Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1806-02-20

Accompanying the MeAage OF the Prefdcnt.
GRzAr ArCuMBlRLAND PLAcB-No. n.
Mr. loRD. Ssptembsr zs. 1905.
Ilauertd myielf. from what pailsd ia our last.
interview, that fhould have been honored, be-
tore this, with an ani~er from your Iordihip,
10 my lette,s. reipettine the late leizure OF A.
merican vefiss. l underRood Il 20 be agreed,
that the diicuihon ~sSeh then rook place, ihould
be conhdcrcd az Unofficial. az explanatory only
OF the ideas which we nigh, respectively enter
tain on the iubjett. and that your Lordihip
would astrrwsTds give me fuch reply 10 nv
letters, reipctting that meafure, a. his msicAys
governments might deGre to have communicated
TO the governmcnt of the United States. la
coniequence. have fncc waited with anxiety
fuch Communication. In the daily expectation
ofreceivingit. IL is far from being ny deGrc
TO give your loIdihip any trouble in thin bu en-
eis which l can avoid, ~ the time which has
hnce elapfed foficiently fhews. But the preat
importance Of the fobjea, which has indeed be-
come more 70, by the continuance OF the fame
policy, and the frequency Of ieizures which are
mil made OF American vehels, place ne in a e.
tuation OF pccSliar refponGbiliiy. My govern
ment will exPett OF me coueei information on
this point, in all its views, and am very, de-
hron' OF complying With iu juA expectation. I
mut' therefore. again reqoeR that your lord
mp VIII DC 10 good as TO enable me to mako
iuch rePIeientation to my government. Of that
meainre, az his msjeRy's government may think
proper TO give. .HsOg
am iorry TO add. that the loneer.I / have re-
iietted on the fubjett, the more confirmed have
been IN the objections TO the meafurc. live
examine II In reference to the law of nstions. is
appears TO me 20 be repugnsnt 10 every princit.
pie OF that law; Il by the understanding, or sS
u may be more properly called. the aereemsns
OF our governments Ieipeetiug the commerce in
quetion, IconGder itequally repuanant TO the
principles OF thar agreement. Ia both thefe
vicws your lordfhip will permit me 10 make
tome additional remarks on the fubjeA.
BY the law of nations, 40 fet,led by the mofS
approved writers, no Other reilraint 10 scknow-
ledged on the trade Of neutral nations. with
ihoie At war, than that il be impartial between
the latter ; that il 0hall not extend to article,
which are deemed confraband Of war nor 20
the transportation Of perfons in military fcrvice,
nor to places stiualIy blocksdcd OF hefcped,
Every other commerce of neutral with bell
ligerent, 10 confdered . lawful commerce and
every other rRfaint On il to either of the bel
ligerents BY the other, % unlawful feHraint.
The liR OF consrsband 10 we'll deined--as
are ALTO the cifcumifances which copfiisute =
blockade. The beft authorities have unised IN
conhning the ifR to fuch articles - are ufed in
war, and are applicable to military porpoies
and requiring, TO conai.ute the latter, the dif-
poition Of fuch force. conGAing Of assionary
ihips. 10 near the port, by the power which at-
tacks il, - to make il dangeross for the vxiIcl
OF neutral power to enfcr Il. The late treaty
between Great Bfifsin and Rufia, deGpn,tes
thcie cifcumRarces - neccHary 10 conRifute Z
blockade. and il 10 believed thar Il was never
viewed before in light more favorable to the
Invading power. w..
1hs vriIels condemned we're engaged Ia COM
mcsce between the United States and fome pore
in Esfopc. or between thofe Rates and the w.
India Hands, belonging TO IN enemy Of Gseas
Britain. In the Eoropean voyage the cargo con-
dRcd Of the psodstiions Of the colonies in the
voyage TO the Wet Indies, il coniiaed Of the
goods Of the power to which the colony belong.
ed, and to which the fhip vas defined. The
nip and cargo in every cafe, we're che psopssty
Of American ci,izeos, and the cargo had been
landed aod the duty on Il psid in the Unitcd
States. II was decided that fhele voyages were
continuous, and the vefeIs and carRoes were
condemned on the principle that the commerce
was Illegal. ] beg 10 refer more efpesislly in
this eaiement 10 the cafe Of the EHex an sp-
peal frcm the judgment Of the Vice Admiraliy
Court at New Providence, in which the Lords
Commi6iopcn of Appeals 10 confirming shse
isdement, eftablifhed this doctrine.
II requires but 1ighs view Of the fubjefa to
be G.nied that sheie condemnaiions are incom.
pstible with the law of nations % above aated.-
Nooe Of thefe cafes have involved qseaioa Of
consrsband, Of blockade. or Of any other kind
that wss ever copiefed iil Of late. in favor ofa
bcllieerent sgsioft neutrsl power. IL is NOT on
any principle that it 10 applicable TO sny fach
caufe, shst the meafurc can be defended. On
whas principle ihan is it fspposted BY Great
Britain What 10 the nature and extent Of hee
doctrine What ase the circumfsaces which re-