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and his barbarities, instead of dismay, will kindle in every bosom an indignation not to be extinguished but in the disaster and expulsion of such cruel invaders. In providing the means necessary, the national legislature will not distrust the heroick and enlightened patriotism of its constituents. They will cheerfully and proudly bear every burden of every kind, which the safety and honour of the nation demand. We have seen them every where paying their taxes, direct and indirect, with the greatest promptness and alacrity. We see them rushing with enthusiasm to the scenes where danger and duty call. In offering their blood, they give the surest pledge that no other tribute will be withheld.

Having forborne to declare war until to other aggressions had been added the capture of nearly a thousand American vessels, and the impressment of thousands of American seafaring citizens, and until a final declaration had been made by the government of Great Britain, that her hostile orders against our commerce would not be revoked, but on conditions as impossible as unjust; whilst it was known that these orders would not otherwise cease, but with a war which had lasted nearly twenty years, and which, according to appearances at that time, might last as many more; having manifested on every occasion, and in every proper mode, a sincere desire to arrest the effusion of blood, and meet our enemy on the ground of justice and reconciliation, our beloved country, in still opposing to his persevering hostility all its energies, with an undiminished disposition towards peace and friendship on honourable terms, must carry with it the good wishes of the impartial world, and the best hopes of support from an omnipotent and kind Providence.

VOL. IX.

41

JAMES MADISON,

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE SENATE. ост. 3, 1814.

I TRANSMIT to the Senate a report from the department of state, complying with their resolution of the 26th ul

timo.

JAMES MADISON.

THE undersigned, acting as Secretary of State, to whom as referred the resolution of the Senate, requesting the President to cause to be laid before the Senate such information in his possession, respecting the existing state of the relations between the United States and the continental powers of Europe, as he may deem not improper to be communicated, has the honour to report:

That the relations of the United States with the continental powers of Europe continue to be those of peace and amity; nor is there, so far as is known to this department, reason to believe that an unfavourable change is likely to take place.

Measures have been taken to continue our diplomatic relations with France under the existing government, and to renew those with Spain, which have been for a time interrupted by the peculiar circumstances of that country. Diplomatic relations are also renewed with the United Provinces of the low countries. The new government has sent an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States, who has been received.

With the other powers of the continent of Europe, our relations have undergone no change since the last session of Congress.

All which is repectfully submitted.
JAMES MONROE.

Department of State, Oct. 1, 1814.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS. OCT. 10, 1814.

I LAY before Congress communications just received from the plenipotentiaries of the United States, charged with negotiating peace with Great Britain; showing the conditions on which alone that government is willing to put an end to the war.

The instructions to those plenipotentiaries disclosing the grounds on which they were authorized to negotiate and conclude a treaty of peace, will be the subject of another communication.

JAMES MADISON.

Copy of a Letter from the Commissioners Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, of the United States, for treating of Peace with Great Britain, to the Secretary of State. Ghent, August 12, 1814.

SIR, We have the honour to inform you that the British commissioners, lord Gambier, Henry Goulbourn, Esq. and William Adams, Esq. arrived in this city on Saturday evening the sixth instant. The day after their arrival, Mr. Baker, their secretary, called upon us to give us notice of the fact, and to propose a meeting, at a certain hour, on the ensuing day. The place having been agreed upon, we accordingly met at one o'clock, on Monday the Sth instant.

We enclose herewith a copy of the full powers exhibited by the British commissioners at that conference; which was opened on their part by an expression of the sincere and earnest desire of their government, that the negotiation might result in a solid peace, honourable to both parties. They, at the same time, declared, that no events which had occurred since the first proposal for this nego

tiation, had altered the pacifick disposition of their government, or varied its views, as to the terms upon which it was willing to conclude the peace.

We answered that we heard these declarations with great satisfaction, and that our government had acceded to the proposal of negotiation, with the most sincere desire to put an end to the differences which divided the two countries; and to lay upon just and liberal grounds, the foundation of a peace, which, securing the rights and interests of both nations, should unite them by lasting bonds of amity.

The British commissioners then stated the following subjects, as those upon which it appeared to them that the discussions would be likely to turn, and on which they were instructed.

1. The forcible seizure of mariners on board of merchant vessels, and in connection with it, the claim of his Britannick majesty to the allegiance of all the native subjects of Great Britain.

We understood them to intimate, that the British government did not propose this point, as one which they were particularly desirous of discussing; but that, as it had occupied so prominent a place in the disputes between the two countries, it necessarily attracted notice, and was considered as a subject which would come under discussion.

2. The Indian allies of Great Britain to be included in the pacification, and a definite boundary to be settled for their territory.

The British commissioners stated, that an arrangement upon this point was a sine qua non; that they were not authorized to conclude a treaty of peace, which did not embrace the Indians as allies of his Britannick majesty; and that the establishment of a definite boundary of the Indian territory, was necessary to secure a permanent peace, not only with the Indians, but also between the United States and Great Britain.

3. A revision of the boundary line between the United States, and the adjacent British colonies.

With respect to this point, they expressly disclaimed any intention on the part of their government, to acquire an

increase of territory, and represented the proposed revision, as intended merely for the purpose of preventing uncertainty and dispute.

After having stated these three points, as subjects of discussion, the British commissioners added, that, before they desired any answer from us, they felt it incumbent upon them to declare, that the British government did not deny the right of the Americans to the fisheries generally, or in the open seas; but that the privileges formerly granted by treaty to the United States, of fishing within the limits of the British jurisdiction, and of landing and drying fish on the shores of the British territories, would not be renewed without an equivalent.

The extent of what was considered by them as waters peculiarly British, was not stated. From the manner in which they brought this subject into view, they seemed to wish us to understand, that they were not anxious that it should be discussed, and that they only intended to give us notice, that these privileges had ceased to exist, and would not be again granted without an equivalent, nor unless we thought proper to provide expressly in the treaty of peace for their renewal.

The British commissioners having stated, that these were all the subjects which they intended to bring forward, or to suggest, requested to be informed, whether we were instructed to enter into negotiation on these several points? and whether there was any amongst these, which we thought it unnecessary to bring into the negotiation? and they desired us to state, on our part, such other subjects as we might intend to propose for discussion, in the course of the negotiation. The meeting was then adjourned to the next day, in order to afford us the opportunity of a consultation among ourselves, before we gave an answer.

In the course of the evening of the same day, we received your letters of the 25th and 27th of June.

There could be no hesitation on our part, in informing the British commissioners that we were not instructed on the subjects of Indian pacification or boundary, and of fisheries. Nor did it seem probable, although neither of these points had been stated with sufficient precision in

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