Newspaper Page Text
’ StourjHarul o! nr, as
tnucb *a% in your power, to- the list
contained in the 4th article of that
project.
The pictcnsfor. of Great Britain
so interdict the* passage of neutral
vessels With Cheirxargocs lrorq one
n'c.rt to anolhafr port of an enemy, ia
nfin ions to the com
ipowers. Still more
ie attempt tor inter
ne from, the port of
nation to that of an
etence that they are
foil will endehvor to
obtain, in both inlands asecurity for
the petit fat % b*;ht.
Upon the whole’ subject your first
object wiy t;e a peace
will. C ire at are
(ri (t t m* o ' l °^’
Tnc-r »
the crew. ‘which it
may be dorre has be#!iV already, sta
ged, with the reciprocal stipulations
which yon may epitr into to secure.
G.. Britain the injury which
she complain*. In tins encroach
ment of Great Britain.is notprovded
o gainst, the U. States have appealed
t& arms iuvuin. If v4(tor efforts toec
<smnpfish it slrcuid fail, all futther*
lit will cesse, and you will
return home without delay. It is
possible that some difficulty may
beeur in arranging this article res
pecting it» duration. -To obviate
this the Fresident is willing that it
be limited to tiie present war in Eu
rope./ ‘Resting, as the United States
do, on the ground of right,. it
is not pi t fii triable that Great,Britain*
especially after the advantage she
may derive frdm the arrangement
proposed, would ever revive her
pretension. In forming any stipula
tion on this subject, you will he care
iwl not to impair by it the right of
the United States, or to sanction the
principle of the British claim’.
It ia deemed highly important al
so, to obtain a definition of the neu
tral rights which I have brought to
Your view, especially of blockade,
find in the planner suggested, but it
is rot to he made an indispensable
condition of peace. After the repeal
ol the orders in .council, and other
‘iiiegal blockades, and the explana
lirpS v.*; ending ic, it is not presuma-
H<* that Great Britain will revive
.*>; ;t‘;d ; do it, u. r 1 piled*-
v: ■ will always have a convipon
<. •• ‘ pi. in tlu ir own hands. Yon
i*i).serv ein ev.f.ry case, -ir. which
, . / nm he able to obtain a sat-,
- • . , definition of the neutral
v ••••?. :ii• * you en. r into none res
,-••• ‘- ;, g lu
I gdvttioityfor losses seems to be
a for claim on the part of the Uni
t. . * utcs. and the British govern-’
nit pt, if et; sirous to strengthen the
r lions of friendship, may be wil
k> ,l to make it. In bringing the
vh >:u into view, you will not let it
the primary objects entrusted
i you. It is not perceived o:r What
pi-pund Cireut .Britain can resist this
etiiro. at ki the cases in favor
of which she stands pledged. Os
these a note .Will be added,
‘Yon afe at liberty to stipulate m
the proposed tyenty, the same advan
tages in the ports of the United
vitale::, in favor of British ships of
wav: that may be allowed to tlipsc of
the mold favored natrons. Tli|s. sti--
p* ; :> ii must {',o reciprocal.
Nr> it l Hit: tlliy can arise from the
case of the nonimportation act, which
w ;M doubtless be terminated lYi con
v.equcnr, of a pacification/ Should
c.ny / .pji.hton to that effect. be re
fill:'. v , or : und advantageous, you
are at liberty to enter into it. Should
peaeir he'm.le, you m y, in fixing
»he period:, at which it shall take
n\ cu in different latitudes and elk
p net s, take, for fire basis, the prq
v v>oal articles of the treaty of peace
v , *’ Great Britain, in 173 with
r-. o Iterations os may appear tube
“'vutd and reasonable.
. charging the duties of the
Ltrc.*. coivniitiVd to you, the presi
ires that you wilt manifest
k tic G degree of respect for the
of Russia, and confidence in
* ~ / and impartiality of his
\ igingf lie question cf
ft* , anl every question of
Y- md rfigat, you will explain to his
\fithouc reserve, the
and ci s kg .United States with the
Y r v- oii . fi they severally rest.
