Friday, December 18.
Embargo.
The following is the Message from the President of the United States:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
The communications now made, showing the great and increasing dangers with which our vessels, our seamen, and merchandise, are threatened, on the high seas and elsewhere, from the belligerent powers of Europe, and it being of the greatest importance to keep in safety these essential resources, I deem it my duty to recommend the subject to the consideration of Congress, who will doubtless perceive all the advantage which may be expected from an inhibition of the departure of our vessels from the ports of the United States.
Their wisdom will also see the necessity of making every preparation for whatever events may grow out of the present crisis.
I ask a return of the letters of Messrs. Armstrong and Champagny, which it would be improper to make public.
TH. JEFFERSON.
Extract of a Letter from the Grand Judge, Minister of Justice, to the Imperial Attorney-General for the Council of Prizes.
Paris, September 18, 1807.
Sir: I have submitted to his Majesty, the Emperor and King, the doubts raised by his Excellency, the Minister of Marine and Colonies, on the extent of certain dispositions of the imperial decree of the 21st of November, 1806, which has declared the British Isles in a state of blockade.
The following are his Majesty’s intentions on the points in question:
1. May vessels of war, by virtue of the imperial decree of the 21st of November last, seize on board neutral vessels, either English property, or even all merchandise proceeding from the English manufactures or territory?
Answer.—His Majesty has intimated that, as he did not think proper to express any exception in his decree, there is no ground for making any in its execution in relation to any whomsoever, (à l’égard de qui que ce peut être.) His Majesty has postponed a decision on the question, whether armed French vessels ought to capture neutral vessels bound to or from England, even when they have no English merchandise on board.
REGNIER.
The Message, and documents accompanying it, were severally read.
Ordered, That the letters referred to in said Message be returned to the President of the United States, agreeably to his request.
On motion of Mr. Randolph, that the House do come to the following resolution:
Resolved, That an embargo be laid on all shipping, the property of citizens of the United States, now in port, or which shall hereafter arrive:
And the question being put, that the House do agree to the said resolution, and, upon the question thereupon, the yeas and nays being demanded by one-fifth of the members present, and debate arising, a motion was made by Mr. Macon, that the resolution do lie on the table; and it was resolved in the affirmative.
A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Secretary:
Mr. Speaker: The Senate have, in confidence, directed me to inform this honorable House that they have passed a bill, entitled “An act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States,” in which bill they desire the concurrence of this House.
The said bill was received, read the third time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union on this day.
On motion of Mr. Crowninshield,
Resolved, That this House will immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the said bill.
The House accordingly resolved itself into the said committee; and, after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Masters reported that the committee had had the said bill under consideration, but not having time to go through the same, had directed him to ask for leave to sit again.
Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill, entitled “An act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States.”
And then the House adjourned.