Huntingdon Gazette

              GAZE'lTV
Mnglctic^nts] HUNTINGDON fPcmi.^yhaniaJ PiiiMxr.;) r>v JOHN M'CAL"iAN.
[f>I^ per Aniiiim.
Vol. 8.]
FRIDAY, December 9,
1808.
•rKvta:t^:^txvKmNma^tmcrKa^rm*<tmf v TjmmraiJi'JH-"A'^Wwr«T"^ii ' ¦^..eyi.wjii. »'ii'/w».itmi'.fui«nji
[No. 40'
r?agai'\^gjte-i'iE«i^bJffjyBW^r^^^
DOCU MEN 1S\
..¦lecompanying the pre.ddenl's irrss.'ige.
Mr. JliidisoiA letter:- to  Cr.cral Arm¬ strong.
Mr. IVIadison, secretp.iy of sSate, to general Armstrong, niinistcr'|)Ienipo- lendary of the U. States at Paris.
Department of State, May 22, ISOr.
•'The tvvo last letters received from
\i)a Wtre of IJecembtr 24, ^nd Jitn'unrv
it:.
"Ihe decree of November 21, com¬ municated in the first, hatl pieviousiy reached us, and hati excited apprehen- tions vvhich vvere repressecl onlv by the inardci'.lnte Impor: of its urtieleti, ar.d the presumpdon that U vvould be exe- i-uted ill a sense n.it incopsi^tcnt v\ i:h lUe respect due tne tie;itv between Fi-.ince ami ilit; Lhii.'ed Stntes. The t•^;plaIlations given you by the minister ot marine, vvere seen by the president wi'ch m-jch ]ileiisure, and It only remaim 10 learn that they httve been conlirnud .by the express authority of lhe emper¬ or. We are the more anxio'is for iliis informadon as it vvill fortify iiiei\ruuin- strances whici have been prcsentr.d at London, against the Bri:i-.h order of Jamvuy "lii. Sliould it, contrary lo cxpee.uition, ttirn out diat the French decree was meant, antlis moper-ite,ac¬ cording to the latiuide of Its terms, v-uu will ol ccKirse have made the j;roperie- prcsentiuions, grounded tis well on toe principles of publie law, as on the ex¬ press biipedations of <-he convertion oi' 1800. Nothing, beside^-, couid i le mci e •preposterous ihun to l)lend v ith an ap¬ peal lu neutral righis and nt ntral na¬ tions-, a grtis.s infiaciii*!! td' the former, antl outrage on the ientinients of the l.iUer, unless it be lo Invii<- ;i species of ctiiitest on t^e high se'av., in vvhich the jidveisary has every |>ossil)ic advancage. But on the more prcilxible f npposition, that the tletrrce vvill not be aiiliivorably expounded, it willbe siill nei:cssary to press on the French gunrnmeat a dls- ];atch of such orders lo tluir cruizers iil every ([iiat-ter, as will prevent a con- fclriiction of the decri.c favorHide to their lIceiiUGiistr.piditv. 'i'iie moment your leiter was received, the attsvrer of the French minister t/f mai Ine to yo'jr note was coinmunieatetl to genenil Terreau, with a call on him to transmit it immetllately to thc Freneh g.ivernors in llie West-Indies. This be ,reaflily engaged tt) do. But notvvIlti*>tanding this precaution, there are proofs tliat the West-India privateers have, untler color ofthe edict, commiited depred.i- tions, which will constitute tlaixns of I redress from their government.
"Mr. Erving has forwnrdeda Span¬ ish decree also, avowedly pursuipg the example ami die vievvs of the French emperor. The tenris of this decree arc even more vague, or nuher more broiltl, .ih;in those of the j.^roto vpe ; •dnd, if not speedily reciilieti or cornct- [ ed will doubtless extend ifie scene of spoliations already bi.giin in th-at quar¬ ter ; and of Course, thicken lhe cloud that hangs over the aailty of thc two iiallon.s."
£^tracts ofa letter jioni Mr. Madison til general Arm-'.lrou!;.
D.y>artre.ent of .Slate, Fib. •alh, ILOt;.
 ' Yonr letiers anrl coiviniunicajions by Dr. Bidlns were duly tl; liveretl on the I4tli dav of DeceiuLei. The same conveyance bro't a copy of ihe sentence pronounced by the Frt;nch prize court in the cast^ of the Ilori'zin, giving a judicial effect to die dt-ciec of Noll'. i2 4nt-iS0.5, as expcuv.'^f'.j iu die answj-j- of Mr. Chain'iagnv tj roUr letter of H. i^ij Niiv. 1J5^;-.
