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Supplemental Journal.

Robertson, Sage, Sharp, Smith of Virginia, Strong,
Tannehill, Telfair, Udree, and Yancey.

Ordered, That Messrs. GASTON, FORSYTH,
WARD of Massachusetts, GROSVENOR, SEYBERT,
MCKIM, and NEWTON, be the said committee.

TUESDAY, February 28.

Mr. GASTON, from the select committee, to whom was referred, on the 24th instant, the bill for "the protection of the commerce of the United States against the Algerine cruisers," with instructions to inquire into, and report in detail, the facts upon which the measure contemplated by the bill is predicated," made a report thereupon; which was read. The report is as follows: The committee to whom has been referred the bill "for the protection of the commerce of the United States against the Algerine cruisers," with instructions to inquire and report, in detail, the facts upon which the measure contemplated by the bill is predicated,

report:

That, in the month of July, 1812, the Dey of Algiers taking offence, or pretending to take offence, at the quantity and quality of a shipment of military stores, made by the United States in pursuance of the stipulation in the Treaty of 1795, and, refusing to receive the stores, extorted from the American Consul General at Algiers, by threats of personal imprisonment, and of reducing to slavery all Americans in his power, a sum of money claimed as arrearages of treaty stipulations, and denied by the United States to be due; and then compelled the Consul, and all citizens of the United States at Algiers, abruptly to quit his dominions.

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sides those stated; and they apprehend that the fewness of these is attributable to the want of opportunity, and not of inclination in the Dey, to prey upon our commerce, and to enslave our citizens. The war with Britain has hitherto shut the Mediterranean against American vessels, which it may be presumed will now shortly venture upon it.

The committee are all of opinion, upon the evidence which has been laid before them, that the Dey of Algiers considers his Treaty with the United States as at an end, and is waging war against them. The evidence upon which this opinion is founded, and from which are extracted the facts above stated, accompa nies this report, and with it is respectfully submitted. The said bill being then amended, by prefixing the following preamble

"Whereas the Dey of Algiers, on the coast of Barbary, has commenced a predatory warfare against the United States,"

Mr. GOLDSBOROUGH moved further to amend the bill by inserting, after the word "aforesaid," in the 4th line of the second section, the following words:

"If the Dey of Algiers shall not, on demand by an accredited agent of the United States, duly authorized for that purpose, deliver up, without delay, all American citizens who may be detained by him as prisoners or slaves, and return to a state of amity with the United States, by a treaty of peace."

And the question being taken thereon, it was determined in the negative-yeas 47, nays 92, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Baylies of Massachusetts, Bigelow, Boyd, Bradbury, Brigham, Caperton, Champion, Cilley, Condict, Cooper, Davenport, Ely, Geddes, Goldsgerford, Jackson of Rhode Island, Kent of New York, borough, Goodwyn, Hale, Hasbrouck, Henderson, HunKent of Maryland, Kerr, King of Massachusetts, Law, Lovett, Moseley, Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, Potter, John Reed, Ruggles, Sheffey, Slaymaker, Stanford, Strong, Stuart, Sturges, Taggart, Thompson, Vose, and Winter. Wheaton, White, Wilcox, Wilson of Massachusetts,

