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T y l e r ; treating the public authorities at both places with respect, and for bearing to call again at P o r t - a u - P r i n c e . It may be useful, should it be found convenient, to pay your respects to either or both of the rival chiefs of that island.
I have only to add that the President has great confidence in the dis cretion and effect, so far as the latter may be found practicable, with which you will fulfil the instructions given to you. With great respect, &c. R. R. CHARLES MORRIS,-Esq.,
Commander of the United States the frigate Congress.
DEPARTMENT
ship of war
of
S T A T E , January
29,
1817.
S I R : Enclosed are sundry original papers relating to the forcible sei z u r e and confiscation of a considerable amount of American property at Cape F r a n ç o i s , in the year 1811, by General Christophe, on the arbitra ry and unheard of plea, that his agent in Baltimore had defrauded him out of an equal amount. On your arrival at St. Domingo, you will lose no time in remonstrating against this unjust measure, and claiming for the sufferers a fair indemnity. If General Christophe confided in persons in this country who betrayed t h e trust reposed in them, by embezzling or withholding his property, it surely afforded no ground for him to extort indemnity from unoffending citizens, who resorted to his ports with commercial views. T h e courts of the United States, in such cases, were open to him for r e dress, and through them he should have sought it. It is only necessary further to remark, that the principle adopted by General Christophe is repugnant to all the rules and laws observed by ci vilized societies in their intercourse with each other, and will, if not dis avowed, completely destroy that confidence in the justice and security to b e found in his ports, which is so necessary to an extensive and advanta geous trade. It is expected that, on a reconsideration of the case, he will not hesitate to réstore to our citizens the sums taken from them respectively, with in terest from the time it was paid into his treasury. 1 have the honor, &c. JAMES MONROE. S.
T Y L E R , Esq.
-
UNITED STATES FRIGATE CONGRESS,
Cape François, August 3, 1817. S I R : I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter received this morni n g ; and, as there is no immediate opportunity to the United States, Is hall remain in this ship until her return, when I shall have a more favor-