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•rKt tjrSTRUC^Pxs— |
m —. • . &[
Jlfr. Monroe, Secrethn of Stele, to tde M
l , ienif>/ J tensiarics t eftbt Untied Staid,
fbr .tre.tiTf)? of Peace witß Great Bi t
■tiii/iy dated * t
Dtpa taicpt of State, April Kth IXI4. ,
vkbcT'views may be taken of ‘the Tl 1 *
jtft, tt* Alev'the unJawii;ln foiand akfoirdi
'ty Brit iff claim. If liiftih cruis
er# have ft tigTit total* Britifli lean ten from
our vttteMis WiUiouv idurfo* j
-frrftparijle |r>ni tile pr*fti<:, *&&
” from tKiti, mi, tlic f imt priartpfo. an<J with
much gmafor 11 a fomevofy Tj>e< it* of prtJp
- erty U> wi#< h the liriuf>goveri);eht h-<sg
anv kind* us tkiim. Allegiance •ciTnn.'t
give to a lover igii a lie net right to take
Vts than qivhw.'Ft'pr to take.Jti#
property. Tber# Would i*? ft. •'V.
this ptetehtion ■ t.r its All
forfeited bvyXfXirUumi,contrary
>. m the laws of* Great-Britain. eyf ey Article
jo which fmc lbvca-iguty, ‘ulsdiftion or
owterlhia wnukltottend, in BriglJi ytfltls,
would .be ’liable to leisure in thole ot the
United ‘States. Ihe l*ws of Kngjimji
WwlJ Ire executory in them. liiftcad If.
£ it yff a part of t!ie American*, they woyU
become a part of the Britilh territory. _*
Jt might naturally be expefted tint Gi
Britain wopjd have given, by'kercoudyof,
fbnioTupport’to her pretcifttdps; that if
had; not ddcLhned altogether the principle
othattiralt?a:ion,llie would atleafl !uvi*cx
cludeu from her ftrvice foreign
lirr conduct however .has been altogether,
at variance xvitli her precepts. She lias
great facility to fltettiruliztyiuit in all
in (lance & wlwe it could advance her i/itet
elf, and peculiar encouragenient to that oF
foreign teamen. She naturalizes-by fp<*-
. Ciivi ad <jf Farlhtrurnt. She naturalises all
ptifons who refute a c< rtai.\tcir|i of years,
Us liritirti colonies, all tliofe who are born
fil Britifli fubj’ fts, in foreign dominions^
‘ m and all teunun tvho have forvrd a certain
3iort term in the Britifli fervire, ajic} would
oublVft protect all such as Britilh fub
1c fts, if requir'd by them fu to do. Hjr
Uovemors of provinces arc at
This time co/npvlJiug emigrant thither
from the U., States, to bear arffla ogiilitfi the
U. States. j, ; v ’> ■ ‘ ... ;■
1 In* mediation offered’ by ftufliai pre
. itnt. to Great-Bi itain, as well as to the
United State* a fair opportunity of accotn
■Dod it'mg to this cotitroverf) with honor.
The inierjmljutm of fo.difoinguiflied a pow
er, friendly to both parties, could uot be \
dci lined by either, on juftgrbund, especial- ■
ly hy Great-Britani, bt tween whom and ‘
R.ullts tliert^exiflg .at this time a very in- ‘
terelling relation. ’Whtifthtt Britifli min. 1
yiers aiv m ide acquainted at StT Peters- i
burg with the fonditipttl on which you are
aptborired toaidjufl this difference/ it ft mis :
as if it.woufd be iinpoffible tor G read Brit- .
