-Outrage on Fauchet-France extremely dissatisfied with state of things-Monroe opposed to administration-Want of instructions-Jay's treaty-Pinckney succeeds Monroe-Not received by the Directory-Ordered to leave France-Extra- ordinary proceeding-Pinckney, Marshall and Gerry appoint- ed-Not received, though cards of hospitality sent them Instructions--W. Y. Z.-Talleyrand proposes to treat with one Commissioner only-Rejected-Pinckney and Marshall leave France-Talleyrand's account of negotiation-Gerry remains-Origin of parties--Hostilities-Talleyrand brings on, by means of Pichon, another negotiation-Ellsworth, Mur- ray and Davie appointed to France-Properly received-First Consul-Account of negotiation-Convention-Bonaparte de- Purchase, a good one-Necessary for Western country-In '90 de Moustier made enquiries respecting Western country- French possessions in North America extinguished by treaties of '62 and '63-Louisiana secretly ceded to France-Great uneasiness in America-War with France-Coalition with England-France prepares to take possession of it-Prevented by renewal of war-Monroe sent to France-Important in- structions-Details of negotiation-First price exorbitant- Great Calamity-Beginning of Continental System-All Con- tinent, except Turkey, in the League-America only neutral -Milan Decree-Canton, in China, only port not blockaded→ Embargo-Bayonne and Rambouillet Decrees-Cause of War against France-Repeal of French Decrees-England refused to acknowledge the validity of the act-Antedated Decree- Not originally applied to for aid by Congress of '77-Little known at that time in Europe-Relations friendly-Armed neutrality-Dana sent to Russia in '80-Propriety of applying to foreign courts-Izard's, Adams' and Franklin's opinions— Instructed to propose America as a member of the armed neutrality-Not received by the Empress-French ministers abroad kind-Dana in awkward situation at St. Petersburg- Letters to Russian ministers-Singular opinion of Empress→ Russia not disposed to acknowledge independence-Anecdote of Franklin and Count du Nord-Neutrality awakens great anxiety-Congress, at return of peace, took earliest steps to prevent a connexion with "Armed Neutrality"-Instructions to ministers in Europe not to agree to support neutrality by force of arms-Adams, minister to Russia-Pahlen to this privateers-Captures-Convoy cases-New aggression on neutral rights-Remarks on that subject-None of the con- demnations of 1809, 1810, revised-Convoy cases not restored Sweden, only power that voluntarily offered its friendship to Congress of confederation-No applications specially made to Northern Powers in early part of war-M. de Creutz of- fered in '82 to make a treaty-Treaty of Paris of '83-Pro- visions similar to that of Netherlands-No minister till 1813 -M. de Kantzow-Jonathan Russell of Massachusetts-De- mand for property confiscated at Stralsund-Relations friendly with Sweden-Russell makes treaty in 1816 with Sweden- Renews the subject of the claims-Correspondence-Settled TREATIES, &c. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY REMARKS. CONFEDERATION, &c. Powers of First Congress as to Foreign Relations defective-Adoption of Confederation—Powers of Constitution of '89—Powers of House of Representatives as to Treaties-Foreign business first done by Secret Committees, very laborious—Department for Foreign Affairs established-Address of letters-First Secretary-Salary-Department under the Constitution—One of the Cabinet-Right of President to remove-United States never sent or received an "Ambassador" -Rules for reception-Diplomatic Agents of the Confederation— Expenses of the Diplomatic Corps under the Confederation—Salaries, &c. under the Constitution—Private instructions to Ministers— Gold Medal for Foreign Ministers-Ceremonial of first Minister very difficult to arrange-Somewhat ludicrous-Extract from Secret Journals-Present mode of accrediting. We propose, in this chapter, briefly to recite the power of Congress under the confederation of '78, and of the government under the constitution of '89, in regard to the relations of the country with foreign states, together with such circumstances, as properly belong to the management of foreign affairs. It is well known, that the first assembly of delegates from the thirteen colonies, or parts of colonies, was held in September '74, in Philadelphia. The meeting was convened on the proposition of the Province of Massachusetts. Bay; and was annually renewed by a vote of the Congress itself, till 1778, when the different colonies or provinces, having instructed their delegates to sign the articles of "Confederation and perpetual Union," agreed on by Congress in the preceding November, an organized government, usually known by the name of the Confederation, was established. Before this period, the delegates to the Congress acted by the special instructions of the Province Legislatures, or of the committees of the people,--by whom they were chosen. These instructions were of various import;--some delegates, indeed, were not furnished with any powers whatever ;their discretion was unlimited. But in general the representatives were authorised to consult for the public good and general welfare, either by securing the liberties of the provinces, or by establishing a just and safe commercial arrangement with the mother country. A Congress, thus composed, was not invested with constitutional authority. Even, if the instructions of the delegates had been binding on their respective legislatures, the different legislatures would not have been bound in an equal degree; for some delegates were without instructions, and to those, who were furnished with them, a great variety of powers were given. The colonies, or provinces, were not parties to any instrument; they did not jointly agree to support any one measure; much less the great system of measures by which the revolution war was conducted. But the exigency of the case, the danger of the country, the necessity of preservation, supplied the deficiencies of form. The Congress of '74 did not appear to believe, that a war would take place--they did not expect a separation from the mother country--they took no direct, immediate measures to resist, by force, the unjust pretensions of the British government. This Congress remained in session six weeks with closed doors. They adopted a non-importation, non-exportation, and non-consumption agreement they prepared a petition to the king—and an address to the people of Great Britain ;-public documents, which will always be admired, as long as good writing, manly sense, and just practical notions, both of civil and political liberty, merit applause. The Congress of '75 entered upon |