The Potowmac guardian, and Berkeley advertiser. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1790-1798, 1796-12-15
THUR S D II Z, DECEMBER IS, 1896.
Certainly i, would have been more eonformab!e


upon the feas, TO lee the commerce OF the United
States enjoy that liberty, that freedom, which ihonld
belong neutral nations: bnt in order to that, t
was nscefsary that it preferred il tree from VIOLATE
on by Great Britain; and if now the execution of
meafures which the Directory is obliged to adopt,
give rife complaints in the United Sites, 1t is
not asainit France thee lhould be objected, bue a
gainft tho(e men who, by negotiations, contrary
TO the interefis of their country have brought the
French government to uie the Prerogatives granted
the Eoeliih.
When, after having fuff red to be violated the
trearis which unite it to France, the government
Of the United States ASSOCIATED ieIf with England
and has rendered its neutrality ufeful that paw
er as it is now injurious rc its ancient ally could
the Republic he lilent : her outraged generoiity,
her wounded honour, prevented her her flence
wrre week.-mrs. and ftrong in principles as IN her
proceedings, ihe hould demand her unacknovleged
forgotten rights.
Thus therefore, as it reluts from the itatement
Which the undersigned miniiter penipotentiary has
inif given.
Ut That the 18th article ofthe treaty OF IS has
BEEN violated that in contempt of this article, the
American tr,bunals have been permitted to take cog
ni2ance Of the validity OF prizes made by French
iips Of and prvateers, under Pretext of orig'
nal armament, augmentation OF armament in the
United States of captrre within the juriidiction-
Il line nf the United States. +.
i
oIasel by the sdmGlon Of Eoelih 1vefs'ls in the
porta of the United States, which bed made prizes
On Nrencf.n-n, and by the admiion OF their pr-
z@s:
The up5rrGpned Tainifter penipotef tiary, in the
nam, and by The orders OF The e:ccueve Glory,
protaiis againr the violation of theS I7ih article,
aEoec cited in contempt of which }he American
,riaun1ls rave taken eognzsnce of the Va ldty OF
p,'2es made by French flaps OF war OF privateers,
under pret,xt of original armament, augmenla.
tico of armament in the Unucd Staes, or Of cap.
ture within the ;1rl'dictiona line ella ms the re.
rie"y of all textures, and the repeal Of all other iu
dical exerciied thoie prizes and protects,
moreover, aganlt all oppcGon to he lale of The
laid prizes
Further, the underGsned t,inifter plenibotentiary
protelEs snainit The violation Of the I7,h article OF
the treaty of IS, in contempt nf which Engliih
vesels, which had made prizes on FreEchmen, have
been admitted into the ports Of the United States;
and declares that the executive directory cannot
gard a infr copltruction of the treaty, the dill
Iinction which Mr. Randolph, fecretary of fate
has etahihed in his letter of zS'h May 'os, in
which he admits only the excluion of the Eneliih
vesrs which brings in their prizes, and whes TO
except from the prohihltory meaiures, the vessels
which after having made prizes enter the ports of
the United States.
The underGgned minilter Plenipotentiary m oreo-
declares, that the executive directory regards
the treatJ OF commerce concleued WIN 1reat Iii
tain violation of the treaty made with France
in IS. aid equivalent atreaty of alliance with
Great. Britain, and that july offended at the con-
dntt which the American goveinneu has held in this
cafe, they have given him orders to iufpend from
this moment his unlterlal functions with the fe1e-
raj government.
The fame canre which for a long TING prevented
the executive directory from allowing their JOLT re-
fenrment to break forth, has alto tempefrd its ef-
fecs Neither hatred, nor the dehre of vengeance,
rapidly !ucceed to friendIhip in the heart ola French
man the name of america Till excitss fweet emo
tions in it, notwithfandin the wrongs of its go
vernment and the executive directory with nos 10
break with people whom they love to talute with
the appcllatGn of friend.
7 be undel Ggned miniter plcni potentiary there
fore announces that the government of the United
States, and the American people are not to regard
the ulpenion Of his functions as rupture between
France and the United States, but mark of juit
dcontent, which is TO la{t until the government of
;he United States, returns ientments and TO mea
urcs more conform ahIe the intereits of the alli
ance and the fworn friendhip between the TWO ma
tioEs.
This alliance was always dear to Frenchfnen ;
they have done every thing tighten IT'S bands !;
The government of the United States, on the contra
ri has fought to break them. Scarcely had the war
broken OUT between France and England when A
merca was alone invited to the commerce OF the an