aiiv to derline.tliem. Should’ (lie do it,
bill adhering-to her former pretentions, her
motive could not be’ inisupdt rilood. THe
cause of the United States “would thence
f irward become the common cauie of
. tions. A concylflnn by them
tat# to the disadvamigb of every other
power. They would all find m thff ‘con
dtnft .of Great-Britain an unequivocal dc
terniiwatiai? to defifoy til- rights of other
flags, and to uiiup dominion, •
•of tlic Ocean. It is to be. p:> iiiimd that *
the Bridlh govern inert will find it fteitbrr’
■for tin- h.mor Or inutjft of Cm. i
*v> pull 1 things .to that extarcinity* but will 1
have accepted ( this lnedutionj r.ml have*
fcot a miniiler or minifl-rs to-St. Peters
burg witli full powers tpadjult the cOr.tro- ,
%diy on fuir and just condition*. ‘
Shoukl iinprojier imur- flions have been
*Vkun of tin-•probable coidequc#ce of the
%V, you wili have amp!- means to. re move
them. Ir is certaii; that iron its protw u
tion Great-Br H.u can promise to h<Mi;if
ho fid vantage, wjiilejlie exposes IxiTclf to ’
great txpeofes, a-. 4 to thr danger of still
grea cr loißi. The.pyflfc of tlic- United *
Stafts, aciTiftontert to the indulgence of a
long peace, roused by the caufetf and pro.
gtvfs of the war, are rapidly acquiirng mi
litary habits and becoming ajniliury pro
p.e. Om knowledge in naval tactits has •
iurreafed, as hat our maritime llrcngth.— i
‘lJw gallantry audluccefs of our little navy
bast; fortiad an epoch in naval hifloi y.—
The laurels wlijfh tb fe brave tQcn have [
gaiiu-d, hot for tliemfclvc* alone, but for
their country from air enemy pre-eminent }
In naval exploits, fergges pail, are among :
the proudefl boasts oftlieirgrateful and af- ,
fecTionatc Out manufac
ture* have t kert an iiflonifliing growth.
In fliort, in every, lircuniftance, i” Which
-the war is felt, -its pnflfnrf tends evident
ly to tfhite otir people, todraw out our re.
fobrees, t® invigorate - our means, and to j
make “Us more <ruly and iiaHTpendi nt na
tion, atid, as tar as may be a
jjreat maritime power. j
It the Britifli government acerpt-, ilie
medhitum of Ruflia, u r ith 1 fiuceie dtfirr j
to reflow a grw and intelligence he!ween the !
two or.anti ies, it may bejvefumed that a |
f-ir opportunity will be afforded for th*
• rngewent hf many other inqiortant inter- ’
efls, with advantage to, both parties. Ti e •
adjuflr* the concernrfy relating to
iufipi 1 it only, though vy important,
IwitiM leave much unftvflu and. Almc’l ev
-1 erv neutral light fias'.txen violiud, and !
H its violation p< i fifiuiiu t tlk-moment that
k war wa* dedal*.!. Ti* I'r.tidein sincere--
1 ly dejires, anl. i: k doubtU Gi for the inter* j
Bdt or tire it Britain, to pwrvcut th lil-*: In |
■ future. ‘I lie interjiofnic- ,<>t \),t {,mp;or •
I tA Iliifl.a to |trom> ie an acconimodatioi),
I diC.ret.ccs ik> ci til ularf j j
■auspieijius. ‘
Hr..nr> la p. - is, then fore,enter'ained,
f%Ajlpowt. swill i|. t ’hitsfti
* r| theft g"jiiiai# j
In n v. f i’X ftbtj manner.—
* In emriing oifthis intcretting fbrt cfjdSr
i iuly, tie fuflobjefit -which,vnTiclidm'yv.nr
•’ftientioiids, fl) t ■• ..locbmle. Tim viola- ‘
f otif-ntuu t.rights';by llleguf Mncb
tt/uJftf-s*’ricd'to an enorntoifeextent bvJpjW ■
ders in Go if.dl, was a x-f>rrnc ipfa! t*jlr of ’
the War. ‘lliese orders, liawevsr, and
with tiiem tlic blockade of Mav. 1806,
t and, aa.isimderflood, all otheritl(gal blot.*-#?
■*dea, ha'veh.Vn re;xaU-d t fo th.it. tlnrraufe
.of war !•-, luen removed. All new ’
expected is,* 1 that tf’e Britifii government
will unite in a rrotjp tmTfe cl< fiintiop of
bhuT; idq, and iW'tb'n no • ‘Ti'.nity is anti
s f for no hlotk
-ade woiikl be legal. vChich was not ftip
portrd by an adi qna-te force, and ;P*r the
hlockadts whir h it ■* tlTthte fliould “
fbe by an te i .1, tliere*■*
appeartrfhr, accouluMtln.tbe jni ‘ragerpte- ,
t*tii<si of^|i rft ferins, uo difference F op’rn
itriya the Ihhjeff. v
. *Tiic Jiiiiilh government lias rcrentlv, in
two lirmal ads, givendrfinitionsofblock'-
ade, either of which w-oidd befatisfiflory*
file frfl i. to he 6-r ri in 1 communication
from Mr." Merry to tills nepgrtrrientbcat’rig
slate <>n the 12th of April, 1814. ‘1 Tie fol
lowing are the r.ces a’mndiug it.
