Newspaper Page Text
MESSAGE
from, the
President of thbUnjted STATES,
Communicating information of a
VREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN,
, Arc. See. *
WASHINGTON CITY, February 19.
Read, and ordered to Ue on the table.
To the Senate and Honfe of Re pref nt alive s
of the United States.
I transmit to congress a letter from our *
mintfters plenipotentiary at London, in
forming us that they have agreed with the >
British commi(Boners so conclude a treaty,
on kii the points which had formed the oh- V,
jest of their negociation, and on terms which
they traded wc would approve.
Also, a letter from our minister plenipo
tentiary at Paris, covering one to him from
the minister of marine dt tpat government,
the imperial decree lately
to affect i cur commerce,
whiclHj pFlHir be governed by the mica
of the treaty eftablilhed between the two
countries.
Also, a letter from Cowles Mead, secre
tary of the MiflhTippi territory, ailing as
fovernor, informing us that Aaron Burr
ad farrendcred himfclf to the civil authority
of that territory.
TH: JEFFERSON.
February io, 1807.
(COPY.)
LONDON, j Dec. 27, 1806.
SIR,
We have the pic 3fure to acquaint )oq that
we have this day agreed with the Iritifh
commiffiqner* to conclude a treity on ail the
points which have formed the object of pur
negociation, and on terms which wc trnft
our government will approve. It will re
quire only a few days to it to.fornu* < -
yVhan that is dine, we shall transmit it to
you by a special meflcngcr. We hasten to
febmmunlcate to you this interesting intelli
gence for the information and guidance of
our government in such mcafures as may
have reference to the fubjeft. We have the
honor to be with great consideration and es
teem, fir,
Your most obedient fervanfs.
JAMES MONROE;
WM. PINCKNEY.
fames Mad if on, fecrefary offiate,
Wajhington ,
PARIS, x±th December , igoSi
| .SlR*'- 4 .■.»//: i fuftai-' Xft; l - *®v; ‘ ,' •
I have the honor of transmit ting the
.xopy inclofcd of a letter, from his majefiey’s
minifter,of marine and colonies, in anfwcr
i} tq.ininc of the ipth instant, on theTubjeft
of the imperial arretc of the aift of Novcm r
her, 1806.
An additional explanation, which it may
be well to communicate, is, that neutral
rdTds coming from England or her colonies
the ports of France, Ac. fincc the date
of the aforcfaiH aifrete, will not be received;
and that if any person or persons, charged
with the ship or other veffeland cargo, shall
be detected in evading this regulation by
means otfal/e declarations , they shall for
feit the said ship or other vessel and cargo.
1 am, fit, with the hlghefi refpccl,
Your most obedient, and . '
Very bumble fervan*,.
(Signed) JOHN ARMSTONG.
Me, Madison, Wetjhington,
[TRANSLATION.]
Imperial Decree of the x\ft November, 18o6«
Art. 1. The British islands are declar
ed in a ftatc of blockade.
Art. 2. Alb commerce and correfpon
dencc with the Bricifh islands are prohibited.
In confcqucnca letters or packets addressed
either to England, to an Englishman, or in
the English language, (hall not pas. through
the pod-office and (hall be frized.
Art, 3. Every fubjefl of England, of
whatever rank and, condition soever, who
fnall be found in the countries occupied by
our troops, or by those of our allies, (hail be
made a prifofter of war. V v
Art. 4. All magazines, merchandize
Os property whatsoever, belonging to afab
*' jest of England, shall be declared a lawful
- svat jjm 20l 1. ja. >; v'.
prize.
Art. The trade in English merchan
dize is forbidden. All merchandize belong,
tng to England or coming from iesmanufsc
turies and colonies, is declared a lawful , kl
prize. v • r; '. r s
Art, 6. One half of the proceeds of the
confiscation of the merchandize and proper,
ty, declared good prize by the preceding
articles, (hall be appli«J to indemnify the
merchants for the losses which they have fuf
fered by the capture of merchant veffch
by English cruizers. -’ff
Art, 7. No vessel coming dircftly from
England or from the Englilh colonies, or
having been there since the publication of the
present decree, (hall be received into arty
port.
