Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-08-22

and the successes of BOnapartc must tend to
confirm us III the grouud we have taken
Freedom of the seas must be the result Of
general peace; the cOnqucror Of Prussia
VIII dictate The terms, and fix the guaran-
tee. Great Britain has no other alterna-
tive but an admission Of tine principle or
being out-lawcd. And as the news of the
position we have taken will reach Bonapar-
te before peace can be concluded, he viii
no doubt be more firm on Tearing that Ame-
RIGA is with him on the great principle of
flag security and free bottoms: and the
energies of our government will certainly
not be relaxed ON receiving the news ofthe
battle of Friedland. Satisfaction for the
murder OF our citizens on board the Chesa-
peake is "A distinct question.
WE believe it is universally admitted
that every nation has an undoubted right
to regulate commerce in It's own ports, and
to lay sue, restrictions upon vessels trad
ing to them as the government may think
proper; and such exercise of POWER has
never been openly considered as good
cause for hostilties ON the part Of those
ut WHOM the interGictions were levelied
Il was n virtue OF this right, inherent in
all nations, that RonapaTtc issued his fa-
nous decree OF November 1906, which,
/
/ decree, was in fact nothing more tnana set
| OF prohIl'icory regulations relative 20 the
| importation of British manufactures into
| France. The French decree does not for
bid the intevcctrrse from one port 70 another
| port OF GTeat-Sr;tain; ii merely in,evdicts
the communication between British and
French ports in neutral vessels But the
! British government, making NE French de-
/ cree an crCiSc for q most Elaring usurDa-
ton ofpower, declares that 10 ulraIs shall
notbe perm tied TO trade from Gone port to
mother, both which ports belong to or be-
ing in possession of France or their allies,
on shall he SO far under their control that
British ships may not freely trade thereat."
! We remember very we'll a wear or two ago,
the British writers ON the subject OF neu-
trail rights fully admitted the right of neu-
trails to carry on such trade in time Of war
as they had been permitted 10 prosecute in
time OF peace; the principal question in
dispute was, whether they were privileged
/ to carry on a trade through any new chan
nels which the belligerents might open for
them. Having granted tire general right
to ncutrals that their war trade should be
carried on to the same ports as their peace
trade Excepting of course, biockar'ed
places,( 1t would hardly be expected that
Great-Brtain would be the first to violate
the principle: Bat she has done so and
thereby been guilty Of one OF the most glar-
ing acts OF maritime tyranny on record.
jABrccaJ!y to the subjoined order no Amc-
rIcan vessel can sail from a Spanish TO a
French port from 81 Dutch to a French
port; from French port to a French
port; from a French to an Italian port or
Vice TeTGS without running the risk Of
capture and condemnation from British
vessels Cf war.
The following (beiug the order alluded
TOY was endorsed on the register Of the
ship Amsterdam Packet, bound from Am
Sterdam to Bordeaux, which was brought
10 by one OF the British squadron off the
| Texel:
M me court NJ 81. lanes, 7fh January,
1907, anil the 47th year # our reigr
Our VIII and pleasure is that no vessels
Shall be permitted to trade from one port
to another, both which ports belonging to or
hcing IN possession of France or their allies,
or shall DC so far under their control that
British ships may not freely trade thereat.
You are hereby ordered to warn every
neutral vessel coming from such ports, to
discontinue her voyage and not to proceed
to any such ports.
And III case any vessel, after being so
warned or any vessel coming from such
ports, after reasonable time has been az
forjcd for receiving information Of our or
iders IN this respect, shall be found pro-
ceedng to any other such port, YOU arc to
capture and bring in such vessels for le-
gal aGiudicatic. thereof.
BIZ his myestys command
y TBUE corr, i. ". p.
Commanding his majesty's Sd armed cut
ter Prince Augusta
Given under my hand the path day Of
May, 1907
CHARLES PITT.
Whilst the infraction of acknowledged
neutral rights which this order authorlse.
is sufficient TO rouse the Indignation Of th,
b most cold blooded citizen Of America, a
, CLEAN of satisfaction breaks in upon us from
J the evident sensinility 0f the British, mani.
tested by this very usurpation, relative &,
their commerce. The French decree ha.
pierced Great-Brit1in below the cu.icle
and the wound begins 90 smart. Hence
this order hence the order relative TO IN,
, inhabitants Of Bremen and Hamburg w,
view the two as closely connected =,
z commerce is 10 be allowed with the port
q of France and those Of her alice, unless
> lGrcat-Britain paTtakcs of &C. The com
! merce Of the world is % he destroyed u.
. less the English come in for snacks. Th,
e..