Coilfnjodbrr Hoed, the comnjaudr rof a
Kutifhlqoadtoomtlip WcfUlndiesip
havitig rlcr.Ured the isl unlsof Martiniqisf
an'l'Gind.ilmtpc in a flare of blockade, 1
wiijiont flying an adequate fmee to
iiiiiintr.iri it, tlw Secretary of Sta’.e remon
firated againfl the illegitlitv nftoe piralure,
•jwhich vrmonfl'atice svas laid, btfore the
I.oids Conuniffjonm of the Admiralty in
ftngland, ,wl.o replied, “that they had
* sent ,orders'not to cofiifuler 3113-Vilo-knde
of those • iQantV as gifting unless in re
, fpeci\ tff paruci.iluf ports, w!i h ac- I
tually be, inveftid, and then not foeapune
ve.fTei* hoi Iml to Inch ports, uidefs they
flialt previqtifly lxivc been warned not to
enter Uwin.” he fechnd definition i# to
, he Gourd in a conwntiflP between fli# at-
Britvin and Baffin in June, 1801, 4t.rfec.
nd art. which d< clans.’“ that in order to
, dctcrtninc whi#t cliarAiVrifes a blockaded
’ port, that denommation is yivi-u onlv to a,
port where there is by the dwpofition nfv{| ie
power which attacks it, with ship flationa
.rv or> fufficientlv near, an. evident and; uger
in entering.” ‘i’lie Prelident Js wiff'uip for
J ou to.adopt either cifthcij definitions,' : Hit
pilfers the firfl as more pixcife’atjd tk-ttr-.
niinate;'and when it ie confidtred tliat it
was made the criterion by so formal an
aft between tlte‘two governments, it can
not be prcfnmtd that the Biitifli goyern
nient will objtft to the reneWai of it,—
’ Nothing is more nuMiral after the diflereu
: ces which have taken place betm??u the
; two countries, on this and other fuhjrfts,
! and the departure from criterion by
’ Orcat- for which are ady
! tritted by Ixr no t!wn that
| they Arnold on the refloration of a good .
tmderllanding recur to it again. ‘ Such a
, recurrr fiee would be the more fiUtsfaftory
to the UrtfiJent, as it would aflord a proof
ot a di spoil tion in the Britifli government,
not Amply, tti compromise a but
to re-eftaWifli sincere fiicndfliip between
t|ie two nations. ,s- ‘
. An interference with our,Commerce be
enemy’s colonrts and tiieir parent
ccuntry was among the viol f ions of our
neutral rights, conurnttcd by G oat-Britain
in her pri sent war witt. frariie. It took
•place in iSoj.dkl injury aud-
imtverf.d excitement. In fecur
irg us againfl a repetition of V, you will
■ attend to an,article of the convention be
-1 tween Rnfiia and Great-Britain entered in
* to on.the day tßoi, t® the nth
article 61 the prej-ft of treaty with Oreat
, Britain that was signed by Mr. Monroe
t *od Mr. Pinckney on the gift Dec. end el-, “i
1806, and to, the ‘r.flruftionp .from this de
. partmnit mkiting to that article of aaih
.of May, j Say. The capture by Great- j
-Britain nf dinoftrll the.i(linds oflvrcne- t
niies, diuuiiifliis tin-imjVrtsince of apy reg- !■
1 uhtion of this lubjcft; but as they may -
. be rtllored hy a treaty of pcaer, it merits
, particular- attention. It being ]
however, that imlefs fucli a pade c!in be j’
obtained in a proper. extent, aid withouj a I
relintjuilhmenr of the piiiuipb; contended
for hy the United States,’4t \viT! lie btfl®
! that t he treaty be blent on the ftihjcft,
i A disposition has teen fliewn by the i
Britifli govt rnnwin to txtend'this princi- ,i
. pie fd far as to inhibit a trade to neutfkls
; even between a power at peace with Great.
