Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-12-19

co Wltnln the ilinlt5 VI inc local love-
reign, and degradation Of every 9TH
er nation from its common rights and
equal rank.
Slit be contsnded that the decree,
as a retaliation on RE other GeHieerent,
~ at the espi..a Of neutral ma
tiops. is jsitihsd by cuIpable &C
quiescence IN The prior meafures Of
that belligerent, operating thro lgh
neutrals, you will be able to deny
such acquiefcence, and to urge more
over, that, on every .fuppoGtion, the
reta liating meafures could NOT be
juitly intorced, in relation to neu
trails, without allowing them at leaft
a Reasonable time for chuing be-
tween due meafures againa the prior
wrong, and an ac9uiefcence In both.
The copy of the approximations to
the Britiih government, through irs
minilfer here. on the fubjed Of its
orders o. January, 1907, viii at once
difprove an acquiefcence en- the part
Of the United States, and explain, the
grounds on which the late extension
ofthe french decree of November,
300, is an Object of juit remon-
france.
[" The conduct of the French
government in giving this extended
operation 10 its decree, and indeed
in ifuing one with fuch an apparent
or doubtful import againa the rights
of the feas, is the more extraordina-
ny, inasmuch as the inability to en-
force it en- thar element, exhibited
the meafure in the light ofan empty
menace, at the fame time that it az
tordsd fretexfI to Der enemy for ieyere
retaliati0ns for which ample means
are found in her naval fuPeriOrity.
I" The accumulated dangers 10
which the illegal proceedings Of the
belligerent nations have fubjeeted the
commerce and navigation of the u
nited States, have at length induced
Congress TO relort to an embargo on
our owH veffels, as a measure beit
fitted for the crihS, being an effe6tual
fecurity for OR mercantile property
and mariners, now at home, and dali
ly arriving, and, at the fame time, nei-
ther a mcalure, nor juit cauie, of war.
Copies of this act were, ioon after
Its PAhagc, tranfmitted to Mr.. Pmck-
ncp with an authority to allure the
Britifh government, that it was TO be
viewed in this light, and that it was
not meant to be the flightelt impede
ment 10 amicable negotiations with
foreign governments he was re-
queltted to avail himfelf Of an oppor-
tunity of communicating to you and
Mr.. ErviHg this view of the fubjea,
and | hope that you viii have been
thenoe enabled TO prefent il to the
French government. Not relying
however on thar indirect opportuni.
ty, | fend by this another copy ofthe
act, with an inltruaion from the
PreGdent, tina. you make it the fub-
jeet Of fuch explanations as will guard
agaiHA any misconception OF the
policy which led to it. 1t is ftrietly
a meafure Of precaution, required
BY the dangers incident TO external
commerce, and, being indifcriminate
in It's terms and operation towards all
nations, can give no juit offence to
any The duration of the act is
not fixed BY itfelf and will COME
quently depend OH a continuance or
ceiiation of It's causes in degree fuf-
ficient 10 the judgmefe Of the legis-
lature, TO induce or forbid It's repeal.
1t may be hoped, that The mcaavenien-
ces felt fran it BY the 6eLigerent nations,
may lead to change of the conduct
which impofed the inconveniences of
it on ourielfes. Fnmre herfelf will
be a fufferer, and fome of her allies
far more 70. 1t will be very agreeable
10 find in that confederation, and till
more in her fenfe Of jufice, fulfil
cient motive TO an early manifestation
of the refpect due 70 cur commercial
rights. Tie example 70oadd be 7U5rby
Of the ftgcBim5 qrticb tbs males TO the
1rorla on this Jflbef7."
NOTE.