The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-06

lation os tie neutral rights of the ". S. Z
= 1t Is, when France stretching this power into
the high seas, pretends to seize mn vessel
on those seas, without the limits of her ter
ri torial jurisdiction, tina, size commits an ag-
gression upon the neafr0i rights OF America
The latter however is the Principle of
the case ofthe Horizon; the former is the case
of the Pictory
Where then are those proofs of " a breach
Of vcracity" in Mr.. Madison's letter; Where,
MIR. Coleman's pompous & ridicuou, charges
against him (! They vanish at the slightest
touch.-And now what becomes of the ac-
cuser The discriminating reader, who
scans these circumstances, will award him the
| Birch-rather than the Bays. The accuser
must exchange ,-laces with the accused.
And upon William Coleman VIII rccoil, if
net the charge of breach of Neracity, at
least the misfortune of The most sovereign
| ignorance.
| 1t would be we'll for him indeed ifhe could
escape w.,h this sentence only. Bit a mo,e
serious charge awaits him, lrora which it is
just Is impossible for him ID escape That
charge is, the direct adoption Of a gross mis-
| REPRESENTATION. " He wGa aware" SAYS this
candid logician, "that the charge Lof false
| hood 7oas open to 4 sort 2f GnsEocr, found
cd on pretended distinction between cap
lures on the high seas and seizures in the
ports OF France land that he had reserved,
Tor separate paper, different view of the
! subject, in which Mr. Madison should have
been allowed the advantage here suggested,
and thus BEEN permitted to clear his rcputa-
ton of a bleach of -veracty mt the expencc
of incurrjf,g Infinitely dccfer ."uiH. That
labour, however has been done for him, in a
! manner he could not hope to improve by
ic2c3cd correspondent who had just sent him
ne communication which he then introdu
ues TO me PUBIC. lie c0nJmcs ms ccan-
tryinen to read it, and to read it attcutiNe;y,
| that they may " behold low h'sacherousiy
aud traitor9uSiy (our public mimisters) have
leagued in the base aud fagitious dcsign of
| sacrificing the rights and interests of their
own Country to France" The Comnuni
| cation then follows, under the signature of
4" AN AMERICAN," who after compliment
ting Mr.. Coleman for his exposure of Mr.
Madi3on's deviation from truth" by the
| facts relative to the brig Victory, seems to
admit that a nation, which has not by a
ny act limited its power, may establish
and cause to be executed such laws, zcit.in
| Its territories, as may be thought expedient.'
lie however, attempts to shcw, that the be-
nciic of this principle will not avail the de-
| tenders Of Mr. Madison; because France,
had actually limited its power" by the
18th .Artic g of the Convention of 1900, made
with the United States.
| We haT'e more than once refuted his posi-
ton. We overthrow it in some STRUCTURES
which we made within few weeks past on
soRlc remarks of Mr.. Bronson, the Editor OF
TIE " United States Gazette" who had ia
ken this very untcnable ground. We care
! fu!ly p!obed it, in a series of remarks, pub
/ !'saed in the Enquirer os December 4th,
! 1907 in which we established beyond dis
pute the distinction between the 1nunicii.at
/ and highSea effect of the Berlin Decree, &.
| proved that the former was no violation OF
any ere .Frticie OF the French Convention.
We shall rehHbhSh these Remarks. They
will disprove another position, which
" AN American" has taken, that the argu-
ments in favour of this distinction had not
found its way into the public papers Of
! this country until Mr.. Pinkney's letter, dcs
crlbing his conferences with Mr.. Canning
on 'his Very subject, had been laid before
Congress.
And in what way does An American"
ana his squire w. T.. esta6li Il the inconsis-
tency between the municipal effect OF the
decree and the 18th article OF the canveD-
ton ?-Nhy, he takes this article, and
throws it into the form Of distinct propositions,
taking care to MAKE one Of these PROPOSE
tons ut variance with the decree. Let the
reader examine this analysis; he VII be asto-
nished at the impudent mfsrrhreseuiatiou,
which is presented of this article OF Tie
convention-Thc only relevant part OF it is
this:
TIE .frtieic. ....
" 1t shall be lawful for the citizens of e-
ther country to sail with their ships and
merchandise, (contraband goods always eX-
cepted) from any port whatever, to any port
of the enemy OF the other, and to sail and
trade with their ships and merchandise, with
perfect security and liberty, from the coun
tries, ports, and places of those who are en-
eTies OF both, or of either party, without "a
ny opposition or disturbance whatsoever; &
to pass not only directly, from the places &
ports OF the enemy afore aid, to neutral ports
/ and places, but also from enc place, belong
ing TO an enemy, to another place, belonging
to IN enemy, whether they be or be i.ot under
the juri sdiction of the same power, uness
such ports or places shall be actually block
AIDED, besieged. or invested"
Now hear his resolution of his article into
Pronos1tionS.
I. " That the citizens of the u. States
may nov sail with their ships, and mcrchan-
die, (contra5and goods eHcepted) from
duy port >riteeo q any Tris rF F'tsJln sd -
(Granted tie mHnicihat fart q me de-
cree does not infringe this fermiSsi0n.)
2. " That they may, with perfect liberty
and security, sail ard trade win tneir ships
! and merchandise, from the ports ct Eag'and