( Britain* and her enemy,as for examptc he
t tween China, an<J,.l ; rance. Tin- nbiurdiry
; oftliis pretention may prevent its bCmg
, I t cteaher advanced. It will not, however,
be unworthy of your attention.
By an ordt> of the Britifli government
in 1803, Biitifli criiizAs were authorized
to take neutral veil Uhden ,vitb initpcent
articles, on thtlV retnrh frunj an enemy}#
| port, on tiie prepuce t!;at they had carri
ed to t contrshaßd of war. This
t otder-is directly repvgnantjto tli© law of „
j nations, as the tirciU..flaV,ce*Pf having coq- 1
t ra,bandar tic lesr, beard bound to an enc- i
J myjs port, is the only legi.l ground of
i frizerc. 1 he-uaim was .•elinquiflied by
1 the Britifli goyeinmeiit in the 9th article .
j ot tie prt.j ft above recited, yui will en
j dcavor in like piauioer to provide against
■ >t* Bis the pr.iftice -ol Britilh cmizers |
Vd compel ti c commanders of neutral yes- 1
feels which they meet w ifa, ei-ber to i
bt'ard them, in with their papers, or
’ to feud their pape v on hoard in their boats
by an officer. , iUe injufhee and irregc- j
larity of this procedure need not he men- t
| turned- icu to fupjwfcts.it
, in t! manner prrqwftd third arti- j
I cle.rf a projeft ccnmnuuczu-tl to Mr. ;
f Monroe at London,, in his inllrtltVions of
j the cih Januaryj Yc u will tndca- /
J tor lilewii- to n-flrift cciurabaiid*of war. ‘
•1 nu.h as in )our power, to’ tfie
, t<t lit and in tlie ath wtide of that projeft. j
| ilui prcun,.ou of Great-Biituiu us in- j
* tenllft M e oMvtrral yeffcU with j
irtargof, flomone port toanotl^rport |
of an ru •;v, is illegal and very injurious |
Ito the co.rune Ire of neutral jiowers. Still
more unjoftifub’e is the attempt to iutcr
. dist their’ piflage froftj 2 port of one itule
pencknt natibn to that of another,- oij the
pretence,that tlu-y arc both en#n i,m,—
You will ehdeavor to ohtaii*. in Both in
* flaiicr s, a feciuitv for tlai neiitral riglit.
UpoiT*lhe whole fubjeft I, have'to o!>-
* fervp, that voivt firll duty tvili ‘ie to con
clude a peace with and rhit
’ ynn are ainhori/pd’ to do it, in case vrtt >b-}
. tain a fatisf-ftorv fl'pnlation againfl im
pressment, one which fl.all fi cure, under
our. A*gi prOteftimi to the crew. The
manlier in which it may lie done has been
” already Hated, with the recijirocal ftipula
* t?2Jis which you maV er, >er iuU> to secure
, the. iicjury nf;tybicli
tee complains*, li*. tiii? encroachment of
Great Brkal® Is not piovideil againfl, the
United States have appealed to arms in
vain. , If’your efforts to ac-eompiifii it,
fliould fail, all fmther ncgociatious will
ctafe, ad you wiif rehirn home witliout
di lay.- It is pofTirrte that fome difliculty
may oi ctir in arranging this article-refpeft
ing its duTatioh. ‘ To obviate this the Pre
frdent is willing that if be fluted to the
p’tfent war in Euroj#/ Refling as the
United State# do, on the folicl ground of j
1 right, it is not pfefurrvjle tlutt.Great-Brit#
ain, especially a%r%he advantage flip may, I
duive from’ airangefoent pr'epofed, “
Would ever revive her pretention. In for- ]
thing anv ilipulation on this fubjeft, vou
w ill hr- t.auft:l r.ot to impair by it the right *•
of the Unhid .States,, or.to fanftion tiiet !
of t!)p Britifli claim. *j
It is deemed highlviinporfant, also, toob- ;
tain a <dc finlpjfjti of-the neutral right which 1
1 have to your vieiv, especially Crf ‘i
blockade, an,tin the m-tuber ftiggeflt’d,but
it is not to b? made an indispensable con
dition of ptmie. After the repeal of the
orders it, cnufoll, aufl other illegal block
ades, and the explanations it, it
is. uot pi efuifoble that Great-Bt itain will
revive them. Shoo'd she do it,-the Unit.
ei States will always Iravpa corresponding
resort jn their own hands* Yon will ob- 1
((,-rve in everj case, in which you may not j
be ..hie .to obtain .a. definition 1
‘of the neutral riglit, that yofi enter into
hone refpeftiV it.
