United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/11th Congress/2nd Session/Resolution 1
Resolution in relation to the conduct of F. J. Jackson, minister plenipotentiary from Great Britain.I. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the expressions contained in the official letter of Francis J. Jackson, minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty near the United States, dated the 23d day of October, 1809, and addressed to Mr. Smith, Secretary of State, conveying the idea that the executive government of the United States had a knowledge, that the arrangement lately made by Mr. Erskine, his predecessor, in behalf of his government, with the government of the United States, was entered into without competent powers on the part of Mr. Erskine for that purpose, were highly indecorous and insolent: That the repetition of the same intimation in his official letter dated the 4th of November, 1809, after he was apprised by the asseveration of the Secretary of State, that the executive government had no such knowledge, and that if it had possessed such knowledge, such arrangement would not have been entered into on the part of the United States; and after also being officially apprised, that such intimation was inadmissible, was still more insolent and affronting; and that in refusing to receive any further communications from him, in consequence of these outrageous and premeditated insults, the executive government has manifested a just regard to its own dignity and honour, as well as to the character and interest of the American people: That the letter, signed Francis J. Jackson, headed “Circular,” dated 13th November, 1809, and published and circulated through the country, is a still more direct and aggravated insult and affront to the American people and their government, as it is evidently an insidious attempt to excite their resentments and distrusts against their own government, by appealing to them, through false or fallacious disguises, against some of its acts; and to excite resentments and divisions amongst the people, themselves, which can only be dishonourable to their own characters and ruinous to their own interests: And the Congress of the United States do hereby solemnly pledge themselves to the American people, and to the world, to stand by and support the executive government in its refusal to receive any further communications from the said Francis J. Jackson, and to call into action the whole force of the nation, if it should become necessary, in consequence of the conduct of the executive government in this respect, to repel such insults, and to assert and maintain the rights, the honour and the interests of the United States.
Approved, January 12, 1810.