1 of their institutions demonstrated, the triumph of the enemy would have been complete. It would also have been durable. The constituted authorities of the United States neither' dreaded nor anticipated these evils. They had full confidence in the strength of the union, in the firmness and virtue of the people, and were satisfied, when the appeal should be made, that ample proof would be afforded that their confidence had not been misplaced. Foreign pressure, it was not doubted, would soon dissipate foreign partialities and prejudices, if such existed, and unite us more closely together as one people. In declaring war against Great Britain, the United States have placed themselves in a situation to retort the hostility which they had so long suffered from the British government. The maintenance of their rights was the object of the war. Of the desire of this government to terminate the war on honourable conditions, ample proof has been afforded by the proposition made to the British government, immediately after the declaration of war, through the charge des affaires of the United States at London, and by the promptitude and manner of the acceptance of the mediation of the emperor of Russia. It was anticipated by some, that a declaration of war against Great Britain would force the United States into a close connection with her adversary, much to their disadvantage. The secretary of state thinks it proper to remark, that nothing is more remote from the fact. The discrimination in favour of France, according to law, in consequence of her acceptance of the proposition made equally to both powers, produced a difference between them in that special case, but in that only. The war with England was declared without any concert or communication with the French government; it has produced no connection between the United States and France, or any understanding as to its prosecution, continuance, or termination. The ostensible relation between the two countries, is the true and only one. The United States have just claims on France for spoliations on their commerce on the high seas, and in the ports of France, and their late minister was, and their present minister is, instructed to demand reparation for these injuries, and to press it with the energy due to the justice of their claims, and to the character of the United States. The result of the negotiation will be com-* municated to congress in due time. The papers marked (I) contain copies of two letters, addressed from this department to Mr. Barlow, one of the 16th June, 1812, just before the declaration of war, the other of the 14th July following, which show distinctly the relation existing between the United States and France at that interesting period. No change has since occurred in it. All which is respectfully submitted. The President of the United States. JAMES MONROE. Department of State, July 12, 1813. (A.) Extract of a letter from Mr. Barlow to Mr. Monroe, dated Paris, May 12, 1812. After the date of my letter, of which I have the honour to enclose you a copy, I found from a pretty sharp conversation with the duke of Bassano, that there was a singular reluctance to answering my note of the 1st of May. Some traces of that reluctance you will perceive in the answer which finally came, of which a copy is here enclosed. This, though dated the 10th, did not come to me till last evening. I consider the communication to be so important in the present crisis of our affairs with England that I despatch the Wasp immediately to carry it to Mr. Russell, with orders to return with his answer as soon as possible. I am confident that the president will approve the motive of my solicitude in this affair, and the earnest manner in which I pressed the minister with it, as soon as my knowledge of the declaration of the prince regent enabled me to use the argument that belonged to the subject. When, in the conversation above alluded to, the duke first produced to me the decree of the 28th of April, 1811, I made no comment on the strange manner in which it had been so long concealed from me, and probably from you. I only asked him if that decree had been published: he said no; but declared it had been communicated to my predecessor here, and likewise sent to Mr. Serrurier with orders to communicate it to you. I assured him it was not among the archives of this legation; that I never before had heard of it; and since he had consented to answer my note, I desired him to send me in that official manner, a copy of that decree, and of any other documents that might prove to the incredulous of my country (not to me) that the decrees of Berlin and Milan were in good faith and unconditionally repealed with regard to the United States. He then promised me he would do it, and he has performed his promise. I send you a copy of the April decree, as likewise of the letter of the grand judge and that of the minister of finances, though the two latter pieces have been before communicated to our government and published. [Translation.] Sir, (B.) The duke of Bassano to Mr. Barlow. Paris, May 10, 1812. In conversing with you about the note which you did me the honour to address to me on the 1st of May, I could not conceal from you my surprise at the doubt which you had expressed in that note, respecting the revocation of the decrees of Berlin and Milan. That revocation was proven by many official acts, by all my correspondence with your predecessors, and with you, by the decisions in favour of American vessels. You have done me the honour to ask a copy of the letters which the grand judge and the minister of the finances wrote on the 25th of December, 1810, to secure the first effects of that measure, and you have said, sir, that the decree of the 28th of April, 1811, which proves definitively the revocation of the decrees of Berlin and Milan, in regard to the Americans, was not known to you. I have the honour to send you, as you have desired, a copy of these three acts; you will consider them, without doubt, sir, as the plainest answer which I could give to this part of your note. As to the two other questions to