I'lclenmity for loflcsp seems to be a fair
rl jim on the iart of the United States,
:md the Bridnj government, -if dtliious to !
flrengtben the relations ol friendlhip, may
be willing to |ip;- e it. In bringing the
claim into you will not let it defeat
the primary liijcftf intrufted to you.-
Jt is ®ot perci-ijed on wh.it ground Great-
Bi itain can rifif this claitp, at leaf! in*t!ie j
cases in favor o(whicb flic stands nletlgtd.
Os these u note yill Ije adfb and..
You are at liberty stipulate in the
proposed treaty tfte fame advantages in ii>e
ports of the United States, in !W'or Af Rrit
iflf (hips of war, that tnav be rflowed to
tln ie off’ e nmfl favored nations. I?.*
flipulation mnit be reciprocal.
Mo difficulty can arise from the case 1
of the nonimportation acb, wKieii will
uoubtlel’s be terminated in conftqnence’ofi -
a pacification. Should any flipulation to (
that effift he “required, or found advanta
geoifs, yoy are liixrty to enter into it.
Should pt-we be made, you may, iu fixing
the periods af which it fliali take in *
: different latitudes and dhtenres, take for
the bases the provision, 1 .utides of the
treaty of p ace with Great-Biitmr m 2782,
with filth alterations as may appear to lie
Just and re jjfonablr.
In distdiarging the dut es of tnift.
committed to you, the Prefix rrt fjvfm*
that you will mapifofl the high ftl cltcn-e
ofn fpeft for the Empenff jjf Buili , ami
confidence in tbe integrity and importiali- (
ty of his vit Ws. Jn anangejng the qii-.- ,
tion of iimyefiinent and qutflion ol
lieutritl right, you wilt explain to his gov- j
rnment, without n forve, the claims of'rhe ;
United States, with the grounds on *vhicl\
they fevcrally •< !\. It .is'not doubted
that from a copcjuft so frank iu;d honor*,
ble the mqft beneficial i ifc-ft will rtfult.
I rtu\ll conrhide by .remarking that a
ft rung boy is entertained that this friend
ly mediation of the Emptrar Alexander
will form an epoch in the relations between 1
the United Slates anu Ruffin, which will
be ex ten lively foit. and be long and emi- 1
neialy diftingidiked by the .happy, confe- 1
quences attending if. Since 1780, llus
sia has been the pivot on which all ques
tions - f_neutral rig’ t haveefretitial limned.
Most of the wars which have diflurbi and the
jvorld in modern times, have originated I
with Great-Britain and Frauce. Thfcse I
wars hate afit fted distant Countries, espc- j
yially in their neutrals, ond,j
very-materially the United- State*, who 1
took no- part in promoting tliem, and had !
no'• tertft in the great objects of
Power. * .
’ ‘
ExtraSl cf j letter frant the Secfctr.ry ;
cf State Cotr.v.'ffi oners of the .
Us States, for treating of.peace <a nib ‘
Great Brit jin, dated , ‘
IVpartnTvnt of Sta'c, June 43. 1R14..
u An opportunity offering, I avail my.
fclf-of it to explain mqre folly the Views ;
of the Pie fa!, m'on certain fnbjcftsMica- ;
dy treaudmn in your irlltuftyms, and to |
cojnriuWcate his leutfmcOts on ionie cth- I
ers, not adi e> tid to in fhetp.
j “ The Britilh government having re
t pealed the cifdtrs and tliebfodc
ade ot May, 1&06, and Hit oilier illegal
| bfochiuta, and having declared that it
, would inftHire no blockade wltichvjhonld
not be fupjiotted by an adtquate fence, it
‘was tl’oegl.t better to leave that qiitllion 1
J CD that ground than *.O continue .tit; war |
■ to obtain a more ptecile dtfii'ition of hlotk- j
ade. aft-r tlie otlvr t |T, niiid cause of,tlic 1
| w*/, tiut ol impilfuu.i;t, iljtulii be rm*v- 1
lr *’
j c<r. But wbpff it is ecnflden-d v’oat Z flip#
1 elated defir.itiqn oCblockade will cost G.
