The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-05-28


defroy all certainty of contribution, and
open aboundlels field Of controversy to
the contracting parties.
1t refults from the very nature Of Z
contract which affects the rights of the
parties, but not ofothers, and from the
admifion Of a general rule Of action,
binding independent of compact, which
may be changed by content, butt only
changed 70 far as that content is actual
ly given, that a treaty between any two
nations mutt leave to all others thofe
rights which the law Of nations ac-
knowledges and mutt leave each Of
the contracting parties fubje6 to the
operation Of thofe rights. For the truth
of this petition, believed to be 70 clear
in itfelf, and which it is fuppofed the
hifory Of all Europe will illulfrate, the
ordonnance Of I744, already quoted is
confdered as furnilhing an uneqniyocal
authority. By that ordonnance theIaw
Of nations is applied to all thofe neu.
trails with whom France had not ltipu-
lated, that the quality Of their bottoms
fhould be impaired to their cargoes,
while tbofe with whom Guch ltip1lations
had been made are exempted from the
application Of the law.
The defire Of eftabEhing universally
the principle that neutral bottoms lhall
make neutral goods, is perhaps fell by.
no nation on earth, more frongly than
by the United States. Perhaps no ma
ton is more deeply interelted in its
eltabliihment. lis an Object theykeep
in view, and if not forced ~ violence,
to abandon, they will purfue in fuch
manner as their own judgment may
dictate as being bet calculated to attain
Fir; hat the with to eltabhfh principle
is efentialy different from determina-
ton that il is already eitablilhed- The
tinterefs Of the United States could
not fail TO produce the wifi, their duty
forbid them to indulge it, when decid-
ing on mere right. However folicit-
Gus America might be TO purfue all
proper means, tending to obtain for
this principle the adent Of all or any Of
the maritime powers Of Europe, ihe
never conceived the idea Of that CON
1ent by force.
The United States will only arm 10
defend their own rights, neither their
policy nor their interefS permit them
TO arm, in order 10 compel furrender
fot the rights Of Others. Thele and 9TH
or considerations, which have beeu fub-
nitted to the government Of France,
produced on TIE part of the United
States, decifon, that their bottoms
could not of right protect the goods Of
a belligerent power from an enemy not
Bound to refpef the principle. This
EIecifion was founded on the mott per-
lef conviction that it was enioined by
he law of nations, and that good faith,
relPet for truth, and for the duties Of
an upright and hOnef judgment, rem
dered it indifpenfble. This conviction
remains unfhaken. If thele arguments,
which fill appear concluhve TO the
| American government, have not the
fame operation on thes Judgment of
France, they mutt at leat be fuficient
to evince the fncerity with which that
government has acted, and to prove
that its conduit in this refped, was pro-
duced bya fenfe of duty, and not by
F2ny Partially for nation againlt which
it was, at that time, comfortably irrita-
ted by other caufes.
The undersigned, citizen minifer,
RELY TOO irnnlicitlv on Ynl1r- candnr and