.ig'js'T.dt Yik't and that froth a con
mjl and honorable, thfc
r ffect will result.
i 1 cckokide i>y remarking,
<v. CM’ stVSrg ‘pe sontevtumtd that
th e irk (Odd y vned: it ton of the empv
»- ;• \,V . ;mrh r. w:it form an epoch
fill „ fins helNvcen the United
sYtcn and iHissia, which will he cx,-
:,rrfiyyly kft, and he long and emt
gent'v oi dis lie cl by the happy
‘r.*r.d:ns it. Since
Yf aY* “atfia bars’ been pivbt on
qu•< .'s tis neutral right
ily tui ned. i
, Ykc ’ucb -hi ‘ e Yikith'bed the world
, - * . hjtye
* • .-vl, r. J* * ■
with C. Britain and France. These
wars have affected distant doitnfriss,
especially in their character as neu
trals, and very materially the United
who took no part ]h promot
ing them, and had no interest in the
great objects qj either power.
I have the honor to b?> See. See.
fSjgned] James Monroe.
Extract of a letter from the Secretary
of State to the Commmissioners of
toe United States for treating of
Peace yjtlh Great Britain, dated
‘* Department of State, June 23, 1313.
“ An opportnryty offering, I ayail
myself ot it to explain more fully
the views of the President on certain
subjects already treated on in your
instructions,; and
Ifls sentimeffts on some others, not
adverted to in them.
The British government having
repealed the orders in council and
the blockade of May, 1806, and all
other illeghl blockades, and having
declared that it would institute no
biockade which should not be sup*
ported by an adequate force, it*was
thought belter to leave that question
on that ground, than to continue the
war to, obtain a more “precise defini
tion of blockade, after the other es
sential cause of the war, that of im
pressment, should be removed. ( But
when it is considered that, a stipula
ted definition of blockade Will cost
Great Britain .nothing after having
thus recognized the principle, and
that such definition is calculated to
give additional confidence, in the fu
ture security of our commerce, it is
expected that she will agree to it.*—
It is true, this cause, of war being
moved, tne United States are under
no obligations to continue it, for the
want of such stipulated definition,
more especially as they retain in
their hands the remedy against any
new violation of their rights, when
ever made.. The same remark is
applicable to -Hug case of . impress
ment, for if the British government
had issued orders to its cruisers not
to impress seamen from our vessels,
‘and notified the same to this govern
ment that cause cf war woukl also
have been removed. In ‘making
peace it is better for botlTnations,
that the controversy respecting the
blockade, should be arranged by
treaty, as well as that respecting
impressment. < The omission to ar
range it ntaybe productive of injury.
Without a precise definition of bloc
kade, improper pretensions might be
set up on each side, respecting their
rights, which might possibly hazard
the future good understanding be
tween the two countries.
« Should a restitution of territory
be agreed on, it will be proper for
you to make a provision for settling
the boundary between the United
States and Great Britain on the St.
Lawrence and the lakes, from the,
point at which the line between them
strikes the St. Lawrence, to the
northwestern corner of the lake of
the Woods, according to the princi
ples of the treaty of peace* Tfie
settlement of this boundary is im
portant, “from the circumstance that
there are several islands in the ri
ver and lakes, of some extent and
great value, the dominion over which
is claimed by both parties. / It may
be an a'dviseable course to appoint,
commissioners on each side, with
full adjust, on fair and e
quitable, considerations, this bounda
ry. To enable you to adopt a suita
ble provision for the purpose,, it will
lie proper for you to recur tuthe in
structions heretofore given on the
subject, published in the douments _
in your possession* V
Mr. Monroe , secretary of state, to the
plenipotentiaries of the United States
5 at St Petersburg.
Department of state, Jan. 1, 1814. y
C'SIiTLEMKN,
I have not received a letter from
you since'your appointment to
ministers from Great Britain, at St.
