Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-04-26

rlcan property, on pretended principle,
declaring neutral nations from a trade with
the enemies of Great Britain, interdicted
in time ofpeIce. The Injuries suffered by
The cilzens Of the United States, Oh this
mead, arose, not from any public order OF
me British council, but from variation in
the principle, UPON which the courts OF adm =
rally pronuEced their decision.--Tnese de
cisohS have indeed again varied, without
any new orders of council being issued and
IN The higher courts of admiralty, some of
the decisions which had formed the great
est Cause Tor complaint, have been reversed,
and the property restored There still re-
mains, however, Il heavy claim OF indemnify
Tor Cos iiscations, which were made during
the pcriod o these unwarrantable decisions,
and Tor which all negotiation has hitherto
proved unavaiing.
Sd BloCSades notified to the ministers of
the United States 1t London, and thetce
made ground o. CAPTURE, against the trade
OF the United States, - entire disregard of
the law OF nations, and even of the dciini-
ton of legal blockades, laid down by the
British government itse'f l.xamples of
these iilegitinatc bloclxndes. viii b. found
in the notifications of the blockade of MAY
18th, 1906, OF he coast from the river Elbe
to Brest inclusive; blockade of 11th May,
1907, Z )ovnded 1871 June 1907, of the Elbc,
Weser, ard Ems, and the coast between
the same; blockade 11Jh May, 1907, of he
Dardaneiies and Smyrna blockade of 9th
January, 1903, Of Carthssena, Cadiz, ard
81. Lucar, and ofallthe intermediate ports
between Carthagena and ST. Lucar, com.
pretending much greater extent Of coast,
than the whole British navy could block
ade, according, 20 The established law of ma
tions.
9Th Tothese injurise Immediately autho-
rised By the British government, might be
added other spurious blocades by British
naval commanders, particularly that of the
island OF Carrocoa, which for a very con-
siderable period, was made a pretext for
very extensive spolIations OH the commerce
of the United States.
5ih. The British proclama ion Of ctober
last, which makes it the duty Of the British
officers to impress from American merchant
vessels, all such of their crews as might be
taken or mistaken for British subjects
those otGcers being the sole and absolute
judges in the case.
For ihe DEGREES and acts of the French
government, viol ling the maritime law of
nations, III respect 10 the United States, the
committee refer to the instances contained
III the report OF the secretary of state, Jan
! 25ta, 1906, TO the senate, in one Of which.
W. 4 decree of the French gen Ferranti,
1T st. Domingo, are regulations sensibly az
tectiGS the neutral and commercial rights
, OF the u States.
The French act next in order Of time is
! the decree of Nov. d, 1906; declaring the
British isles IN a staIe of blockade, and pro-
tossing TO be retaliation on anteceden pro.
oeSd'nS OF Great Britain violating the law
of nations.
! ELL
British order of January, 1907, protesting
to be 4 retaliation on that decree. and subo
iJectng 10 capture the trade of the United
States, from ihe port of one beliigcrent to
the port or another; and secondly, by the
orders Of November last, protesting TO be a
further retaliation ON the same decree, and
! prohibiting the commerce. OF Heutrals with
the enemies of Great Britain, as explained
in the aforesaid letter CT Mr.. Erskine.
! These last British orders again, have
been followed by the French decree of De-
cember 17th, purporting to be a retaliation
on the said orders. and to be put in force
against the commerce of the United States.
rs stated in the aforesaid letter of Nj
Champagny
I ne committee forbear to enter into i
comparative view of those proceedings, of
the different bclligercnt powers, deeIDing
~ odAAS'"'A~ " 9NiiN bitC isnAGfldtN IFotu
which they may be formed. They think it
their duty nevertheless, to offer the follow
ing remark, suggested by collective view
OF the whole.
The injuries and dangers resulting to the
commerce Of the U. States, rom the cause
and Increase OF these beliigerent measures.
and from similar ones adopted by other
nations, were such as first 20 induce the
more circumspcct of our merchants and
ship owners,ns longer to commit theirpro-
| perry to the high seas, and at tel : ut to inn
pose on Congress the indispensable duty o.
imposing soma legislative provision, for
such AN nneXampled state of things
Among other expedcnts out of which
choice was to DE made, may be reckoned ::
1st. A protection Of commerce by armed
ships OF war
I'd. a protection of it BY sea armed YES
Sd. A war of offence as veil as of de.
fence.
4h A general suspension Of foreign COM
merce.
5th. An embargo on all our vessels, ma.
rincrs and merchandise.
This last was adopted, and the policy Of
It was enforced, at the particular n oment,
by accounts quickly aftcI confirmed, Of the
British orders Of Nov. and by the piobabi
lily that thee Wouldbc followed, as has al
l5O happcEeds by igyigOratcd spivit Of re-.