{ Britainteforhing'after having thus recogni
zed the principle, and tlrat Fuch definition
is calculated to give aJtiiuhnal confidence,
in the future f laity of our commerce, it
is expe-fted th?t she will agree to iu It
is true, this cxufe of- war being removed,
the United States are-under no oWigatioo
to fonrinUe it, for the want of such fliplf*
lated dfcfiiiiiioi*. especially as they
retain in tiieir uds the#refoedy againfl
any new .violation of their
. er made. The fahv; remark is applicable
to the case cf nr.pr; Ifo'cnt, for if'the Bii
tifli government hadiffued oit'rtrs to its
cruisers not to impr*es teamen from cur
vdfels, arid i.mrfit'3 the fame to this gev
einrne/x, that came of war would also have
4ie£n removed. In making peace It is
better fm* both nations, that the contro
versy refoefting the bicckr.de, fhauld he
.arranged by treaty, as well as that by Pit*
pJbeflYncnt. The omiflion to arrange it j
may he p oduftive ot inhziy. Without a
precise definition of Irlocka#, improper
pretenfiors might beset up on each fide,
relpeft ing their which might poflibty
hazard* the future undciitanding be
tween the Wo couiityirt. ,
“Should a reflitution of territory be a--
greed on., it will b? projierfor you tfl make ;
i a provision for fettling the boundary be- i
tween the United Statir? and.Great Britain 1
! on thp St. Lawrence'and the lakes, from
Kthepoint at which tlie line between them j.
■ (frikes the St. Lawj-cnee, to tlic nortliweft* i
ern corner of the L.-ike of the Woods, ac- Ji
+ cording ro the principles-of the freatv of ‘
J pt-ace. The settlement of this boundary
jis import from the circun,dance that
j there fee leveral'‘{lands in the river and
’ lakes, ot fome extent and great tlie’
•1 dominion over which is claimed by both
parties.. It may be an advisable courre
to*ppoint t;ohtiniflioners oneadi fide, with
full powers to adjufl, on fair atid equitable
conflderations, this boundary. To enablS
you to adopt a foitahle proviflon for the (
purpose, it will be properfor you to recur*
to the inftruftiotis heretofore given on they
fubjeft, publifhedin the docuiffents in your
; iwffctfion.’* , t
f . * , , j
! Mr. Monroe, Secretary of St at* to the
Bleftipoiemlarief cf fbe XL States at
Si. Betaking, . j
Dcpartfnrnt of Starr Jin. jst, 1814. .■ !
Gentl*- I hailrf not received a’
i letter from you fmce your appointment
to meet nfmiflers from Great Britain,,
at St. Pete'fliurg, to negotiate a trea- j
ty of peace, under the mediation of the*
Emperor of Russia. This is ckuibtless
owing to. the of your des
patches. . / - ,
. The mtffage of the President, of which I
• lrr.ve the honor tj> transmit you a copy,
will make you acquainted with the progTefs
of the war with Great Britain, to that peri
od, and the other docuuH’f s which are
-forwarded, will Cbpmnmncate. what has
i fime occurred. *
I Among the advantages attending our
fucccss in Up|ier Canada, was the impor
tant one of-making capture of General
Troftoi’s haggage, with all tl; public .
1 documents to the Britifli gov- !
ernment in hij pofiV'lfion. It is probable j
that these documents will lie laid before
, Gongrefs, as they are of a nature highly
imei.r fling to the public.. You will no
deifland their true character bv extrafts
of tw r letters from Governor Cass, which
are meiofed to you# By these it ‘ap
pr nrs that die Britifli. go\trnment has ex,
wrcifeii its influence over the Indian tribes
within our limits, as well as elsewhere, in
peace, for hoftileptirpoftS fowards the Uni- J
ted St tvs; and tiiat the Indiag ‘barbari
ti s, fmce the war, were, In many iuflam •
res. known to, and fauftioned bv the Bri-'j
till 1 government. ’ • 1 ~ j
J have the lienor to be, 8?c. ?•’<:. &r. - I
(Signed) - JAIMES MONROE. ;
Mr. .Monroe, Seeretary'f State, to the
Plenipotentiaries cf tit U. States, at .