*■ Art. 8. Every vessel contravening the
above clause, by means of a falfe declara
tion, (hall be seized, and the vessel and car
go confiscated, as if they were English pro
' petty. "
■’ Art.: 9. Oat tribunal of prizes at Paris la
charged with the definitive adjudication of
all the controverfiea-, which may arise with,
in out empire, or in the countries occupied
by the French army, relative to the execu
tion of the pitfent decree. Our tribunal of
prices at Milan, (hall be charged with the
definitive adjudication of the said coutro
verfics, which may arise within the extent
of our kingdom of Italy.
“V 1; * A»r. to. The prefeiit decree (hall be
, .» ' .** * *o'" '■*']| v r * *-> J '
V; V '*• * 'Sr 'ii.q 40^
consmenlcated by our minister of exterior re.
lattona, to the kings of Spain, of Naples, of
Holland, and of Etruria, and to our allies,
tehofc fubjcfls, like ours, are the vidiims of
, the injustice and baibarifm ot the Erglifti
maritime laws.
, Our. minifter* of exterior relations, of
war, of marine, of finances, of police, and
our poft-mafterfi. general, are charged, each
in what concerns him, with the execution of
the prefect decree.
Faithfully trarflated.
JACOB WAGNER.
Chief clerk, Dep, State*
Gene ta I Armftton£ to the mtnijict of marine
■ > ,' and colonies.
Thti.underfigned minister plenipotentiary
Os the United States of America has the ho.
nor of demanding from his excellency, the
reinifter of marine and colonies, the official
explanation which may hare been given to
the imperial decree of the 21 ft ot November,
1806, so for as that decree involves the
rights of neutral nations.
The undersigned wpuld more particularly
with to be intormed whether by ** British
mentioned' in article j, arc to be
underflow! all IJlandt in the poffcfiion of his
Britannic majesty, 9e Iflar.ds merely, or wlie
ther the rule will befo conftrucd, as to ex.
tend the blockade |o the* continental poffef
fior.s also, of hi*fssd majesty ? ■>
Whether it be meant that the arrete (hall
operate from ks date, and ttat feizurcs made
under it before norice (hall have been given,
(hall be considered legal ? ' I
Whether American vdTcls, navigating the
high or narrow seas, (hall be liable to feizore,
on evidence only, that they are going to,
or returning from a port or ports of his Bri
tannic majesty ?
And Whether articles 2 and. 5, (hall ope
rate only as domestic regulations, or wheth
er their injunfljcms (hall extend to citizens
of foreign and independent nations ? *.*
His excellency the minister of marine is
fufficiently aware of the interest of the Uni
ted States 111 the inietpretatkn which (hall
be given to thefc articles* and will readily
and juflly appreciate the motives of the un
designed in requeuing that his excellency's
answer ntay be given as prompHy a* possible.
The under signed has the honor of renew
ing See, ' %
(Signed) JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Paris, December w, 1806.
[TRANSLATION.]
PARIS, 24th December, 1806.
Mr, Minifler Plenipotentiary.
I baften to answer the note yea did me the
honor to address to me on the aoth of this
' month.
1 confider the imperial decree of the ztft
* of November last, as, thus tar, conveying
no modiftcatipos of the regulations at present
obferyed in France with regard to neutral
navigators, nor confeqocntly of the conven
tion of the 3©;h of September, rgoo, (Bth
Vcndciniare, #b year) with the.U. State*
of America.
, But by this answer, the four ques
tions opon which your excellency has defircd
to known ifiy opinion, have been implicitly
rcfolved, i think 1 can add, rft. That the
declaration expressed by the isl article of the
decree of the 1 i ft November, not at all
changing the present French laws concern.
»qg maritime captures, there is no reason for
enquiring what interpretation, or reflation
or extention may be given to this article.
ad, That seizures, contrary to the pre
sent regualtions concerning cruizing, (hall
not be allowed to the captures.
