The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
I lay before Congress copies of a proclamation of the British
lieutenant-governor of the island of Bermuda,[64]
which has
appeared under circumstances leaving no doubt of its authenticity.
It recites a British order in council of the 26th
of October last, providing for the supply of the British West
Indies and other colonial possessions by a trade under special
licenses, and is accompanied by a circular instruction to the
colonial governors which confines licensed importations from
ports of the United States to the ports of the Eastern States
exclusively.
The Government of Great Britain had already introduced
into her commerce during war a system which, at once violating
the rights of other nations and resting on a mass of
forgery and perjury unknown to other times, was making an
unfortunate progress in undermining those principles of
morality and religion which are the best foundation of national
happiness.
The policy now proclaimed to the world introduces into
her modes of warfare a system equally distinguished by the
deformity of its features and the depravity of its character,
having for its object to dissolve the ties of allegiance and the
sentiments of loyalty in the adversary nation, and to seduce
and separate its component parts the one from the other.
The general tendency of these demoralizing and disorganizing
Christian world, and the insulting attempt on the virtue, the
honor, the patriotism, and the fidelity of our brethren of the
Eastern States will not fail to call forth all their indignation
and resentment, and to attach more and more all the States
to that happy Union and Constitution against which such
insidious and malignant artifices are directed.
The better to guard, nevertheless, against the effect of
individual cupidity and treachery and to turn the corrupt
projects of the enemy against himself, I recommend to the
consideration of Congress the expediency of an effectual prohibition
of any trade whatever by citizens or inhabitants of
the United States under special licenses, whether relating to
persons or ports, and in aid thereof a prohibition of all exportations
from the United States, in foreign bottoms, few
of which are actually employed, whilst multiplying counterfeits
of their flags and papers are covering and encouraging
the navigation of the enemy.
The circular of the British Government dated November 9, 1812,
transmitting the Order in Council of October 26, to the Lieutenant-Governor
of the Bermudas, contained this paragraph:
"Whatever importations are proposed to be made under the order,
from the United States of America, should be by your licenses confined
to the ports in the Eastern States exclusively, unless you have reason
to suppose that the object of the order would not be fulfilled if licenses
are not also granted for importations from other ports in the United
States."—Annals of Cong., 12th Cong., 2d Sess, p. 1119.
| The writings of James Madison, | |