Petersburg, to nvgociate a treaty of
peatre, under the mediation of the
emperor of Russia. This is doubt
less owing to the miscarriage of yonr
despatches-
The message of the President, of
which I have the honor to transmit
to you a copy, will make’ you ac
quainted with the progress of the
war with Great Britain, to that pe
riod, and the other documents which
are forwarded,., will communicate
what has s:«ce occurred*
Among the advantages attending
,nur success v in Upper Canada, was
the binpq|t?nt oneof mak : ng capture
of gene Si Procter’s baggage, with
all the public documents belonging
to the British government in his
possession, it is probable -that these
documents Will be laid before con
gress, as they aide.fa nature highly
interesting to public. You WiH
understand their true characterJ*y
extracts of two lettei sTjhvm g \oi. or
Cass, u hitfi are tnsiqsed y.t>n
By these, it appears that the BHtisli
goVeftitneut has e> ercistd its infill
<}\rt over the liuiiati tribes within
dur limits, as well as elsewhere, ur
peace, for hostile purposes towards
the United States ; §md that the In
dian barbarities, since the war, were
ih many instances, known to, and
sanctioned by, the British govern
ment
I have the honor to be, fee. Btc.
JAMES MONROE.
Mr . Monroe , secretary of slate , to the
plenipotentiaries of the United States
at St. Petersburg,
Department of state, Jan. 8, 1814.
Gentlemen, J .
I have the honor* to transmit to
you a copy of ‘a letter from larf'd Cas
tlereagh department, and of
a note frma lord Cathcart to the
Russian government, with my reply
to the communication. /
The arrangement of a negociation
to be held at Gottenburg, directly
between the United States and G.
Britain, without the aid of the Rus
sian mediation, makes it necessary
that new commissions should be is
sued correspondent with it, and for
this purpose that anew nomiftation
should be made to the Senate. The
President instructs me to inform
your that r you will both be included
in it, and that he wishes you to re
pair, immediately on the receipt of
this, to the appointed rendezvous.
It is probable that the may
not be limited to yourselves on ac
count of the great interests involved
in the result; The commissions and
instructions will be duly forwarded
to you, as soon as the arrangements
shall be finally made.
In taking leave of the Russian go
vernment, you will be careful to
make known to it the sensibility of
the President to the friendly disposi
tion of the emperor, manifested by
the offer of his mediation ; the re
gret felt at its rejection by the Bri
tish government l and a desire that,
in future f the greatest confident and
cordiality, and the best understand
ing may prevail between the two
governments. ‘
I have the honor to be, ‘See. See.
/Signed ) JAS. MONROE.
Mr. Monroe , Secretary of State , to the
American Plenipotentiaries at Got
tenburg.
Department of State, Jan. 28,1814.
Gentlemen —The British gov
ernment having declined the Russi
an mediation, and proposed to treat
directly with the U. States, the Pre
sident has, on due consideration, tho’t
proper to accept the overture. To
I gtve effect to this arrangement, it
I was necessary that anew commissi*
I ‘ofn should be formed, and for that
purpose that anew nomination
. should be made to the Senate, by
! whose advice and consent this im
j portant trust is committed to you.
j You will consider the instructions
j given to the commission to treat un
; dfcr the mediation of Russia, as ap
plicable to the negociation with
which you are now charged, except
as they may be modified by this let
( ter.
j I shall call your attention to the
! most important grounds of the con
troversy with G. Britain only, and
l make such remarks on each, and op
j the whole subject, as have occurred
since the date of the former instruc
: tions, and* We deemed applicable to
■ the present juncture, taking into
view the negociation in which you
are about to engage.
On impressment, as so the right
of the U. States to be exempted from
it, I have nothing,ipiw to add. The
sentiments of the President have un
dergone no change on that impor
tant subject. This degrading prac
tice must cease ; our flag must pro-/
tect the crew, or the U. States can
not consider themselves an indepen
||ient nation. To settle this differ
ence amicably, the President m wil
ling, as you are already informed by
the former instructions, to remove
| all pretexts for it, to the British gov
| ernment, by excluding all ‘British ,
; seametrJrom our vessels, and even
to extern the exclusion to all British
subjects, if necessary, excepting on
ly the few already naturalized, and
Stipulate likewise, the surrender
of all British seamen deserting in
our ports m future from British ves
sels, public or private". It was pre
sumed bycall dispassionate persons,
’ that the late law of Congress relative
to seamen woulti effectually accom
plish the object. Bat the President
is willing, as you find, to prevent a
possibility oi .failure, to go fur
ther.