It further appears to the committee, that, on the 25th of August following, the American brig Edwin, of Salem, owned by Nathaniel Silsbee of that place, while on a voyage from Malta to Gibraltar, was taken by an Algerine corsair, and carried into Algiers as prize. The commander of the brig, Captain George Campbell Smith, and the crew, ten in number, have ever since been detained in captivity, with the excep; tion of two of them, whose release has been effected under circumstances not indicating any change of hostile temper on the part of the Dey. It also appears that a vessel, sailing under the Spanish flag, has been condemned in Algiers as laying a false claim to that flag, and concealing her true American character. In this vessel was taken a Mr. Pollard, who claims to be an American citizen, and is believed to be of Norfolk, Virginia, and who, as an American citizen, is kept in captivity. The Government, justly solicitous to relieve these unfortunate captives, caused an agent (whose connexion with the Government was not disclosed) to be sent to Algiers, with the means, and with instructions to effect their ransom, if it could be done at a price not exceeding three thousand dollars per man. The effort did not succeed, because of the Dey's avowed policy to increase the number of his American slaves, in order to be able to compel a renewal of his Treaty with the United States on terms suited to his rapacity. Captain Smith, Mr. Pollard, and the master of the Edwin, are not confined, nor kept at hard labor; but the rest of the captives are subjected to the well Mr. STANFORD then moved to amend the same known horrors of Algerine slavery. The committee section, by inserting, after the word "into," in the have not been apprized of any other specific outrages 7th line, the word "some," and after the word upon the persons or property of American citizens, be-"port," in the same line, the words "of the Uni

NAYS-Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Anderson, AveBurwell, Calhoun, Cannon, Clopton, Comstock, Cox, ry, Barbour, Bard, Barnett, Bines, Bowen, Brown, Creighton, Crouch, Culpeper, Cuthbert, Davis of Pennsylvania, Desha, Duvall, Eppes, Farrow, Findley, Fisk of Vermont, Fisk of New York, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gholson, Gourdin, Griffin, Grosvenor, Hall, Hanson, Harris, Hawes, Hawkins, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Humphreys, Hulbert, Irwin, Jackson of Virginia, Johnson of Kentucky, Kennedy, Kershaw, Kilbourn, King of North Carolina, Lefferts, Lowndes, Macon, McCoy, McKim, Montgomery, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Oakley, Ormsby, Pickens, Piper, Pleasants, William Reed, Rea of Pennsylvania, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Robertson, Sage, Schureman, Sevier, Seybert, Sharp, Sherwood, Smith of New York, Smith of Pennsylvania, Smith of Virginia, Stockton, Tannehill, Taylor, TelWilson of Pennsylvania, Wright, and Yancey. fair, Troup, Udree, Ward of Massachusetts, Williams,

Supplemental Journal.

ted States;" which motion was determined in the negative.

gold, Roane, Robertson, Ruggles, Sage, Schureman, Sevier, Seybert, Sharp, Sheffey, Sherwood, Smith of Mr. S. then moved to amend the same section, New York, Smith of Virginia, Stockton, Stuart, Tanby inserting, after the word "of," in the tenth nehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Udree, Ward of Masline, the word "maritime;" which was also deter-sachusetts, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Winter, and mined in the negative. Yancey.

NAYS-Messrs. Bard, Bigelow, Brigham, Brown,

The question was taken on engrossing the bill, Caperton, Cilley, Constock, Crouch, Davenport, Davis and reading it a third time, and passed in the of Pennsylvania, Ely, Goldsborough, Henderson, King, affirmative-yeas 94, nays 32, as follows: of Massachusetts, Law, Lovett, Pearson, Pickering, YEAS-Messrs. Alexander, Anderson, Barbour, Bay- Piper, Pitkin, Slaymaker, Smith of Pennsylvania, lies of Massachusetts, Bines, Bowen, Bradbury, Bur- Stanford, Strong, Sturges, Taggart, Thompson, Vose, well, Calhoun, Cannon, Champion, Clopton, Condict, Wheaton, White, Wilcox, and Wilson of MassaCox, Creighton, Cuthbert, Desha, Duvall, Eppes, Far-chusetts. row, Findley, Fisk of Vermont, Fisk of New York, And the bill having been engrossed, was read Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gholson, Goodwyn, Gour- a third time, and sent to the Senate by the hands din, Grosvenor, Hale, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, of Mr. GASTON and Mr. FORSYTH. Hawkins, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Humphreys, Hungerford, Hulbert, Irwin, Jackson of Virginia, Johnson of Kentucky, Kennedy, Kent of New York, Kent of Maryland, Kerr, Kershaw, Kilbourn, King of North Carolina, Lefferts, Lowndes, Macon, McCoy, Montgomery, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Oakley, Ormsby, Pickens, Pleasants, Potter, John Reed, Wm. Reed, Rea of Pennsylvania, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ring

THURSDAY, March 2.

