Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-12-27

~ VIC secretary OF state Dv the envoy or
Great Brirain, dated the 31st of August
1904, in which he observes 81 have re-.
ce1yed Information respecting several ves-
/ sells which have Of late been armed in, and
have sailed from diffcrens ports of the II.
States, some loaded with articles contra
band Of war (gun.powdrr is said to be the
general article) others with eargoes fin
nocent goods, and Others again in ballast.
After the diligent inquiry which il has
been my duty to make on so important a
subject, think | can havethe honor Of
stating with certainty, that several vessels
of the above description, which are men
toned to be schooner rugged, have sailed
lately from the port of baltimore, whilst
Others Of larger size, even ships Of con-
siderable burthen and completely equipped
for war, have sailed from Philadelphia
bound to the possessions of his Majesty's
enemies in the East as well as the West
Indies It's said that the object of some
Of these equipments sto force trade with
the blacks 10 the island of St. Domingo.
in which attempt the public prints have
stated SO enthusiastically, as TO leave no
doubt whatever on the subeet-.----that
two American vessels have been captured
by French cruizers, after making resist.
ance. Butt have strong reason to balieve
that the destination of others particularly
from the port of Philadelphia have been
with cargoes Of contraband articles TO the
enemies possessions ia the East and West
Indies.
. Let their destination, however, be
what they MAJ, it cannot, conceive, but
be Justly considered, that such ornaments,
on the part of the citizens of neutral
state, must be attended with consequences
prejudicial to belligerent power, and may,
therefore, be deemed rightly as offensive,
for which reason the law of nations has
stated one of the FIRST obligations of neu.
trality to be that of abstaining from all par
tcipation in warlike expeditions. The arm
ed vessels alluded TO. may become the pro.
perty of the Kings enemies either by cap
ture at sea or by purchase in the ports to
which they are destined, and are thus in
readiness to be converted Immediately into
instruments of hostility against his Majcs.
ty, whilst in another point of view they are
calculated to protect, the vessels when they
are loaded with conuaband articles, against
the lawful search and detention, of law
fully commissioned cruizer, when the lat. !
ter shall be of inferior force. Indeed |
conceive, that it may not be giving TOO
great an extent to the principle of the law
of nations, withou: attending to the nature
of the cargo, to consider the very arms,
amunition, and other implements of war,
with which such vessels are furnished as
contraband articles, when the vessels have
been thus equipped without the authority
of the nation to which they belong.
I understand, Sir, the ornaments in
question have in fact taken place under no
commission or authority Whatever from the
government, of the United States. have
therefore thought it my duty to have the
honor Of making you acquainted with the |
information that has reached me on this |
subject, and if the observations which |
have taken the liberty to make upon it |
should happily be conformable to the sen,i. |
ments Of the American government, can |
safely trust to their justice, as we'll as to !
their jealousy of observing the most strict
neutrality in the present war, TO take such |
measures as~shall appear to them the most
proper for suppressing the illegal proceed
ings complained of on the part of those In /
di7iduals, citizens of the United States, |
who shall appear to be concerned in them.
In letter from the Charge d'Aaairss of
France, dated the 9TH Of May, 1904, and ad.
drsaed to the Secretary Of State, he obfsfyes,
IS The undersigned is informed in manner which
leaves him no room to doubt il, that the Amer-
can merchants, who purfue this commerce lmean.
ing the commerce with St, Domingo) pnslicly
arm in. the ports of the United States, vefIels
which are intended ts rapport by force traffic
contrary to the law OF narions. and to repel the