The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-04-21 00:00:00, page 6

relief from the pressure of that princi
ple upon neutral or iriendlv nations, im
pede or enieeblc its operation upon the
enemy.
in pursuance of this desire, the or
der in council, which, it it had ended
with the sixth paragraph^ would have
been no more than a strict and justifiable
retaliation lor the French decree of No
vember 1800, proc/fds, as you will ob
serve, sir, to provide many material ex
ceptions, which are calculated to qualifv
the operation of the order upon neutral
nations in general, but which must be
considered as most peculiarly favoura
ble to the particular interests of the U.
States.
It will not escape you, sir, that bv this
nrdcr in council, thus modified and re
gulated, the direct intercourse oi the U.
States with the colonies ol the enemv is
unrestrained ; an indulgence which,
when it is consult red to be (as it really
is) i ot only a mitigation of that princi
ple ol just reprisal upon which the order
itsell is framed, hut a de\ iation in fa
vour ol the United States, from that an
cient and established principle of mari
time law, by which the intercourse with
the colonies of an enemy in time oi war
is limited to the extent w hich that ene
my was accustomed in time of peace to
prescribe ior it, and which,by reference
to the conduct of France in a time of
peace, would amount to a complete in
terdiction, cannot fail to afford to the
American government a proof of the a
micable disposition of his majesty tow
ards the U. States.
^ on will observe, sir, also that the
transportation ol the colonial produce of
the enemy from the U. S. to Europe, in
stead of being altogether prohibited
(whicn would have been the natural re
taliation lor the rigorous and univ r;sal
porhibiiion of British produce and manu
factures by I-rance) is lreelv permitt d
to the ports ( f G. Brirain, with the
power ot subsequently tv-exporting i*
to any part of Europe, under certain r -
g ulations.
The object of these regulations will
be the establisbm nt of stu !i a protec
ting duty, as shall prevent the enemy
from obtaining tlu produce of his own
colonies at a cheaper rate than that of
the colonics ol (.r at-Britain. In this |
duty it is evicl1 nt that America is no
otherwise concerned than as being to
maU an advance to that amount, lor
v.hich it is in her own power amply to
indemnify herself at the expense of the
foreign consumer.
*3- WELSH’S SERMONS HAVE COME TO HAND.
Another most important relaxation
of the principles upon which his majes
ty’s orders proceed, is that which licen
ses the importation of all flour and
meal, and all grains, tobacco, and other
articles, the produce of the soil of Ame
rica from the ports of his dominions
into those of his enemies, without
the payment of any duty on the tran
sit. I his is, I beg leave to observe, an
instance in which his majesty has de
prived his measure of its most efficaci
ous and hurtful operation against the
enemy,through motives of consideration
for the interests of America. The rea
son why his majestv could not feel him
self at liberty consistent with what was
necessary for the i xecution of his pur
pose, in any tolerable degree, to allow
this relaxation to apply to cotton, is to
he found in the great extent to which
France has pushed the manufacture
ol that article and the consequent em
barrassment upon her trade which a hea
vy impost upon cotton, as it passes
through G. Britain to 1* ranee, must ne
cessarily produce.
a t.wmui H inun irom catling tne nt
tcmion of the* govt rnment of the United
States to the contrast between the dif
ferent modes in which his majesty’s or
ders, and these of France, are carried
into execution. By his majesty’s the
utmost consideration is manifested for
the interests of those nations whose
commerce he is reluctantly compelled
to impede, and ample time allowed for
their becoming acquainted with the new
regulations and conforming to them.
\\ here as France, without anv previous
notice, and \\ ithout any interval, applies
her orders to trade already entered upon
in ignorance of any such orders, and
subjects to condemnation ships, whose
voyages,when commenced,were- in strict
conformity to all tlie* regulations at that
time promulgated bv France.
Fven with these* and other modifica
tions, his majesty is not unaware that a
measure extorted from him hv the in
justice of the enemy, must inevitable
prodtlce inconvi niences to the neutral
parlies w ho a <* uTectcd by its-opi ration.
The right of his majesty to is ‘-ort to
retaliation cannot be questioned. The
stiff. ring occasioned to neutral parties is
incidental, and not of his majesty's seek
mg.
In the exercise of this undoubted
right, his majesty lias studiously < mica
voured to avoid aggravating unnec essa
rily the inconveniences suffered by the
neutral. And I am Commanded by hig
majesty, especially, to represent to the
government of the United States, the
earnest desire ol his majesty, to see the
commerce ol the world restored once
more to that freedom which is necessa
ry lor its prosperity ; and his readiness
to abandon the system which has been
lorceit upon him, whenever the enemy
sh ill retract the principles which have
rendered it necessary : but his majesty
entertains the conviction, upon which
alone his present measures are founded,
that it would be in vain to hope for
such a retraction, until the enemy shall
himscli have been made to feel n portion
ol the evils which he has endeavoured
to inflict upon others.
1 have the honour to be, with great
consideration and respect,sir, your most
obedient humble servant,
i). M. Erskine.
Hon. James Madison, Sec’ry of State-.
It is stated that the French prize
court, about the 1st ol F* oruary, decli
ned passing sent. nee oi. two vrs.-> Is from.
New-Aork, which had bee:. iu
1 tr having been spok.n on the j .ssage
by British cruisers, until it uns knoxL n
xvhfit part the American government
xvould take.
The case of John Smith, of the Senate
of the United States, has been decided
in his favour. The resolution for ex
pelling him, w as negatived by a majo
rity of one t ote.
Congress are to adjourn on Monday
next.
1 lie bill for raising an additional ar
my oi 6580 men, has passed into a law.
A bill for defining and punishing
treason, has passed in the Senate.
A bill has been reported by Mr.
Randolph, in the House of Re presenta
tives, for arming the whole of the mili
tia of the United States.
The building of gun-boats is said to
be suspended.
Accounts from New-Orleans, of the
16th February, mention that several
English frigates were at the mouth oi
the Mississippi.