Si. Pdcrjburg,
Dep -rtm nt Jan. 8 th, r8 14. j
GsNTLi,ME,t—I have, the honor to;
Transnit t-iypu a copv of a letter from j
I/ord'%, Hfreggh to this department, and ‘
cf a note Ijjnn Lord Cathcart to the Rus- 1
siad government, with try reply to the’
communication. j
The arrrargemettt of a negociaticn to be !
litW at Gotten burg, dircftly between the 1
United States aiui Oteat Britain, without.
, aid of the Ri (R .n tnediattcji, tr.ikes- it
ticceffafy jtl.at new cotundifions lliculd be
issued correfpotident with it, and for teis i
purpofe'that anew iicifiiinatioti; fliould be !
’ made., to the Senate. ‘The I’ltfident in- i
[ ftrt'fts me to inform you, that you’ will j
hotly be ir eluded in it, 2nd dirt he viflies ‘
you to rcjiair, irnnu dintely on ti c uceipt ■
of-*this, to the.flpuoifittd rendezvous. It is
probable the may rot b# liiniud*
to youifelvcs on account oftlie grtat.huei -
i efts involved in the tefolt. The commis
‘• sions ard it Qraftions wil* be duly for
warded to you, a# soon as airauge*ntius
•flial! be finally made.
In taking'leave of the Ri lfian
U'em, you will be careful .to n akt- ktx-wn
! to it theft nGfiility of thfe Prelkient to the
* friehdlv aifpofition cf the Ln'peior,’ mriii
| foiled ty the offerof liis mediation ; the
tegtet felt at its bv the Britifli
government; and a difire that, in future,,
the greattft confidence and cordiality, wid
the kefc uiidcrflamMug may prevail betwetn
the two govtrmncr.tst * * ,
, 1 have tlie honor to be, &c. &c. Bc
(Signed) JAMES MONROE.
| Jlfr. Monroe, Secretary of State, to it*
J ‘aim eric cm ftevlpo tent tar its at Got’
j tenburg,’ /
r * 1814.
t?SNTr.F\rex-—The Be itifh
having declined the Rulfian incuiaiis|
pro]ioseJ to treat direftlv with
red States, ‘l*rtlidetit has, on
Tuleratic,-f^liereof 41 hot #rht projx rto
cept the overture. To give ft to tyl
arrangement, was necessary that a oewH
c- *'m'tfion fliould be formed, and for tK&M
purixise that a nomination fLup!d v
made to the Senate, by whose advice and.
confont this important is committed
tO YOU.
You will confider the tnftrnfticns givers
to tiie commifflon to treat undtr the mend- 1
rflioq of Russia, as applicable to the riegji
emtion with wi ich you lire now ciiaigj,
except as they may tie mollified b ? this letter.
’ 1 iii.ill. call your attention tit tht; nvoft
important grounds oft he cotitroverlV t/ith
On only, and make foch remarks
on eji.'i,'iLd on the whol.i fobjeft,
oc.cin ret! mice the date of the former Aqv
. ilruftioitg, and aie deemed t applicable ‘to
j the prefont jufiftbre, taking into view the,
in wliich you are about to
g ; 'g e * * ‘ -s
On tniprtyffihent, as to tlie right of the
United States to be exempted’ from it, I
have nothing newt&add.’ .Thefontuneijts
ot the prefix rt having undergone no
• change oti.tSat important fubjeft', Thi*
degrading praftice,. mpft our flag *
must protect the crew, or ike United States^
’ cannot confider then delves an independent
nation. To fcttla tliis difference jauiica**
• bly, tHe.prefident is willing, r.s you. - are
already informed by t!?e former infli'uo
, tions, to I'eirffive all pretexts .for it, to the
•Britifli government, by excluding aX Brvf
thfli foamen from our velft js, and even to ,
extend the txdufion to.fiil Britilh fubjeft %
*!f necessary, excepting only the few wire a- if,
dy naturalized, and to stipulate
the surrender of all Briiifh foamen defert*.:
ingin our ports in future focm Britilh ves*-
syls, public or private. It vv*s. preformed
‘by all dispaftionute persons, that the late
law of Ctuigress relative to fosmeh
1 vvitbld eff ftually-accomplilh the objeft*
! But Vw president is willing, as you fiixlj
to prevent a polTibilitv of failure, to go
further. 4
j Should a treaty R) made, it ii proper*
j and would have a corciliauiiy effeft, that
■ allonr imprefled feame.n who may he dis*
charged under it, fliould, be paid for
■ their forvices by the Britifli govern*
merit, for. the time of their detention,
the wages which they might have ob* -
tained in the merchant fort ice of their own
country. ‘
Blockade is the fubjeft. next. in {mint
of importance, which you will have to ari
range. In the ir.ftruftions bearing date
on the 15 th,of April, 1813, it-was rtm ;lc
ed, that as the Britifli government h id re
voked its orders in council, and agreed
that no blockiide could be legal whicl#
was not funperted by an adequate force*
and that such adequate force fliould h apii’
plied to any blockade which it might here*
alter uifiimte, this cause of controvtirty
focined to be removed. Further’ reflec
tion, has adiled great force to the
Expediency and importance-of a precise de-.
