Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-05-23

instances Of such indigni.y Is we have %
song suffered. - -
The objects Of negotiation between
Mr.. Monroe and the British ministry are
SO various, complex and important that
We shall for = long time learn nothing but
eonjectures ofthe probable result, foun.
ded on the progressive developement of
British views, principles and concessi-
ons. The trade, carried on by Amer.
cans between the colonies Of France,
Spain, and Holland, aud the mother
countries, and the impressnent Of A.
nerican seamen, were the principal sub.
jeets heretofore under diseussion-our
trade with the East and West India pos
sessions Of Great Britain, is We believe
the subject now in negotiation. On al
these points there is ample room fer in
vestigation and deliberation, and these
could never have been conducted At q
moment more favourable to the interest
Of the United States.
We" find in the London MornipK
Chronicle Of the Sd March, the follow
ing interesting article-itis,h the substance
OF the remonstranee presented BY Mr..
Monroe:
"The remonstranee presented by Mr..
Monroe to this government states, that
he had Aattered himselfhc should have
had an early answer 70 his former re-
monstrance. But the subject, he says,
has become the more important, by the
continuance of the same policy, and the
frequent seizures which are. still made
OF American vessels, places him in =
state Of great responsibility. He adds,
that the more he reflects on the subject
the more he is convinced it is contrary
to the understood law Of nations, and e
qually rePpgnant to the agreement be-
tween the two governments, in respect
TO the commerce in question.
BY the Law ofnations, as settled by the
most approved authors. no other re-
straint is acknowledged on the trade of
neutral nations, with those at war, than
that it shall be impartial between the lat
ter that It shall not extend to articles
deemed contraband Of war nor to the
transportation Of persons in military ser.
vice; nor to places actually blockaded
or besieged. Every other commerce Of
aueu,ral with a belligerent is lawful, and
every other restraint BY a belligerent on
q neutral unia wful.
The list Of contraband Is we'll defined.
a. are also the circu instances which con-
stitute ablo"kade. The best authorities
have united in conSuing the 6rst to such
articles a. are.pssd in war aud are apple
cable to military purposes ahdr.quire
to constitute the latter the disposition of
such a force, Consisting Of stationary
ships, 30 near the Fort, - to make Il
dangerous for the ships ofa neutral pow.
er to enter II. -,
The vessels condemned were eugag-
ed in commerce between the United
States and some port in Europe, or be-
tween those states and the West India
islands, belonging to the enemies of G.
Britain. In the European voyage, the
cargo consisted of the production of the
colonies. In the voyage to the West
Indies, Il consisted Of the goods Of the
power to which the colony Belonged, and
to which the ship was destined. The
ship and cargo, In every case, were the
property Of American citizens and the
cargo had been landed, and the duty Of
Il paid, in the United States. 1t was
decided that these voyages were CONT
huous, and the carsoes were condemned
ON the principle, that the commerce was
illegal. =
These seizures are incompatible with
the law Of nations as above stated; they
involve no questions Of centrahand or
blockade. On what principle then can
these seizures be defended T! On princi.
pies laid down in series Of orders i.su-
cd BY the British government in 179S,
1874, 1923. By the 1hrst of these or.
ders, all commerce between neutrals and
enemy's colonies 10 forbidden, though
the other orders afterwards a little relax
this rule. In support of these orders it
ham hAAv4 a1~xal Sk~k