The bill for the protection of the commerce of the United States against the Algerine cruis ers," was returned from the Senate, they having passed it without amendment. And the injunction of secrecy was removed.

APPENDIX

TO THE HISTORY OF THE THIRTEENTH CONGRESS.

[THIRD SESSION.]

COMPRISING THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ORIGINATING DURING THAT CONGRESS, AND THE PUBLIC ACTS PASSED BY IT.

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Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane to Mr. Monroe. HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SHIP THE TONNANT, PATuxent River, August 18, 1814. SIR: Having been called upon by the Governor General of the Canadas to aid him in carrying into effect measures of retaliation against the inhabitants of the United States for the wanton destruction committed by their army in Upper Canada, it has become imperiously my duty, conformably with the nature of the Governor General's application, to issue to the naval force under my command, an order to destroy and lay waste such towns and districts upon the coast as may be found assailable.

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

September 6, 1814.

SIR: I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 18th of August, stating that, having been called on by the Governor General of the Canadas, to aid him in carrying into effect measures of retaliation against the inhabitants of the United States for the wanton desolation committed by their army in Upper Canada, it has become your duty, conformably with the nature of the Governor General's application, to issue to the naval force under your command an order to destroy and lay waste such towns and districts upon the coast as may be found assailable.

It is seen, with the greatest surprise, that this system of devastation, which has been practised by the British forces, so manifestly contrary to the usage of civilized warfare, is placed by you on the ground of retaliation. No sooner were the United States compelled to resort to war against Great Britain, than they resolved to wage it in a manner most consonant to the principles of humanity, and to those friendly relations which it was desirable to preserve between the two nations after the restoration of peace. They perceived, however, with the deepest regret, that a spirit, alike just and humane, was neither cherished nor acted on by your Government. Such I had hoped that this contest would have ter- an assertion would not be hazarded if it was not minated without my being obliged to resort to supported by facts, the proof of which has, perseverities which are contrary to the usage of civil-haps, already carried the same conviction to other ized warfare, and as it has been with extreme reluctance and concern that I have found myself compelled to adopt this system of devastation, I shall be equally gratified if the conduct of the Executive of the United States will authorize my staying such proceedings, by making reparation to the suffering inhabitants of Upper Canada, thereby manifesting that, if the destructive mea sures pursued by their army were ever sanctioned, they will no longer be permitted by the Government. I have the honor to be, &c.

ALEX. COCHRANE,
Vice Admiral, Commander, &c.

Hon. JAMES MONROE.
13th CoN. 3d SESS.-41

nations that it has to the people of these States. Without dwelling on the deplorable cruelties committed by the savages in the British ranks, and in British pay, at the river Raisin, which, to this day, has never been disavowed or atoned for, I refer, as more immediately connected with the subject of your letter, to the wanton desolation that was committed at Havre-de-Grace and at Georgetown, early in the Spring of 1813. These villages were burnt and ravaged by the naval forces of Great Britain, to the ruin of their unarmed inhabitants, who saw, with astonishment, that they derived no protection to their property from the laws of war. During the same season,

Relations with Great Britain.

either Power may have committed against the
other, this Government will always be ready to
enter into reciprocal arrangements.
It is pre-
sumed that your Government will neither ex-
pect nor propose any which are not reciprocal.