Whilst the French governnient diti not avow or enforce a meaning of the decree of November, iC-'X), in relation to the U. S. extending; its purview be¬ yond the miaiieipnl Hi.iits, it tould iit;t io Mrietness be regarded as an inirae- lion eitlier of onr neutriil or conventi¬ onal rights ; and tonseqticnt'y did not aiiihorlse more than a demantl of rea- son-Jile explanations of its doubtlul import, or Irler.tllv i xpcstulailoii'j wuh respect tothe rigor & sutldennei^s of its lniU)vatii!ns.
The case Is now essetitKil'".-ctif.r.ged. A con'.truction of tht; decree isavtr.vtd and executed, which violate* as well the pt>sitlve .sii'piiliilions cf the conven- lltui uf Septeniber 30th, ISCVO, as the ineoniebtibie piliaiplfis of puliiic lavv : a-iicl the president ehurges you to s'jper- add to vvhntever re'/reseiiUiiioii-. you r.'tny h.ive previoiisiv nv.ule, a lorniai re- inonstraiice in .'.lu'.i urni as ir.ny L." best caleulaied cuher it) obfain a lecall of the iiiegai incisure, so fnr as it rektes to the United ?'^ t-- .s, or lo have the ef¬ fect of lenving in iull force ud the ilglit'.i accruing to ti'iern irtmi a fiiliure to tlu sol
That the extcuiion of liicul   i-ivis  a- gainsi foreign nations on the higii sea'.s, 13 a violaliuii of the  rights cf the  fcr- ir.er and the ficedom ol die latter, will j;robablv not be qiieslione-.l.      A   vi.-n- iiiiiy principle would In f.iet  i.iq^ly tin- ; same exclusive dominion   over  the ei:- tire ocean, as is enjoved wi-..irjn   lhe li- | iiilts ef the local sovereignty, and ade- ; grad.iiion of evt-ry  other  naiiou  Irom '. us comnion rljjhts and eq'e.al ru»'<
of comniunicitirg to you and Mr. Er-'I violating our public rights, or on such
ving diis vit vv  ol tlie  -.ubjet t,   rind   I hope tluit ycu will hav i; bet ii them e ii.- ablet! to present it to   die   French  go- verniiKiit.     Not  relying   however ou that indirect opportunily, I send by this ent'iher copy tit the   act,   vvilh an   in- struetion liom the presitlent,   that you make it the suljeet of such   explanati¬ ons as vvill guaid agaiiivt tinv  miscon- cepiion of the policy vvhich  led  to   it. Jl isstricti)- a  m^yi.vjre   ol precaution, required by if.e ccngeis Incident to ex- ri-i-iiul commerce, and, being   indi.icil- niinatc in Its'bperalions tcvvurds all i:\- lions, can give  nojust ofience  to  ane. Tlu- uuiation of die act ii? not   fixed by itseli ; and viili conseqnentlv depend t/ii a cuiitinunnce tir lessation of its cause, in a ilt-grei.-: suiiliienl   in   the jutigment t'i  die it gislilurc, U> induce  or foidid its rejieai.    It may l.ie  htiped  di:-.t the intoiivenientes felt irom it by the belli- gei-eat nations m-.-.y lead to a change of i;-.e conduct v hieh inii;oscd the   incon¬ veniences of it on ourselvc'.'^.      France herself will bea sufferer,  and  some of j  her allies far more so.     It will be very I  tigreeable to lliitl In linit   consitleratlon, ;  nnd still more in lu-r sense of justice, a : K'jfiieient motive to an early  maiiiftsta- ; lion t)f the respect dueto our commer- ! eitil right-.-;.     This   example wtiuld   he \ vvtitiiy t.if the   piufesslcns   whieh  she
iiiaki's to the vvt.rld ti^n this subject."
