The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States: With an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents and All the Laws of a Public Nature; With a Copious Index; Tenth Congress-Second Session; Comprising the Period From

Excerpt from The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States: With an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents and All the Laws of a Public Nature; With a Copious Index; Tenth Congress-Second Session; Comprising the Period From November 7, 1808, to March 3, 1809, Inclusive

The documents containing the correspondences on the subject of foreign edicts against our commerce, with the instructions given to our Ministers at London and Paris, are now laid before you.

The communications made to Congress at their last session explained the posture in which the close of the discussions relating to the attack by a British ship of war on the frigate Chesapeake, left a subject on which the nation had manifested so honorable a sensibility. Every view of what had passed authorized a belief that immediate steps would be taken by the British Government for redressing a wrong, which, the more it was investigated, appeared the more clearly to re quire what had not been provided for in the special mission. It is found that no steps have been taken for the purpose. On the contrary, it will be seen, in the documents laid before you, that the inadmissible pre liminary, which obstructed the adjustment, is still ad hered to; and, moreover, that it is now brought into connexion with the distinct and irrelative case of the Orders in Council. The instructions which had been given to our Minister at London, with a view to facili tate, if necessary, the reparation claimed by the United States, are included in the documents communicated.

Our relations with the other Powers of Europe have undergone no material changes since our last session. The important negotiations with Spain, which had been alternately suspended and resumed, necessarily experience a pause under the extraordinary and inter. Esting crisis which distinguishes her internal situation.

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