The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
 |
TO JOHN ARMSTRONG.
(Private.) |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO JOHN ARMSTRONG.[31]
(Private.)
. . . . . . . .
You will learn from the Dept. of State that altho'
decrees has been recd. from you, a proclamation
issues[32] on the ground furnished by your correspondence
with Mr. Pinkney. It is to be hoped that
France will do what she is understood to be pledged
for, & in a measure that will produce no jealousy or
embarrassment here. We hope in particular that
the sequestred property will have been restored;
without which the Ex. may be charged wth. violating
their own instructions to you on that point.
Whether that instruction was not itself a departure
from the law, & must not have been set aside in case
the repeal of the decrees had arrived, with a knowledge
that F. had made no satisfactory provision as
to sequestrations, are questions which it wd. be well
to have no occasion to decide. The course which
G. B. will take, is left by Wellesley's pledge, a matter
of conjecture. It is not improbable that the orders
in C. will be revoked & the sham blockade be so
managed if possible, as to irritate France agst. our
non-resistance, without irritating this Country to the
resisting point. It seems on the whole that we
blockades, and it is for us, a strong ground.
You will see also the step that has been produced
by the posture of things in W. Florida. If France
is wise she will neither dislike it herself, nor promote
resentment of it in any other quarter. She ought
in fact, if guided by prudence & good information,
to patronize at once, a general separation of S.
America from Old Spain. This event is already
decided, and the sole question with F. is whether it
is to take place under her auspices, or those of G. B.
The latter, whether with or without the privity of
the expiring authority at Cadiz, is taking her measures
with reference to that event; and in the mean
time, is extorting commercial privileges as to the
recompense of her interposition. In this particular
her avarice is defeating her interest. For it not only
invites F. to outbid her; but throws in seeds of discord
which will take effect, the moment peace or
safety is felt by the party of whom the advantage is
taken. The contrary policy of the old Fr. Govt. in
its commercial Treaty with the U. S. at the epoch
of their Independence, was founded in a far better
knowledge of human nature, and of the permanent
interest of its nation. It merits the consideration of
France also, that in proportion as she discourages,
in any way, a free intercourse of the U. S. with their
revolutionary neighbours, she favors the exclusive
commerce of her rival with them; as she has hitherto
favor'd it with Europe, by her decrees agst. our
intercourse with it. As she seems to be recovering
into the other.
The ship sent on this occasion will afford you &
your family good accommodations, if you should be
decided agst. prolonging your important services at
Paris, and a Winter passage should not be an insuperable
objection.
and most friendly wishes.
The original of this letter is at Rokeby, General Armstrong's country
seat on the Hudson River.
The proclamation was dated November 2. It recited the terms
of the Act of May 1, 1810, and proceeded: "And, Whereas it has been
officially made known to this Government that the edicts of France
violating the neutral commerce of the United States have been so
revoked as to cease to have effect on the 1st of the present month.
"Now, therefore, I, James Madison, President of the United States,
do hereby proclaim the said edicts of France have been so revoked
as that they ceased on the said 1st day of the present month to violate
the neutral commerce of the United States, and that from the date of
these presents all the restrictions imposed by the aforesaid act shall
cease and be discontinued to France and their dependencies."
| The writings of James Madison, | |