Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-26


ton of their rights as belligerepts, and by
this abuse and herversion of the neutral
trade, supplies and rights, France, more to J
save herself from ruin than in revenge OF !
retaliation, ordered the cargoes OF the same |
neutrals, thus unlawfully prohibited their |
ordinary trade with her unblockaded ports, |
to be carried into France; not as prize, |
but to feed her people and to be paid tor at
the prices of the ports of destination. It'll
there were any thing either unjust or un-
kind in this act, it is plain and undeniabie,
that the treaty of England with Russia and
her anterior practices from the 18th OF No..
vember preceding, brought 1t on. France,
left to fair neutral trade, and not seeing the
neutrality of other states borne down, would
have hadno occasion for this measure. She
had better right to take the cargoes OF
neutrals (paying fairly for them) to feed her
children, than Britain had to prevent the
neutrals from independently going to trade
in innocent goods with France, in order to
starve her. The retaliation of such a mea-
sure on England, France indemnifying the
neutrals) was agreeable to the known law
of nations. But the question is-7vho FRO
duced this refaiating measure ofthe French
government /? The answer is-EngtdnG.
She is the committer of the original aggres-
sions on neutrals, and the cause of the de-
| ienSlVe retallauOnS Oh L rance.
In June, 1898, England, provoking the
continuance of such measures ct France,
and avowing it to be in execution OF her
March treaty with Russia, issued her June
orders of council, to stop all cargoes ofpro-
visions bound in neutral vessels to France.
1t was done to defeat the French struggles
for liberty, and American independent trade
and navigation. She had before stopt other
lneutrals. England Wanting in that Z" supe-
! riority at sea" which her Russian treaty
gave, and which has aggravated the rage of
her enemies, and bent upon the monopoly of
commerce, put forth these orders or June,
1898. To complete her deliberate sins "a
gainst Deutrals and against her belligerent
adversary, Britain secured an indemnity TO
her ministers for any order of council, how.
ever contrary to the law of nations, the
common law of England or the parliament
! tary statutes. The 26th section of the En-
glish act of the 18th OF June, 1875, indem-
nihes their ministers for every possible vi
olation of neutral rights and trade, under
orders Of council; and for every possible
violation of the usages of war among bel!i-
gerents under these orders. The Constitu-
ton of England was thus nged--destroy.
ed-in order to destroy her enemy, who is
pretendedt to be an aggressor on such u law
less and despotic enemy, by n much later
decree of November, 1907. In this attempt
TO destroy an enemy, neutrals are attempt
ed to be deprived, during the whole war,
of all the protection of the law of nations
fhe M7p Of morals. The base vote of 7m-
dor parliament, that an executive procla.
nation of the king of England could repeal
ITS acts, was tobe realized as to us, or would
: be, if we suffered it. Americans Never
SO to sea on such mean conditions. Probe
| now 10 the bottom this cancer on your hon..
or--your interests-your independence.
| The heart sickens with indignant agitations,
when the insolent and pernicious perpetra-
tor of such gross aggressions, basey insults
our wrongs by pretending to right of re-.
f4iidfion. IT'S time for these things to end.
| The autumn of 1898 exhibited one more
gross violation of neutral rights by the Bril-
fish government. All neutral supplies for
the French colonies even of innocent goods
destined to unblockaded ports to which we
could trade by the French peaCe-Arrete of
! August, 1874, were directed to be seized
by the secret order of the British king in
council ofthe 9th November, 1898 and all
French colonial produce, though neutral
property, even in the vessels of the allies of
! England, warning with France, were so
authorised to be seized by the same order
! of council Mad and despotic Britain tits
| by such acts, repeated often till the summer
| of 1906, that you brought upon Yourself and
upon the neutral world the Berlin decree of
the 18th of November, 1906. Your suisse
I quent acts of 1907 have brought on the Mi
Ian and Bayonne DEGREES, and the Amer-
can states. too efrctually embargoed by
these Interruptions of neutral trade through
your aggTesSions and the retaliations of your
foes, are rendered forcibly country Of ag-
TTcHft~re and 7CaniJdc(ures alone.
Americans, consider for yourselves the
historical truths here offered to your view
ask yourselves, whether France, IN peace,
ever arrested your commerce with England
against French laws, as England did by you
and France in 1892 Ask yourselves, whe-
Their 1t is proved on such authority as that
OF Hamilton, that France in 1875 formed
the project of Remembering your country,
as Britain did Ask yourselves whether
I France, in 1898, agreed with Russia to ag.
gress upon you in manner unexampled,
by engaging to deprive you of all commerce
with England!
| IL is very true that France has made ma
ny severe DEGREES, deeply affecting neutral
trade. Heaven knows, that we do not mean
TO countenance France in any wrong; but
England has unfortunately pressed upon
your'consideratio the doctrine Of reIaliati-
on upon belligefents, and the right of one
power at war to draw from neutrals those
1 benefits, which the other beIiioerent In hi