The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-08

tncm 10 france, as alio to refrain the infamous
cupidity of thofe who, contrary to the law of
nations, fupply the revolted blacks by means of
a trade, the fupprefiion of which is required by
our pertonal responsibility to the emperor Of the
French.
Confidering, that far from having obtained
the end which we expected from this frank and
loyal conduct, the rigor of our principles in ia
YOUR of neutral flags, has become to many a
timulus to their rapacity, aud that it refults
from papers found on board OF prizes lately
condemned, that the greater proportion of neu-
trial veilels failing from the rebel ports are very
carefully and methodically cleared for the ports
OF Dominique, Tobago, St. Thomas, Curacao,
Jamaica, HAVANA, Barracoa, Saint Jago de Gu
ba, Sc.
Confderiug that the officers of the cuGoms
IN ieveral ports of the United States of America,
have even had the impudence to give official
clearances to neutral vefiels for the ports occu-
pied by the rebels, and that i'm many infances
of this kind, they have ufed the fienature of
Prelident Jefferlon, whole julticc was doubslcfs
furprized.
Confdering that from the voluminous corref-
Pondence found on board the captured veflels,
iince our decree of the esd Meflidor, it refuts
that feveral of the mott respectable mercantile
houfes of New-York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
&c. have for long time paft kept up a CONT
nued intercourfe with the revolted blacks, and
have habtually fupplied them with every fort
OF proviiions and warlike flores.
Conlidering that powerful equipments of
neutral veffes for war and merchandise, have
been made in the ports of the United States to
protect this Infamous commerce that the brig
Jane OF Baltimore, capt. Kennedy, of l6 guns,
and failing from port of the rebels, has lately
been boarded and captured, after bloody en-
gagement, by the French privateer, the Superb,
capt. Dominique.
Conidering that it is notorious that the Ame-
rica OF 80 guns, the Connecticut of %, the In
doitan of ID, and feveral other American vec-
iels OF that defcription, are not only engaged in
that eSecrable commerce, but actually tranfport
the arms and ammunition of Dsflaline's army
from one port to another, thereby becoming
the auxiIiares of the black rebels againif
France.
Conldering that fuch conduct on the part of
the fubeets of the United States of America,
cannot be avowed by that government, without
acknowledging explicitly the independence of
the black rebels of Saint Domingo, and provo
king an open rupture with France.
Conliderng that the goth article of the con-
vention of the soth Sept. 1900, ratified 3lit Ju-
ly, 1901, expressly prohibits the citizens of
both the contracting parties, TO receive, pro-
teet, conceal, harbor, or af1ift any pirate and
that notwithstanding, velIels armed under the
American flag, daily convoy and fail in concert
with veiiels OF the negroes, bearing flag un-
known aInongt the civilized powers, and con-
teqnently pirates: which is evidently an in
fraction of that article of the convention, of
which we have carefully executed the cl.ufes
within the extent of our government.
Conliderng finally, that it is our duty, and
for which we are refponfble, to put a flop, by
every effort in our power, to fuch outrageous
abuies, which tend to furnifh profufely the
black rebels with the means of carrying on their
aud oppohng An obfinate reliltance
to his imperial maJefy's amrs, when they lhall be
directed againlt them.
HAVE DEcRErD, & DO DECREE.
ART. 1. All vellels taken either with direct
c!earances Tor ports occupied by the rebels, or
coming out from them with clearances from
the euitom homie, or plauiibly fufpected of
maiked clearance, the better to enfure their
communication with the rebels, may be con-
Quoted into the ports of neighboring iRands,
either neutral or allied, fhewing nevertheless
legitimate caufe oppoiing their carrying them
directly to st. Domingo or SANTANA, derogato-
ry in that infance from our decree of the 9Th
Mefiidor Taft. The captains general, govern
ors, and commanders in thefe illands, who can
no longer doubt the obligations, whereby all
nations ought to concur in meafures to fupprefs
the rebellion in that of Saint Domingo, fllall be
invited to authorize the entry Of thefe vefIels in
to their ports.
2. In this cafe, conformably to our initru6ti-
ons of the 2sth Prairial lat, the functions of
our agents or delegates, are limited to the put
ting on or taking off the feaIs, felectng the do
found on board, receiving the decla
raiions and interrogatoies, authorizing proviii-
onal tales if there fhohld be imminent danger
of damage, which fhall be proved, & in which
cafe they ihall make procefs verbal CT the un-
loading, an inventory of appraifement, and iu-
dlcial tale by adjudication at auction the pro-
ceeds OF which ihall be dcpofited either in the
hands OF foivent merchant, or in thole of the
delegate, to be remitted after defuitive iudg-
ment, to the party il, whole favor the Judgment
ihall be rendered.
g.. The iuit being concluded, the above men
toned proceedings relative thereto, as well as
the th'p's papers inventoried without fubtra6t-
ing under any pretext whatever, the invoices or
bills OF lading) fhal be addrefled to the chief of
administration of the marine Of Santo Domingo,
IN original, who ihall tranfmit them to the
competent tribunal to take cognizance thereof,
and as the original papers might be LOFT, it fhal
be the duty of the agent, or delegate Of ST. Do
nlingo, to depoiit ia his office, co!lated copies
thereof, which copies, in fuch cafe legally pro-
we'd, ihall acquire the full effect and force of the
original papers