The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-04
Wbe Gnqutrer.
RICHMOND, Dscknssx 4.
FRENCH DECREE.

- FRENCH DECREE.
AT moment, whcn every american nerve
ihould be exerted for the defence of our rights
againtt Brit'ih cncroachments, Federalifts at
tempt to collect arguments from all quarters on
the hde Of Gaeat Britain. With what conf
dence, they demand, can the u. s. oppofe The
Brtifh cncroachments. when they 70 fubmiiiiye-
ly acquicice in Bonaparte's blocksding decree
As IL Is an important ohjett to unite the nation
agairH g. Britain, .t W. examine the principle
affirmed by thefe gentlemen.
Every natin" has rigbt to pats fIch munich
pal laws as fhe peaits 70 adopt, whether for
jnitice or for trade, for her own fu6jects or for
foreigners, whether in the heart or on the bor-
dert of her empire; provided ihe reipccts the
obligation Of freaties.
Has not France right to make regulations
for her own port>? May fhe not exclude or admit
any tPecies of cargo ar boito,ns as her policy or
her caprice may dictate provided fhe does it
with due regard to 'hs rights of other nations
as fecured by treaty.
. Her 6Ioekading decree Gas it has heen called)
IS III reality nothing but municipal regulation.
The fi.R article certainly declares G.. Britain
To bS in tate Of blockade; hut az yet there
is nothing in the acts or declarations OF the
government which maniftG Ter regolu,ion 20
interpret that article, &C, 0rline to the ufna "a
crpt alton of the term " bI0ck-,ir" There is
nothing in the context of the other articles man.
ifeiting fuch fpirt. Mons. Decree letter (for
himieif) expreisly diiavows fuch prcteniion.--
The decree itieif as it has been eeecuteS, ahures
1t 4; and there is nothing in tn, IA ,plemental de-
cree, lately pnhlialed, thar flows it TO be the
i;tention of France to give it more formula
Die contraction.
1t IS An acknowledged maxim that every ma
ton is the hcR interpreter Judge of it's ozun laws
Every nation is TO be fuppofed TO be the bef
acquainted with its own meaning. Every na-
ton is to determine whether any par,csiar de-
cree is to pats as mere municipal rep ulalion, or
| general aatute affecting the law OF nations 4;
whether 1t IS 10 operate within her own ports
only, or To extend into tie high feas. No
neutral nation has the right to protest againt the
words or ipirit OF iuch a decree, 10 long as its
se'5frHdioU and execution are arietlv compati-
| bic with the laws OF nations or ;he POPULATIONS
| OF treaty.
How then, we ak, does France bsrjtLf inter-
! pref this decree Does lhe conltrur it into A
blockade OF the Britiili lies and dependencies
Does fhe flop, ieze and corilcate every neutral
veflti, that is bound to or from her enemy's
ports Neither her late supplemental decr~e of
the 18th of Sept nor the lzf INTERPRETATION of her
marine courts, are in conformity with this idea.
The George Warrington. an American vefieI,
had touched at Britiih port and afterwards
made To the uinilter of tie Interior at Paris.
| Docs be declare that the George Wilmington
was TO be conlifcated, for having violated the
decree OF the Sit OF How. He does not
Mons. Crete, declares that his maicGy had g con.
ji-niea the oDpOftions Of bis decree" aud gre.
Gently prefcribed lis FRS e*ecu.ion," and yet
the only coutequence OF THIS decree is, that the
George tYae::nGten IS rot to .s tt.i.. r..ifii.
on" into the port o. Bordeaux. She is not to
he conficated for touching at a Britifh port ;
nut i. merely 10 be secluded from French
port.
The Supplemental decree of the 9Th Sept. il
IN The fame fpirit. Ii merely confirms the 18th
and 6rh Articles of the decree of the eIa Nov
The 9Th article determines. that veilcl inail be
(, 02,nifis3 into French pert, which Nia.l have
iSopped in Eag!and, OF ihali l:ave been conduct
! cd tairhcr." Is not this n5uniciIa! regulation
fFbe a.6ca,t;cle merely enf9rc-J the former
by snactins penalty aa2intt ihoie who ihai
. coniravene this diipohion" and 90 by a ys!j:
declaration Shall diHiTuIaie their having aop.
! ped IN England" IN this cafe, the yehsl as wei
as cargo, are 20 he &" fezed and confiicated az
EneIh property" All laws mutt have De.
naiiy; and this ia the penalty attached to a vi.
oiation OF this law of France and as well r1igh,
4 Grsat-BrItafn complain of our Jorteiting her
vefieIs' for (n'aggLiHg, as We could complain oil
the French government executing a mere com.
nsrciai regulation, which fhe had the right ia
/ maze, and which entrenchcs no more uyon our
, own I'M ereits than on hoie OF other neutraIs.
/ France mad no right opsfi this decree, pro.
! vidsd II violates the hipulations OF her convcnti
on o. 500 But this is not the cafe. The on
/ " articles Of that convention which con be Gls
T a'jfA - toich THE point, are the 9Th, lI,h AND
! lgih.
/ 1h- 6'h while it declares generally that
t" commerce oetweeG :he parties HAIL be free"
particularly sGipulles, that - the veiIsls of The
two naIlons.-- ihiII be treated in thc refce9 Give
/ ports a. bsl@ sftbe aa!ioa tie meP +aq,aDred.'i
- The jJh Art. coatains d liquidation of the
DerI Ian1e fort with rcpeGt to the duties or i'm.
POI!j to &c paid blythe CITIZENS of eitaer nation
4" IN TIE ports. Ravens, roads, countries, Hands
cities {, towns" Of The other, or in paifiug from
oIr pvt TO ANOTHER port in tne famcv another
country. $50; that according TO ttefe two
articles, thr u. Stltes have no caufe OF CON.
PLANT aeanit Fraace, bscaofe they are by this
decree placed on The fame footing with the
(, nT5F EaV2red nation; this decree in reality ma.
| king no exceptions. As to the I2th ar.
ticie, it merely provides for the unlimter, free.
dom oftrsdr lconlraJaudgoods excepted 'sf-on
any port whatever, 10 any port, of the enemy
| OF toe other" cafe, which is evidently ont oil
thr t'tGis Of che decree becaul. this merely
rritrids the trade Of the U. S-aes " from an
enemY's port,"-not to an eDealy'g port,-but
tos FyeReh port.
The q. s. have therefore no adequate caufe
of complaint ag1inlt France nor ha5 G. Britain
any right to comPllin Of our tacily acquiefcisr