 none. 
 
 32 580 
 
 1801 
 
 35.413 
 
 
 do. 
 
 35 143 
 
 1802 
 
 38 764 
 
 
 do. 
 
 36 7;.9 
 
 1803 
 
 61.178 
 
 
 do. 
 
 60,732 
 
 1804 
 
 77.825 
 
 
 do. 
 
 76 950 
 
 1805 
 
 95 640 
 
 
 do. 
 
 94 328 
 
 1806 
 
 74,731 
 
 
 do. 
 
 7l.8.=-4 
 
 1807 
 
 63451 
 
 
 do. 
 
 52 ior 
 
 1808 
 
 17 061 
 
 
 do. 
 
 17.009 
 
 1809 
 
 77,398 
 
 
 do. 
 
 22885 
 
 1810 
 
 62.912 
 
 
 do. 
 
 36,995 
 
 1^1 1 
 
 100,24? 
 
 
 do. 
 
 97,250 
 
 LU.MBER. 
 Of the vast qiiaiuiiies of Li.ii.Ijer exported from 1800 to 181 Ij 
 ;nly a few Staves .niu! K:a<liiii; went to Finnce, as follows, viz : 
 Thousunds of Staves and Heading 
 
 1801 6,349 
 
 1803 357 
 
 1804 321 
 
 1805 466 
 
 1806 716 
 
 1807 614 
 
 1308 - . , - . 105 
 
'10