Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-02-11

which Is the subject of it: and that in most
cases It ought not to operate upon friend to
both. Yet when the scheme was commenced
OF suspending the commercial intercourse
with Great Britain, we were almost stunned
with the cry, that if we acauiesced in British
injustice by which France should be directly
affected France would necessarily counterfeit
it by the laws of her own safety, and that no.
thing would be more consonant with right -
Nay, we were whiningly told In the govern
ment paper, in a style which is not the edi-
tors, but has the flial features Of his patrons,
that France in her unparalleled order of Mo-
vember, only followed the example of Eng
land; as if given portion of wrong commit
ted by one nation would cover every enormity
of another.
Little however as the public have remark
ed the iact-be cause the early prejudiees,
which shroueled the French reTclution, rem
dered it invisble-iittle, say, has it been
attended to, that the first maritime violation
of the law of nations, of signal note, proceed
ed from France. ailude to the decree of
the national convention of the 9th of May,
1928, Infringing the express words of the
treaty, by rendering liable to capture, the
property of theirenerny on board neutral yes.
sells laden with hrovzsioxs and bound to enc
my's ports, tobe brought IN. Notwi hst;Iid-
ing the bitter lamentations ofthe French par
ty, and the odious .execrations they bestowed
on G.. b. it is as true as evidence can make il,
that what was called her attempt to starve
France, was postcricr By the interval OF a
lnorfth o-the outrage upon the treaty and the
law Of nat;ons, and then it did not in imita-
ton OF the French order, subject to capture
lisovisieas generally, 6 earn, Pour, or meal,
bound to any port in France or any port occu-
pied by the enemies Of France" How then
does example work the rule of right here -
What have the ignoblc sophists, who explain
their country's dear bought rights away to
answer to this. Deny it they dare not open
g.
But let us examine tie administration by
the rule of their friends adopting. Could
thing be more likely to summon up the indig-
nation OF power preponderent at sea than
declaration Of her enemy. comprising at crce
the essence of haaghtiness and injury, that
kerisIands were to be considered as magically
bloekaded, that her pl oductions shouldnot be
garfield over the highway of nations, as the
subjects Of lawIul barter. and that nc vessel,
which had visited her ports, should ever after
wards have a reception IN those of France.
Would not such all injury, acquieseedih, give
the right Of retaliation, if any combination Of
circumstances could lawfully turn the revenge
and means ct eouEtcraction of one Of tvo
beligerentsupon neutral. This is not the
place to obtrude my o7vn ot.inion i'll the mat
ter were it of any value. [ merely repeat
that am arguing upon the conduct of the
administrator from the tenets of their parli-
zans. si
Only ten days are wanting to complete .
twelve month between the date of the French
blockadiEg decree and the retallatin. orders
Of Great Britain.--In the beginning of
March last, the unacceptable treaty, which
had been negotiated with Great Britain ar
rived at the city of Washington, and little as
the nation had been permitted 10 know Of
it, one circumstance has escaped the awful
domains of impenetrsble silence, which is
precisely that of reserve having been
made by Great Britain Of her right to reta-
late Bonaparte's decree, should he attempt
to execute it. Fame has elwet upon it as
cause Of the rejection of the treaty. But a
more explicit and detached warning was CIV
EN- in the British order of January. Yet it
will be asked could we compel France 20 re-
scind her decree suppose not; we have
descended by that want OF preparation for the
extremity OF war, for which We are notorious
in Europe, which has often been dwelt upon
at home by our best politicians, but unaccoun-
tably disregarded by the goyernment--we
have descended from that commanding stand
and imposing rank which would have caused
us to be heardWith respect by any ofthe pow
ers. at war. We have, it is true, failed in most
Of our expectations from foreign nations, be-
cause we have foolishly supposed that we
could equity them by haher demonstrations of
the expediency or the justice of our preten-