3d, That an American veflel cannot he
taken at Tea sot the mere reason that (he is
going to a port of England, oris returning
from one, bccaufe conformably with the yth
article of the said decree, wc are limited in
France n6t to admit yeflels coming from
England or the Englilh colonies,
4 f h. That the provisions of articles ad
and sth of the (aid decree, naturally apply
to foreign citizens domiciliated in France
or in the countries occupied by the troops
of his majesty the emperor and king, inas
much as they have of a general
law j but that k wH(§e proper that your
excellency (hotfld communicate with the
minister ofexterior relations as to what con.
cerns the correfpondcncc of th£ citizens of
the United States of America with England.
I pray your excellency,': Mr.’ Minister
Plenipotentiary, to receive the aifrrance of
my high confineratipn. The minifler of
marine and of the colonics. «
(Signed) DEGREES.
|t will not cfcape general Armstrong that
my anfwcrs cannot have the dcvelopcmcnt
which they would reccive from the minister
Os exterior relations, and that it is natural
to him that he onght to address binifelf for
these explanations, ’ which I ain very happy
to give him, bccaufe he wilhes them, but
upon which I have much less positive infor
mation than the prinos of Bent ventom.
(Sfned) • ■ DECREES.
Faithfully traajiated.
7. WAGNER, chief Cl’k step.-State,
Extrail of a letter from Cowles Meed, fee.
alls ***&% **? £*verwr of the MiJ/sf.
fippt territory, to the department of near,
“ wUinstm, 4 '
« ** In Obedience to yuur inftruftions by
express of the 20th of December Jaft, I i m ,
mediately, after proroguing the legifla tare,
proceeded to put the territory in a flare of
preparation for the arreftatibn of the fofpici
ous petfona and boats, which Were contem
plated therein ; my militia were collefting at
particular point* on the river, when I recei
ved a letter from col., Burt, who had landed
at Bayou Pierre, wish nine boats and about
1 ' \ '•
** v . : ■ v 'ik- ■T - V | % ,v
ioOiwPHW*hii letter went to an arewel
of bis innocence of the charges, which ru
mour and public apprehension had announced
against him, and foliated me to appesfe the
fears which hia approach had begotten ; at
the fame time he guarded me against the hor*
rors of civil war, and the evils resulting
from fiich a Date of things; this Teeming
*£■ threat induced me to adopts different mode
ofeenduft, from what the col. might have
expefted j and instead of adopting his paci
fic admonition, I ordered a very large por
tion of the militia of the territory to /endez,
vons at certain points, and wait further or
ders. With the promptitude of Spartans,
‘s OurJfeUciw citizcris (houldcred their tlrelorks,
' and in twenty four hours, I had the honor
to review 375 men at Natchez, prepared to
, defend their country. They were ordered
under the command of col. Claiborne, to a
point on the river about 21 miles above the
city, there to remain to guard the river, and
intercept, for inlpcftion, all boats that might
defeend the river. On the i6th, I dis
patched two of my aids to col. Burr, who
had tendered his tefpeft to the civil authori
ty ; these gentlemen engaged on my part
to give the colonel an interview in the
neighborhood of the detachment stationed
at rhe mouth of Cole's creek. Conforms
bly thereto I met the colonel on the 17 th,
and after a lengthy interview, h« offered
to furreader hiinfclf to the civil authority
of the territory, and to fuffer his boats to
be fearphed. On the 18th, col. Bun, ac
companied by my aids, majors Shields ard
Poindexter, rode down to the place, and
was committed to the highest tribunal of
the civil authority, where he now remains
for trial,”
i ** Four gentlemen of unqaeftionable re-■
fpeftability, with a detachment of 30 men,
are now in the aft Os making the fearch.pf
the boats, and to-morrow 1 expeft their cr
' port." ;■
“ Thus fir, this mighty alarm, with all.'
its exaggerations, has eventuated in nine
boats and one hundred men, and the major
part of these are boys, ot young men just
from fchpol. Many of their depositions
have been taken before Judge Rodney, but
they bespeak ignorance of the views or de
signs of the colonel. I believe them really
ignorant and deluded. I believe that they
are the dupes of stratagem, if the aflevera.
tions of generals Eaton and Wilkinson, are
ro be accredited."
(By Authority.)
AN ACT
r sfj r *l> e f Wzllimm Hearn.