Should a treaty be made, it ts pro
per,, and would have a conciliatory
effect, thrall our impressed seaman
who may be discharged under it,
. should be paid lbn their services by;
the British government, for the time
of their detention, the wages which
It hey might have obtained in the
merchant service of their own couu-.
try. .-**-*■'*% ‘
. Blockafft the subject next m
point--pf’ importance, which you will
► have to arrange. In the instructions
bearing <rn the ,*sth of April,
1813, it was reroaiktcl, that a*-the
British ‘government had revoke'll its
- orders in council, and agreed that no
blockade could be legal which was
not supported by an adequate force
should be applied to ant* blockade
which it might hereafter institute,
this cause of controversy see med to
be removed. Further reflection,
however has added great force to
the expediency and importance of a
precise definition of the public law
on this subject. There is much
cause to that if, the repeal
of the orders in council had taken
place in time to have been known
here before the declaration of war
-and had had the effect ot preventing
the declaration, not only , that no
provision would have been obtained
against impressment but that under
the name of blockade the same ex
tent of coast would have been cover
ed by proclamatibn as had been co
vered by the orders in council. The
war, which these abuses and im
pressment contributed so much to
produce, might possibly prevent that
consequence. But it wolild be more
satisfactory, if jiot more sale, to
guard against it by a formal defini
tion in the treaty. It is true should
the British government violate again
the legitimate principles of blockade
in whatever terms* or under whatever,
pretext it might be done, the United
States would have in their hands a
correspondent resort ; but a princi
pal object in making pe&ce is to pre-,
vent by the justice and reciprocity
of the conditions, a recurrence again
to war, for the same cause. If the
British government sincerely wish
to make a durable peace with the U.
States, it have no reasonable ob
jection to a just definition of blockade
especially, as the two governments
have agreed in their correspondence
in all its essential features. The
instructions of the 15th of April,
1813, have stated in what manner
-the President is willing to arrange
this difference.
On the other neutral rights, enu
ttierated in the former instructions,
I shall remark only, that the cata*
logue is limited in a manner to e
vince a spirit of accommodation ;.
-that the arrangement proposed in
each instance is just in itself; that
it corresponds with the general spi
rit of treaties between commercial
powers, and that Great Britain has
sanctioned it in many treaties, and
gone beyond it in some.
>i , fva .; r t* : YrVty f
spoliations, I have only tq refer ydil
to what was said in the former in
structions. I have to add, tjiat
should a treaty be formed, it is just
in itself, and would have a happy ef
fect on the future relations of the two
countries, if indemnity should be
stipulated on each ‘side, for the des
truction of all unfortified towns, and
other private property, contrary to
the laws and usages of war. It is e
qually proper that the negroes taken
fit)m the southern states should be
returned to their owners, or paid fpr
at their full value. It is known that
a shameful traffic has been carried
on in the West Indies, by the sale bf
these persons there, by those
Sed to be their deliverers. Os this
fact, the proof which has reached
this department shall* be furnished
you. If these Slaves are considered
as non-combatants, they ought to be
restored ;> If, as property, they ought
to be paid for. The treaty ot peaces
contains an article which recognises
this principle. <
In the view which I have taken of
the conditions on which yoti are to/
insist, in the proposed negociationjK
you Will find, on a comparison of
them with those stated in the for
mer instructions, that there is no
material difference between them,
the two last mentioned claims to in
demnity excepted, which have ori
ginated since the date of those in
structions. The principal Object of
this review has been to show, that
the sentiments of the President, are
the same in every instance, and that
the reasons for>maintaining them
have become more evident and strong
since the date of those instuctions.
In accepting the overture of the
British government to r treat indepen
dently of*the Russian mediation, the .
