In 1809, Fisher Ames, a Congressman from Massachusetts referred to James Madison as "a man of sense, reading, address, and integrity ... our first man, very much Frenchified in his politics". For almost 20 years, the federalists had been complaining that James Madison was all too-ready to connect American interests with those of France. It all started in 1793, when George Washington first issued his Neutrality Proclamation. As Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson agreed that neutrality was a necessary act, but disagreed with an official proclamation. Hamilton, declared that neutrality was not negotiable and Jefferson eventually resigned as Secretary of State. Encouraged by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison began a war of pamphlets debating the neutrality and that the proclamation did not violate the United States defensive alliance with France as Jefferson claimed. Hamilton also argued that if America sided with France, it would leave itself open to attacks within the American boarders by Britain and Spain who would stir up "numerous Indian tribes". Madison replied calling anyone who supported the Neutrality Proclamation secret monarchists who hate our republican government and the French Revolution.
Then in 1809 with the Non Intercourse Act about to expire, Congress began debating whether trade should be neutral among the European powers or whether America should discriminate and give preference to France. President James Madison wanted to encourage American trade with France as the only nation capable of capturing enough of the commerce with Great Britain to give the United States a chance of independence and the flexibility gained by having a nearly equal competition between the two European powers for American markets. But many opposed this discrimination. Some simply preferred British goods and felt more comfortable working with British traders. Others feared losing the commercial connections with Great Britain and especially the banks in London and Liverpool. Still others considered the United States too weak to stand up so boldly to the world's greatest maritime and trading country. Finally, some Congressman argued that retaliatory measures would restrain trade and thus deprive the country of desperately needed income from the import duties. They didn't care where the money came from whether British or French merchants. Madison argued the matter patiently and persistently in three separate debates in the House of Representatives. Madison recalled the long history of trade with Great Britain, the similarity of languages and customs. All of these gave Great Britain a portion "more extensive than their natural situation would require it to be". Madison explained, that all he wanted was to level the playing field so that France "might eventually take from England the unnatural portion of her American trade." Madison suggested that it was to America's advantage to use their alliance with France, to impress on Great Britain the advantages that can be gained by the "reciprocity of friendship". But the federalists weren't buying it. Instead they pulled out their old play books, and accused Madison of being "very much Frenchified in his politics".
But later that summer, Madison accepted Erskine's arrangement to lift the embargo with Great Britain and harmony was once again restored to Congress. The bill to restore commercial relations with England passed 72 to 15 without discussion. Unfortunately, the joy and harmony was very short-lived. The arrangement put forth by minister Erskine was repudiated by George Canning, the Foreign Secretary of Great Britain. Madison was furious and dedicated a good portion of his first annual address to prosecuting Great Britain. Yet, he could not ignore France, not without the Federalists once again accusing him of being "Frenchified". So, in his address he gave a brief mention of France, "the other belligerent". America had many remonstrances or complaints with France and had taken many measures to get France to change, but to very little effect.
"With France, the other belligerent, whose trespasses on our commercial rights have long been the subject of our just remonstrances, the posture of our relations does not correspond with the measures taken on the part of the United States to effect a favorable change. The result of the several communications made to her Government, in pursuance of the authorities vested by Congress in the Executive, is contained in the correspondence of our minister at Paris now laid before you."http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29451
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_Neutrality
James Madison: A Biography by Ralph Louis Ketcham (1990) pgs 280-282
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