which that note relates, I will take care to lay them before the emperor. You know already, sir, the sentiments which his majesty has expressed in favour of American commerce, and the good dispositions which have induced him to appoint a plenipotentiary to treat with you on that important interest. Accept, sir, &c. &c. (Signed) THE DUKE OF BASSANO. Joel Barlow, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Copy of a letter from the Minister of Finance to the Count of Sussy, counsellor of state, director general of the customs, dated December 25, 1810. On the 5th of last August, the minister of foreign relations wrote to Mr. Armstrong, minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, that the Berlin and Milan decrees were revoked, and that after the first of November they would cease to have effect, it being well understood, that in consequence of this declaration the English would revoke their orders in council and renounce the new principles of blockade which they wished to establish, or that the United States, in conformity to the act communicated, should cause their rights to be respected by the English. On the communication of this note, the president of the United States issued, on the second of November, a proclama VOL. I. Z z tion, which announces the revocation of the Berlin and Milan decrees after the first of November; and which declares that, in consequence thereof, all the restrictions imposed by the act of the first of May, 1809, should cease with respect to France and her dependencies. The same day the treasury department addressed to the collectors of the customs a circular, which directs them to admit into the ports and waters of the United States armed French vessels, and enjoins it on them to apply, after the second of February next, the law of the first of May, 1809, prohibiting all commercial relation, to English vessels of every description, as well as to productions of the soil, industry, or commerce of England and her dependencies. His majesty having seen, in these two pieces, the enunciation of the measures which the Americans propose taking, on the second of February next, to cause their rights to be respected, has ordered me to inform you, that the Berlin and Milan decrees must not be applied to any American vessels that have entered our ports since the first of November, or may enter in future, and that those which have been sequestered, as being in contravention of these decrees, must be the object of a special report. On the second of February, I shall acquaint you with the intentions of the emperor with regard to the definitive measures to be taken for distinguishing and favouring the American navigation. I have the honour to salute you. (Signed) THE DUKE OF GAETE. [Translation.] FRENCH EMPIRE. Paris, December 26, 1810. Copy of a letter from his excellency the Grand Judge, Minister of Justice, to the Counsellor of State, President of the Council of Prizes. Mr. President, The minister of foreign relations, by order of his majesty the emperor and king, addressed, on the 5th of August last, to the plenipotentiary of the United States of America, a note containing the following words: "I am authorized to declare to you that the decrees of Berlin and Milan are revoked, and that after the first of November they will cease to have effect, it being well understood, that in consequence of this declaration, the English will revoke their orders in council, and renounce the new principles of blockade which they wished to establish, or that the United States, in conformity to the act you have just communicated, will cause their rights to be respected by the English.' In consequence of the communication of this note, the president of the United States issued, on the 2d of November, a proclamation, to announce the revocation of the decrees of Berlin and Milan, and declared, that, in consequence thereof, all the restrictions imposed by the act of the first of May, must cease with respect to France and her dependencies; on the same day the treasury department addressed a circular to all the collectors of the customs of the United States, which enjoins them to admit into the ports and waters of the United States, armed French vessels; prescribes to them to apply, after the 2d of February next, to English vessels of every description, and to productions arising from the soil and industry, or the commerce of England and her dependencies, the law which prohibits all commercial relations, if, at that period, the revocation of the English orders in council and of all the acts violating the neutrality of the United States, should not be announced by the treasury depart ment. In consequence of this engagement, entered into by the government of the United States, to cause their rights to be respected, his majesty orders, that all the causes that may be pending in the council of prizes of captures of American vessels, made after the first of November, and those that may in future be brought before it, shall not be judged according to the principles of the decrees of Berlin and Milan, but that they shall remain suspended; the vessels captured or seized to remain only in a state of sequestration, and the rights of the proprietors being reserved for them until the 2d of February next, the period at which the United States having fulfilled the engagements to cause their rights to be respected, the said captures shall be declared null by the council, and the American vessels restored, together with their cargoes, to their proprietors. Receive, Mr. President, the new assurances of my most distinguished consideration. (Signed) [Translation.] THE DUKE OF MESSA. Palace of St. Cloud, April 28, 1811. NAPOLEON, EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH, &c. &c. On the report of our minister of foreign relations : Seeing by a law passed on the 2d of March, 1811, the congress of the United States has ordered the execution of the provisions of the act of non-intercourse, which prohibits the vessels and merchandize of Great-Britain, her colonies and dependencies, from entering into the ports of the United States; |