Should your Government adhere to a system
of desolation, so contrary to the views and prac-
tice of the United States, so revolting to hu-
manity, and repugnant to the sentiments and
usages of the civilized world, whilst it will be
seen with the deepest regret, it must and will be
met with a determination and constancy becom-
ing a free people contending in a just cause for
their essential rights and dearest interests.
I have the honor to be, &c.

scenes of invasion and pillage, carried on under the same authority, were witnessed all along the waters of the Chesapeake, to an extent inflicting the most serious private distress, and under circumstances that justified the suspicion that revenge and cupidity, rather than the manly motives that should dictate the hostility of a highminded foe, led to their perpetration. The late destruction of the houses of the Government in this city is another act which comes necessarily into view. In the wars of modern Europe, no example of the kind, even among nations the most hostile to each other, can be traced. In the course of ten years past, the capitals of the principal Powers of the continent of Europe have been conquered, and occupied alternately by the victorious armies of each other, and no instance of such wanton and unjustifiable destruction has been seen. We must go back to distant and barbarous ages to find a parallel for the acts of which I com- Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane to Mr. Monroe. plain.

JAMES MONROE.

Sir ALEXANDER COCHRANE,
Vice Admiral, Commander, &c.

HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SHIP
TONNANT, IN THE CHESAPEAKE,
September 19, 1814.
SIR: I have had the honor to receive your let-

Although these acts of desolation invited, if they did not impose on the Government the necessity of retaliation, yet in no instance has it been authorized. The burning of the village of Newark in Up-ter of the 6th instant this morning, in reply to per Canada, posterior to the early outrages above the one which I addressed to you from the Pa enumerated, was not executed on that principle. tuxent. The village of Newark adjoined Fort George, and its destruction was justified by the officers who ordered it, on the ground that it became necessary in the military operations there. The act, however, was disavowed by the Government. The burning which took place at Long Point was unauthorized by the Government, and the conduct of the officer subjected to the investigation of a military tribunal. For the burning at St. David's, committed by stragglers, the officer who commanded in that quarter was dismissed, without a trial, for not preventing it.

I am commanded by the President distinctly to state, that it as little comports with any orders which have been issued to the military and naval commanders of the United States, as it does with the established and known humanity of the American nation, to pursue a system which it appears you have adopted. This Government owes it to itself, to the principles which it has ever held sacred, to disavow, as justly chargeable to it, any such wanton, cruel, and unjustifiable warfare.

Whatever unauthorized irregularities may have been committed by any of its troops, it would have been ready, acting on these principles of sacred and eternal obligation, to disavow, and, as far as might be practicable, to repair. But, in the plan of desolating warfare which your letter so explicitly makes known, and which is attempted to be excused on a plea so utterly groundless, the President perceives a spirit of deep-rooted hostility, which, without the evidence of such facts, he could not have believed existed, or would have been carried to such an extremity.

For the reparation of injuries, of whatever nature they may be, not sanctioned by the law of nations, which the military and naval force of

As I have no authority from my Government to enter upon any kind of discussion_relative to the points contained in your letter, I have only to regret that there does not appear to be any hope that I shall be authorized to recall my general order; which has been further sanctioned by a subsequent request from Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost.

A copy of your letter will this day be forwarded by me to England, and, until I receive instructions from my Government, the measures which I have adopted must be persisted in, unless remuneration be made to the inhabitants of the Canadas for the injuries they have sustained from the outrages committed by the troops of the United States.

I have the honor to be, yours, &c.
ALEX. COCHRANE,
Vice Admiral, Commander, &c.

Hon. JAMES MONROE.

GREAT BRITAIN.

[Communicated to Congress, October 10th and 14th,
and December 1, 1814.]
To the Senate and House of

Representatives of the United States:

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

Relations with Great Britain.

peace, will be the subject of another communi- the war. Had not Great Britain persevered ob

cation.

JAMES MADISON.

WASHINGTON, October 10, 1814

To the Senate and House of

stinately in the violation of these important rights, the war would not have been declared. It will cease as soon as these rights are respected. The proposition made by Mr. Russell to the British Government immediately after the war, and the answer given by this Department to Adin-miral Warren's letter since, show the ground on which the United States were willing to adjust the controversy relative to impressment.