BE // mailed by the Senate and Hotfeof
||j Reprtfentatives es the United States
of America, in Congreft ajftmbled, That
the Secretary of the Trealiiry be, and he
is hereby authorifed to inquire, by himfelf,
or by fbnse trefty agent whom he may ap
point for the purpofc, into the pecuniary
circumftanccs of William Hearn, how in
prifoned, by virtue of a' writ of execution,
in favor sos the United States, in the prison
of Washington county, diftrtft of Columbia j
and if laid Hearn Khali assign and convey to
the Secretary aforefaid, all the estate of
every kind and defcrlption, which he may
own or be entitled to, in possession, re
mainder, or revtrfion, to the proper ufc
and benefit of the United States j or if be,
the said Hearn, (hall prove to the fatisfac.
tion of the Secretary, or agent aforefaid,
that he has ho estate, and has not transferred
all or any part of his property, with, intent
to avoid the payment of the sum for which
he is imprisoned, or to defraud the United
States'} then the Secretary of the Treafurjr
(Kail give to said Hearn, a certificate, da
ting what he has done in the premises: and
upon said Hearn producing such certificate
to the marKhal of the diftnd of Colombia,
he (hall difeharge said Hearn from his im.
prifonnsent: Provided* in case the certifi
cate (hall fpeaify, that the said Hearn has
fatisfied the Secretary, or agent aforefaid,
that he had no estate, and of coorfe has made
no afiignmeax, then the said Hearn (hall
cither pay, cr execute to the raarfhal, his
obligation, payable to the United States,
for ail fees and cxpencers, which have ari
sen m oonleqnence of his, said Hearn’s im
prisonment, before he be difeharged as af
orefaid : And Provided, that nothing in
this aft (hall be conftrucd, to difeharge any
other person from any liableness to the pay
ment of, or from any liableness to be im
prisoned by virtue of the execution aforefaid,
nor to rcleafe any estate, which the said
Hearn may hereafter acquire, from a liable
'■ nefs to fatisfy said execution. V ■
. ’ . NATHI., MACON, f
Speaker if the Hou/e of Representatives.
GEO: CLINTON,
of the Ufttteel StstcSf and
Prejident of the Senate.
Approved, iFebtuary to, 1807.
TH: JEFFERSON.
AN ACT
For the rehef of Seth Harding, tale 0
; C apt aid in the Navy of the United States'
T>E itenaaei by the Senate and Uorfe
JD *f Repre/entatives of the United States
of America, in Congnfs afftmkled. That
the Secretary of the Navy, r*, and hereby
W direfted to place upon tfie navy-lift of
invalid pensioners of the United States. (
&th Harding, late a captain in the navy of
the United States, who has been so difaWed
the line of his doty, while in service, ,
that Jic m unabK to furore himfelf by la.
bor; artdwho (hall be entitled 10 receive
one half his monthly j»y of* captain in the
" u :"y
'vi ’e. , ■■ ' ■ •»“If?'? » .¥i'J ' 1 v A'i' ~1
* ' . ;: V '. '
navy, to cprrtnerce from the firft
* January, one thoufsnd eight hundred amr
four agreeably to the previsions contained
In tile aft, entitled u An aft for the better ; ,
government of the navy of the United*
Stales." i
NATHI. MACON, \
Speaker of the Hou/e of Representatives,
GEO: CLINTON,
V'tee.f rtfident of the United States, and k
Prejident of the Senate • |
Approved, February 6, 1.807. I
TH ; JEFFERSON. I
CONGRESS " I [
HOUSE OF RET RES ENTATr/ES, ,
Saturday, February at.
4 The Hdufc refolvcd itfcUF into a commit- f
tec of the whole-*--Mr, "Penny in the chair, J
on the bull making an .appropriation lor them'
further proteftion of the ports and harbours
of the U, States, I ,
The ftrft feftien of the hill appropriates *
“ 20,000 dollars’' to tins object.
’ iThis fbm was (truck out.