U.’ States have acted on principles
which have governed them in every
transaction relating, to peace since
the war. Had the British govern
menFnccepted ttyi Russian media
tion, the U. States would have tre
ted for themselves, independently of
any other power, and had Great Bri
tain met them on just conditions,
peace would have been the immedi
ate result. Had she refused to accede
to such conditions, and attempted to
dictate others, It knowledge of the
views of other powers on those
points might have been useiul to the
United States. In agreeing to trtac
directly fvith Great Britain, not on
ly is no concession contemplated, on
any point in controversy*, but the
same desire is cherished to preserve
a good understanding with Russia, &
the other Baltic pevus, as if the ne
-gociaHfui had taken place undet
mediation of Russia. *
It is probable that the British gov*
ernment may have declined the Rus
sian mediation, fjrom the . apprehen
sion of ah understanding between the
United State': ami Russia, for very
different purposes from those which
have been contemplated, in the h*pe
that a much better treaty might he
obtained of the United States, in a
direct negociaiioi# than could be ob
tained under the Russian mediation,
and with a view to profit of the con
cession which might thus bemade by
the United States in future negotia
tions with the Baltic powers. If this
was the object of the British govern
ment, and it is hot easy to conceive
any ofoher, it clearly proves the ad
vantage to be derived in the propose
ed negotiation, from the aid df those
powers* in securing* from the British
government such conditions as would
be satisfactory to all parties. It
would he highly honorable as well as
advantageous to the United States, if
the negotiation with which ypu are
charged, should terminate in such
a treaty.
I have the hpnor to be, Sec. See,
Ogned; JAS. MONROE.
Mr* fUonroe, Seer>- lory of State , to the
plenipotentiaries of the United
enhurg*
Department of state, Jan. 30,1814.
Gentlemen.. [’ ‘ y” •.
In addition to the claims of in- ,
demnityy staled in your preceding
instructions, l have to request youi\
attention to the following, to Which
it is presumed there can be no ob*
jection. .
On the declaration of war by the
States, there happened to be
in the ordinary course pf commeixe,
several American vessels and car*
goes in the ports of Great Britain,
which were seized and condemned
and, in one instance, an Ameficaa
ship wluelf Beil frortv Algiers, in con*
sequence of the declaration of war
by the dey, tu Gibraltar, with the
American consul and some publi% ,
stores qn board, shared a like fate.
After tli£ declaration of war, curt}
gfess passed an act. allowing to Brit-*,
ish subjects six months, from thp
date of the; declaration, to remove
their property out of the United
States, in cotiseqilence df which ma
ny vessels were removed with their*
cargoes. I . add, with confidence*
that, op a liberal construction of, thej •
spirit <*f the law* some vessels wen?
permitted to depart, even after the
expiration of the term specified in
the law. T will endeavor to put
your possession a list of these cases*.
A general reciprocal provision, how
ever, will be best adapted to
ject in view.
1 have the honor to be,'&:c# See. ,
s J As. MONROE.
Uroin the Secretary pfState to the cp?7i£L
miss toners of the United States, for
treating with Great Britain, date£
Department of state, Feb. 10,1814.
Gentlemek, .
* Shoukl you conclude st treaty ,
and not obtain a satisfactory arrange.-’
ment ofneqtral rights, it will be pro-,
per for you to provide that the Uni
ted States shall have advantage of
any stipulations more favorable to
neutral nations, that may be estab-..
Ushed between Great Britain and
other -powers. A precedent for
such a provision is found in a decla
ratory article between Great‘Britain v
find Russia, bearing date on the Btlv
«pto]>er 1801, explanatory of the 2d
section, 3d article, of \ convention,
concluded between them on tire sth
of June of the same year. /
I have the honor to be* See.
feigned j i MONROE.
Extract of a letter from the Secretary
*■ of State to the commissioners of, the
1 United States for treating with G «
Britain > dated
* Department of state,, Feb. 14, 1814.
received last night your letter
of the 15th October, with extracts of
letters from Mr. plains and Mr.
Harris, *of the 22d, and 23d of No
vember.
“-It appears that you had no knowb*
edge at the date, even Os the last let
ter, of the answer of the British gov*,
ernment, to thooftet which ha|L beei*
made to it, a sefcond time, of the
Russian mediation* Hence it is
to be inferred that the proposition
made to the government- by the
BramM e wss not only made with- ,
put your knowledge, but without
the saoclion if not without the know!?*
edge, of the emperor. Intelligence •
from other sources strengthens this
inference. If this view of the ccyi
duct of the British government is
well founded, the- motive for it can
not be mistaken. It may fairly be
presumed that it was to prevent a
good understanding and concert be
tween the L lit.ed States apd Russia
and Sweden, on the subject of neu
tral *ights, \n the hope that by draw
ing the negotiation to England, and
depriving you of the opportunity of
free communication with those pow
ers; a treaty less favorable to the U-