finitii.n of the public, law oh this fubjeft* *
There is much cause to presume, that it
the repeal of #iie orders in council bad ta
ken place in time to have been known
here before tlie declaration of war,, and
had had the efleftof preventing the decla
ration, net only that no ptpviijon would
have been obtained against itnprefiVnent bpt
that unefot; the name of blockade tlie fatrio
extent of cos ft woulfKliave been covered by
.proclamation as bad been ccverdfl by the *
orders in council. The-war, which these *
abnfos 1 and imprefTment contributed so
, much to produce, might possibly prevent
diat confo quern*. But a woulAiie more
fatWfaftory, if not more fafc, to guarta|*
gainft it by a formal definitien in the trMd
ty. It is true, fliould the Britifli govern*
j ntent violate again tlie legitimate prfiiciv
pies of blockade, in whatever terms, br lire.
, dcr whatever prt UXt it mig!t be done, the.
| United States would liave in their hards a
cc*respondent resort ; n mt a principal obr
. jest in'makaig peace is to put vent, by t’te
juflite and reciprocity of the conditions, a
recurrence ag in to for- the fame .
j wifties to make a durable peace -with
! the United States it can have no* region
-1 able oljeftion to a just definition; of block*
, ade,‘ especially as the two government#’
j have agreed in their correspondence, in alt
j its effecttia.l ‘features. The inflnftioris of
j the of April, 1813, have stated in
what mannerthe prefidciit i?willing to ar
range this difference,
Un the otlitr neutral rights, ermmeratej’
in tire former inftriiftiofis, I findl remark,
j ohiy, that tlie catalogue isl* liffirted in Ji
!-m:uiner to e\tnce a lpirit of accommoda-
J tion; tliat the arrangement pra'posed in
I each inftanct is just m itself; that it co?-
| rtfpctxls* with the general fpirlt oftreatie®
i betjvien commercial powers, 3) * .(fiat G*
. Brita in Has fosiiftiotied it in many titties,
and beyond it in fonseL *
Or. the claim to mdtmj iiy for tyo;ia.
tions, 1 f*ave,only to refer ycrif to'.vhal
was.faid “rtf the fonner infirtiftiens. i
have to add,* that ftv uld a treaty be ferm
ed it is just in foelfoVarid would have a
happy effi ft .011 ti e future relations cf she
two’ countries, jf ind-mnify ftv uld be flip
ulated cn each Tide, for the d*'flru ft ion of
all unfortified towns, aixl private;
property; contrary to and nfoges
of war. -It is eo 4 uall\ that the ne
groes taken from the foodierr.
be returned to thtir owners, or paid for. at
their fnfi ‘valm. It is known that ti
fliauieful‘trVfficTaj littr. carried on in tl e
\Ytft Indies, by ut fate cjf tHetc ptrfos s
there, by tkoie who piffttflid to be thtT
• dtUvtreis, Us this li ft, the
Jas reached this department ft all be fuv
-nifhed y,,u. If tbefe Haves are coufodc ltd
• r.sj oii-ti.ftjbatai ts.they ought to be.icftof. .
edj if #3 property tbey andj 0