Mr. Cooke then moved to fill the blank *
with 300,000 dollars. jl
This motion was advocated by Meffrv. I
Cock, Ely, Dana * and opposed by Mes- I
frs. Chandler, Holland, El*sr and FHk. 1
Mr. htnuton /poke in favor of making \
a liberal appropriation, without pledging §■
himfelf to vote for the sum prepofed./ »
, When the qutfUcn was taken, and the
motion difegreed to—Aye* 44 —-Noes 57,
A motion to fill the blank with £oo,coo 8
dollars was likewifc ncgatjvcd-*-Ayes 46. %'
Mr, Rfwton moved to fill the blank
with 150,000 dollars, which motion was
agreed’ so—Ayes 56--Nces yj.
Mr* Thomas then tfiTcrcd a new fcftion,
appropriating dollars to enable the
Prefidept to build gun boats.
This rcfoloticn was supported by Messrs..
Cocke, Alston, Strfilic end Gregg ; and
opposed by Messrs. D. R. Williams and I
Quincy j~*ard agreed to—Ayca 53 *
Noes 54.
The ftrjl blank Was then filled with I
** 150,000 dollars j” — Am the I
second with “ thirty I
Thc commlttee rose, and the Honfe ad
journed* without deciding on the report of * I
the committee. 4
SUPREME COURT ar m* UNITED
STATES.
Saturday, February ti. I
Chief Juftite Mar/iell delivered the |
> opinion of the court in the case ot Messrs, 1
’ Bollaairand Swartwout, I
The opinion was very long, and went,
to a conf’derable extent, into a definition
of thcccimcof trcaron. ' .
On fcveral points involved in the case
the court, confiding of foorjndges (Judge
LWifigiftOn having gpne home In confequencc > 1
of the illness of his daughter) were equally J
divided.
The opinion concluded with the order of *
1 the court to dlfcharge the prijouen ,
Latcft From Europe*
FROM FRENCH PAPERS TO THE , I
•loth January,
WARSAW, December 15.
His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon, isr I
expefted here to-morrow, or the day after.
All the divisions of the Grand Army have I
now reafdhcd the right bank of the Vistula,
and have crossed that rivsr jA $n»ll hosts, I
notwithdunding the quantity of floating ice ■
it was covered with. The audacity with*, i
which the French fojdiers brave every ob-i w
ftaclo, is what peculiarly characterize them.'*
Neither (now nor fortreffef, are capable
of stopping them. The Pole* who /cm, *
both ip the Ruffian army and in that pf the
K.ing of Paiffia, desert in-erdwds, and come
range tbentfelves under tha ftaudajds of
the confederation. The Emperor will soon
have upwards of 50,000 Poles in arms at
his difpdfal. An enthusiasm not easy to bet
imagined, prevails throughout all chffes I
of this people. It may already be fat’d, 1
that Poland has broken her chains. The
Pol ifli chat after is very agreeable to Freneh
men, la it a great refemblanq* to
their’ owr>: Befidcs, almost all tlie Pdes, i
who haye a little education, fpcak French, •
which gives several facilities for mutual re
lations and all the communications ofi f lh« •> *
army. ’ - ■'* c ' 7
Extra# from the forty. Fourth Bulletin of
the grand army.
December 21.
The Emperor ihfpefted yesterday iße
works of Traga. Eighufmc pafi- >
faded and fraifed, inclofe an extent of i rod
toifea; and three bafiioned incloferes; (too '
toifes in futface, .from the ground of an
intrenched camp.
Marshal Augereau has crossed iheViftala
■« UtwU.-G««r.l L»pifli *„ entered 1
PltitUb and fi„ driven the 'en/ay 'frn.n 1
thence. ; '
Mar Aval Soul t his creffcd -he Vifiula as j
Vizogatd. J
Marlbal Beffieres arrived on the r Bth at
Klkpl, with the second corps of the reserve 5 S
of cavalry. The. head is arrived « Siere*
Different skirmishes had tajtcn place between
I Mr and fbme Prussian. a good
number of whom have been takan. . Tho
right bank of the yiftula Is ehHrcly deated
of ■ • * v ™f» f T ‘ i
Marfltal Njy with his corps, fuppovt* i
Marftal He was arrived on
;» itUv *t Ryprn* .KlJia right is ■
ft