I       ''Febiiiaiy 18.     Since the above was
; wiitu-n, I h.ive been under a dt gree of
hitlispositiou which has siispcndetl  the
priiposcd conrinualion of it, and vvhich
-" w.. ..f.-.,.^ ~...^. w-,..   .  ,-   ,..--,- _.. _. .., —
If il be coniviidid  that   the decree, | now wil! oblige me   to   be   verv brief;
as ;t veialijilion oei the other heli'gerent, at the expetue ci neutral nation, isjus- liiied by a culpatle acqiiieMeeiii..e in lhe prior iiieasui-e:it)f tliat btliig;ient, tipe- rating ihrough iieulral.'?, vou w iil be able Lt) deny such aec'.iieseenee, und to urge moreover that, on every supposition, the letaliiiling measure con.d not be iu.-.dy ciiieiiced, in relation to neutrals, witiiout alk»wiug them at least a rea¬ sonable time for eluising betweeu due measures against die prior wrong, and an acquiescence in both, 'i'he ct^py of the i-e[)resw.tations to liie Bi idsh go- vei--niiieiii, ihrough its iviinisicr heic, on die subject ot its crdei-s of January 1307, will at once disprove an acquies¬ cence on the pari t>f tiie United States, and explain the grounds on whkh die late extension of lhe French decree ol November, 180'3, is an olject ofjust re¬ monstrance.
The conduct of the French govern¬ ment, in giving this extended operation lo its decree, and indeed ia issuing one with such an aj^parent or doubtful im¬ port against the rights of the sea, is the mote ext.-iUiidinary, inasnuich as the in.i')ility to enforce it on that element e-xhibiied the me-nsure iu the light of an em[)ty iiienaee, .at the same time that it afllirdetl pretexes tu her enemy tor, severe rctii(i;ition», fur whieh ample means are lound in her naval st*p'.-riori- tv.
Tha a^-cum'aUited dan^-.-r.-?. to _ which die illeg.d proceedings ol lhe belligerent nailons liave salijected llie ct)niinerce and nuvii^aiion cf the Uniied States, have -.It length induced congi-ei.s to re¬ sort to tin embargo on t>iir own ve.ssels, a'i a iner«ure best fittctl fi-r die crisis, bein^; an eifecl'j:).! security ft)r oar mei- cantuc property and mariner-i, no'.v at homo and d.ulv arriving, and, at tWc same time, neilher a mea-suit:, nor ju'.t caii.-ie of V,-.ir. Copies ol liii:> uct vi'crc soon aiier lis |/n.s«i-e.gc, transitiitU'd to Mr. Pinkney, with an iiuthority to a»- sare tlie Bruish governmenii tluU it was tl) be viewed in ihis light, and Unit it wa.s not infant tobe th-e sHgh^e^:t impc- dinieiil: tt) amicable nt'jjociationj with foreigii govtsmmenis. Hc vvab rcq-aest- cd t-i «<v-rfil liim'siilf cf an  o^)^iarfJiftiiy
tlu: more so, tiS the vessel lias been somt; days det.'Ined, whieh was engng- ttl lur the hjieeial purjiOso td' convey¬ ing puldic dispatches and private letters it> Fuiope.
i lie delay Inis en.,bk-d inc tr. Infonn vou that Mr. Krskuie, a few davs ago, rominitniealed, l;y insiriiclion.s from Ills government, its late decieescf No¬ vember 11, and ihos^". forinins^ a set[uel to them.— riie communication was ac- eonipanietl with assurances, that uiucli regret vvas felt by his Britannic majes¬ tv at the nece?siiy which the conduct Iif his enemy has created for meaiures ;->o embarrassing to neutral commerce ; and that his majesty wotdd readily fol- Itivv an example of rtlintpilshing such a course, or even of making relaxation pari passau vvith his enemy.
In remonstrating against die Injustice and illegality of the French decree, I am aware that you may be reminded of antecedent injuries it) France and her allies, dirough British vlohitlons of neutrnl commerce. The fact cannot be denied, and may be urged vvith great force, ill our remonstrances against the orders to which Great Britain has giv¬ en n let-tiliatlng charaeter ; sincfc the French decree might, on the same ground, be prOnouncetl a rettdiatlon on tht- pveeeding conduct of Great Britain. But ought the legitimate commerce of neutrals to be thus thc victim antl the spoi? of bl llig'jrents, contesting with each other the priority of their des- trui tive innovations : and witiiout leav¬ ing eidier of them, to neutrals even the o|-.portiuiitv or the time for tiisproving lhe culpable aetpaleseence which is made lhe pretext by both, for die wrongs done I'.) them ? Antl I must repeat, that, apart from all tjuestions of this na¬ ture, the French dccret^, or at least thc illeg.d exu-nslons of it to the L^nited filales, rem :iln chnrgeablc with allthe impulliv which has beciiptiintetl out.
