The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-18
NuMRER III.
To The Editor Of the 4Hornies Chronicle.

To The Editor Of the 4hornirs Chronicle.
SIR,
l yesterday solicited your attention to ,
sGccinct view III the assurances given bv Franc,
I" III, United States, relative to tic operation c
the decree of Nov 1906, and shall, to-day, invoke
ooir indulgence III fave? of some additional re-
marks o. tie same subject Our newspaper spe.
culatIons On This head demonstrate An ignorance OF
the t.uc history c this transaction, that is, me
altogether incomprshcnsiblc, shcn reflect, that
1t was marked by features of character too
prominent 20 have cidcd the most o,,lin;-y po-
Etical or commercial vigilance. The result of
General .Nrsuongs application wis regularly
and promptly notified to the American consuls of
the principal ports of the continent and must
soon have reached this country, it m.ey judge
ifontie t;tciti'y, with which S;e ceiye and .io-
p"g,:c evra TIE most idle runours. This sup
POSITION ,s cot,i.iled ~ fact tilt can'iot have
scapcd Ike recollection o. our merchants. When
'le tlnrcricl decree WIS first 2nncunccd to us,
picIi.ILnls OF insurance on neutral Vessels were
consdc:lbi- enhanced, but soon fell 20 their an
tecedcn; level, in consequence of the arrival of
letters from France md Holland, communicating
upon the authority Of the American ministcr ii
Paris. the explanations detailed in your paper of
Yesterday Il iiiay be well TO suSjoin another cir
substance co.roborltivc oi the opinions with
WHICH could wish the public 10 be mbucd rela-
tive 10 this ait.ir. The Spaniards, Mr.. Jef
1erson mentions in his ,IIesssgc, enacted similar
ned INTO effect against tie american trade As
soon, however. - It's. ci.raions of the French
government, concerning the Original measure,
~eie Laid before thCin by the American Charge
q afidres, at t.lc court d Madrid, CONSTRUCT
o, merely cN-e,;ei,siyc with that o: the French
munster of mann, a;ioptcd, and immediate
ll followed by the Lberat oil or the captured YES
scis The ot tle American ship the Shop
eilays, taken INTO Span under the Spanish order,
ard stewards released upon achanSe sf sys-
tcin most he well known at Lloyds.
AS hong the cition OF 1901, ;,nt, the in
depreciation ot the minister .. marine subsisted
ntheir full force, the deepce WAS as a dead letter
with regard to the American commerce, except
III that article which. eNciucies noI. French ports
ali vessels haviiis previously touched in Engln;
J se United states are not, however, entitled 20
resent this exclusion, although somewhat drtr:-
mental ia their interests. II is but act of com
potent jurisdiction, exercise OF territorial
sovereignty, sanctioned by the authority Of law
AND usage. France has an undoabted right to
gu'ate trade in hir 5sen tsrts, she pleases ;
ard TIE case is widely distinct from an order of
coCnci, n.odit Ing neural ncvisatio: on the high
seas. Aner,:i might resist the one as an usur-
PATTON, when she cosid onlv demonstrate against
the ether, an ncony enient but lawful rssricti-
ON. Opposition Ill one case Is 4 point of honor ;
III the other, a mere question Of eXpediencv.
Should the Internal regulation be evidently iii.
taed by hostile spirit, or be productive of great
rant appeal to arms. This provision of Bona
pare has, however; no such .,ppendages, and is,
III fact, the same i'll pri,icple as one Of our own
navigation laws, prohibiting the importation of :;
particular commodity III foreign bottom. The
exclusion of British manufactures and produce
was the object in view FOR die attainment of the
same end auere certificates Of origin, about which
mulch sehseiess clamor las bsen raised, exac: cd
by the French government, and upon the same
principles was itbut Just to acduiesce in them.
While the II gifts and interests of America
were thus solcnlnly guaranteed by ogfcial qssur-
snccS, and correspondent practice, Great-Bri-
tain could not, with reason, complain of her mac
tNity. Exclusive of the motives derived from
general reasoning, sine has every indncemeiit 20
conclude, that we did not require expect her
u make opposition to the decree, until actually
enforced against her trade. To this precise ef-
iectis the declaration o. his maiest,'s sentiments
the subiec, conve, ed: IN note addressed to
McssIs. Monroe and Pinclincy, the American
commissioners, and signed by our plenpotcntia-
ries, Lords Holland and Aucklnd.--I hall quote
the language of the note, illustrative of my
position "If, however, the enemy should car
So ~ these threats into execution (alludihg to
The tecree) " and If nestral nations should, con
" tralyto al expectation acqpicsce in such usur-
" patic:5, his IA, i sly might probably, be com
' pciiec, however rcluo;anuy, 10 rcl:ate ih his
juat defence, and 10 orders to his CRU zGrs
Is 70 adopt towards ncutrals any hostile system,
90 from lis enemies la this formal arnunciati-
Onof The feelings md intentions of our govern
Incnt, claim but contingent right OF rctalia-
on; VIC render Submission 10 the decree actaaHy
eHf.rceG, the only condition upon which ue are
to be driven TO adopt towards neutrals, similar
hostile system ! need not here suggest, no -
fr lie p,rg,s. .,py OF This note is from afiordine
& justification 10 or late orders OF council
m opinion appears 30 be generally prevalen.
IL this country. that America has almost contract
ed Il habit of SUBMISSION 60 insults and INJURIES
from ance, and has therefore no right to strup
gle, when We choose. t. follow the supposed ex
ample Of our negrbor, ard held the cup OF hl
initiation To lcr lirs Without descantiag on H.
obvious iallacy OF this conclusion, shah procee
to deny the accuracy of the suppositon, on which
our reasoning Is founded. i nave sought infor.
,Gntion on this point from the best sources, anc
can affirm with confidence, tl.o. France, durinl
the last two years, has given no Serious cause O
complaint 20 the government Of the United States
She appears, tie contrary, to have fallen into
of violence, ~ not merely abstaining from out
rage, but BY stGaiously consulting their feelings
and counting uicir friendship. Upon ns impor
tant points, indeed, could the interests Of tic u
uitcd States cuIne into collision with her views
aud whcre partial die enccs haze arisen, dis
position 10 :ddcaDie adjustment has slIewn itsel
With pfomptitude and efficacy. The American
NM c. at P.1is has bee n permitted 70 occupy
gsound rot conccded TO the plcnipo.entiarf.s o
thl g gcat powers of The continent. nc has con
stsntiy SPOKE II ard acted with freedom and dir
I,jtv commensurate 90 his character % tle Repre-