Representatives of the United States:
I now transmit to Congress copies of the
structions to the Plenipotentiaries of the United
States charged with negotiating a peace with
Great Britain, as referred to in my message
the 10th instant.
JAMES MADISON.
WASHINGTON, October 14, 1814.

To the Senate and House of

Representatives of the United States:

of

I transmit for the information of Congress the communications last received from the Ministers Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States at Ghent, explaining the course and actual state of their negotiations with the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain.

DECEMBER 1,

1814.

JAMES MADISON.

Mr. Monroe, Secretary of State, to the Plenipotentiaries of the United States for treating of peace with Great Britain.

This has been further evinced by a report of the Committee of Foreign Relations of the House of Representatives, and an act of Congress passed in consequence of that report. By these documents you will see that, to accommodate this important difference, the United States are disposed to exclude British seamen altogether from the American service. This being effectually done, the British Government can have no pretext for the practice. How shall it be done? By restraints to be imposed by each nation on the naturalization of the seamen of the other, excluding, at the same time, all others not naturalized? Or shall the right of each nation to naturalize the seamen of the other be prohibited, and each exclude from its service the natives of the other? Whatever the rule is, it ought to be reciprocal. If Great Britain is allowed to naturalize American seamen, the United States should enjoy the same privilege. If it is demanded that DEPARTMENT OF STATE, April 15, 1813. the United States shall exclude from their service GENTLEMEN: I had the honor, on the ul- all native British subjects, a like exclusion of timo, to receive from Mr. Adams two letters, one American citizens from the British service ought bearing date 30th September, the other on the to be reciprocated. The mode also should be 17th October last, communicating the overture common to both countries. Each should be at of the Emperor of Russia to promote peace by liberty to give the same facilities, or be bound to his friendly mediation between the United States impose the same restraints that the other does. and Great Britain. On the day following, Mr. The President is willing to agree to either alterDaschkoff, the Russian Minister, made a similar native, and to carry it into effect by the most communication to this Department. The sub-eligible regulations that can be devised. ject has, in consequence, been duly considered, and I have now to make known to you the result. The President has not hesitated to accept the mediation of Russia, and he indulges a strong hope that it will produce the desired effect. It is not known that Great Britain has acceded to the proposition, but it is presumed that she will not decline it. The President thought it improper to postpone his decision until he should hear of that of the British Government. Sincerely desirous of peace, he has been willing to avail him self of every opportunity which might tend to promote it, on just and honorable conditions, and in accepting this overture he has been particularly gratified to evince, by the manner of it, the distinguished consideration which the United States entertain for the Emperor Alexander. Should the British Government accept the mediation, the negotiation to which it leads will be held at St. Petersburg. The President commits it to you, for which a commission is enclosed, and he has appointed Mr. Harris secretary of the mission.

The impressment of our seamen and illegal blockades, as exemplified more particularly in the Orders in Council, were the principal causes of

If the first alternative is adopted, the extent of the proposed exclusion will depend on the impediments to naturalization, on the efficacy of the regulations to prevent imposition, and the fidelity of their execution. The greater the difficulty in acquiring the right of citizenship, the easier will it be to avoid imposition, and the more complete the desired exclusion. The law of the last session of Congress relative to seamen proves how sincerely desirous the Legislative as well as Executive branch of our Government is, to adjust this controversy, on conditions_which may be satisfactory to Great Britain. By that law it is made indispensable for every British subject who may hereafter become a citizen, to reside five years, without intermission, within the United States, and so many guards are imposed to prevent frauds, that it seems to be impossible that they should be eluded. No British subject can be employed in a public or private ship of the United States, unless he produces to the commander, in the one instance, and to the collector, in the other, a certified copy of the act by which he became naturalized. A list of the crew, in the case of a private ship, must be taken, certified and recorded by the collector, and the

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