i finti, by accounts from iiambuigh, Br -men, ilollanti, and Leghorn, that the trade and property of our citJ'/.eiu have been much vexed bv regntatious subaltern to those tif tin; original dt crec of November 21, 180-3. Uovv far the eoaipldriHi are firj^Bdeei mn j.raceci ing.
as lire unhieiidly ahd unequitable to¬ wards our citI:^e'nR, v.ho have placed llieir prt>ptrty widiin those jurisdic¬ tions, you vv ill be able to tiecide better lluui vve c.nn do at this distance ; antl lhe presitlent refers to your ovvn judg¬ ment the kind of representation to thek.. I'reneh government which ihose and'^ other analtigous cases may require."
Lxtract of a letter from Mr.' IMadlson
to gen. Armstrong.
Dfpartii.rnt cf State, May 2, IBOJ:'.
" Since ni}' last, of which lieutenant
Lewis vvas lhe bt arer, I have   received
y-'.ir several letters of iJ7th December,
'-::2d January, 15th and  ITth February,
Vvith tht ir lespetUve eiulosUrt s.
" ihat of the 15th Janunry, from All-. ChaiU'j-)figny to ycai, has, as you vvill see l-y the ]'ap.»rs herev\iih sent ]aodiicetI all the sensations, here, which the spirit antl .stile of it wer'-' ralenlated to excite in minds alive to the interests antl hoiuir of the nation. To present to the United States the i.lteruadve of bending to the vieWs of France agt-iust her enemv, or of incurrhg a ccidisca- lion of all the properly of thtir citizen"? carried into the French prize courts, implietl that lli;v were ".-.usceptllle of impressions bv vvhich no independerit and ht.'nt;urable nation can be guided ; and to jirejutlge and pronounce for them lhe effect vvhidi the cdmduct of another nation onghl to liave ou their council> and course of proceeding, had the air al least of an assumetl authority, iioc: IcHS irritr'I.'^g Ft) the feelings. In thesti lights, the jiresideUt makes it yovr duty to present to the French governmeut tbe contents tif 3Ir. Ch.nmpagny's letter, taking care, as your discieiion vviil doiib'.less siigger-t, liiat whilst you make that g'.)vernrnenl sensil>le of the olfen-* .sive tt)ne employetl, vou leave lhe wav open for friendly and respectful exi>la- natiors, if there be a disposition to of¬ fi r them, and for a tleeihion here on any reply which may lie of a dlftircnt character'.
" Congress closerl their ?cs:nt)n oil lhe 2jth uldmn. I'or n jj^eneral vicvir of their proceedings, I refer to thc se¬ ries of newspapers hcrctoiuie, and now forwanied, and lo otlu** prints whicii are addct'. Among tht-ir acts of chief importance is diat v.hich vests in thti president an authoi It}' lo suspend itl wliolc or iu part, the embargo lavvs.
"The conditions on wliich the sus- peiitlin'g aulhority is to lie e.xcrci.sed wid engage your particular atten ion. Fhey appeal equally to the justice and the policy of the two great belligerent povvers now emulndng each other in violation of both. 'I'he|president count* on your best endeavours to giv^ to thi>. appeal all the t ffect possible with the; French govenmcnt. IMr. Pinkney will be doing the same with that of Great Britain. 'Phe relation in w hich a recal of its retaliating decrees, by eidier power, vvill place the United States to the other, is obvious, and ought to bt; a motive t>o the measure, proportlonetI tothe tiesire wiii.:h has been r»!W»ifesic<i by each, to ]iri«duce collisions between the United States and its adversary,antl which must be equally felt by each, to avoiti one v/ith itself.
" Should wiser councils or increasing tlistresses intliice Cireat Britain to re'- vokc her iiupfrilitlc onlers ag linst neu¬ tral commerce, antl thereby pri-p.iro 'the. way for a remuval of die embargo, as it applies to lit^r, France could not persist: in the illeJi-^l part of her tlccrces, if she does uot mean to ftncc a contest with the United States, i )ii the oiber hand fclliitjltl slie set th.- t .v;.iniid.- of lev'oca- tiuii, C.re:it Briiiin vvdild be obligett either by loiiuv. iu^c it, to i> sitjrc »a Frtrnv-v ijre fa'd :I»*.-R<.'hce?£nci.rti-Hl cindt;