Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-09

the commerce oil all neuttal nations.
| His majesty has learat that the mea-
sures announced in this decree, have al
ready, in some instances, been carried in
10 execu ion b. lhe psisatsers of The enc
nv, and there could Be 30 doubt that his
majesty would have an indsputshle RICH,
tn exercise Just retaliation. Neutral ma
/, ons cannot, indeed, expect tha, the king
should suffer the coWmesce Of his enemies
10 be carried on through The m, while they
submit 10 the prohlbiIinn which France
has dec,eed against the commerce of his
lnajesV's subjects. But though this right
loire aiIa,ion would urques,ionahly accrue
TO his majesty, yet his nslesly is how'll.
ling except 10 the last extremity, 10 have.
recourse 10 measures which most, proyS
SO Distressing To al nations not engaged
IN the war against Franc.
| HIS majesty, therefore, with that for
bearance and moderation which have at
all times distinguished his contuc, has
determined, for the presenl, 10 claioe
himself 10 the exercise OF the power civ
ell him by his decided naval superiority,
~ such a manner only as IS C,hdrsed ~
the acknowledged principles Of sle law OF
lnalons, and has issued AL order fcr pre-
lventing ali commerce from pore 10 port
ot his enemies, Comprehendjng in this or.
der, not only The ports Of Flance; bUS
those OF other nations, az elthrr in ALLIANCES
with France, or suble 4 20 her dominion
have by measures of active offence, or by
the exclusion of British ships, taken part
IN The present war.
/ HIS maiesty feels an entire confidence
thaG The moderation aud lustlce OF this
couduci viii be duly apprec,a ed by The
U. S.aes, and has charged ME TO expresS
u she.r government, III the sTungest terms.
Ithe regret ne has experienced IN heing Mus
lc0mpelled, IN HIS nwn defence, 90 act IA
Imann-r yn,ch must prove 10 som degree
embarrassing 10 the commerce oil nsu al
Inc icns, aud his sincere deaire 10 avoid
lany stronger measures, 10 which, hoseyes,
lit the injestce aud aggression of has enc
mics should not be 'esisted by thuss no
ltions, whose sights add Islefea,s are uva
ded by SO fagrauI S.olatioa lf all pobllc
law /, may De ulilRa,eiy necessary Tor
iie ki"g - nave recourse
have ne honpr 20 be &C.
(5lgned) ID VI EKiKlSjE.
Hon. Lames M'a'ison, c'q. Secrs.ary (Sof
MR. MABIsoH TO Nh. ERsKIxE.
| DeiGrEaseat % State, .M,.rch 2U.a, 1907.
ISM,
/ | have laid before the president
YOUR letter of the l2th Instant, con-
municating the views of MS BRITAIN c
majesty, in relation to the French de
cree OF November 2lst, 800, and the
principle OF retaliation, through the
co umerce of neutrals, who NAV sub
NIT to the operation Of that decree ;
as also, the measure actually taken, OF
prohibiting all neutral commerce from
port to port, Of his enemies, not only
the ports of France, but those Of such
other nations, as either in alliance with
France, or subject to her dominion,
have, by measures of active offence, or
) by the exclusion of British ships, taken
a part in the present war.
: The president cannot be insensible
. sir, to the friendship and confidence
{ towards the United States, which are
signi6ed by his Britannia majesty in
n Ntlio OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 1u making lllS
Acknowledgements however, the presi.
. dent considers it not less incumbent
c on him, TO reserve, tor state of things
which it is hoped may never occur, the
n right of discussing the legality of anv
particular measures, to whiclfresort
l.. may be had, on ground liberalization
d At this time, it wo ld suffice to observe
u that it remains TO be more fully ascer
e tanned, in what sense the decree If
Il question will be explained, and to wha
: extent it viii be carried into execution
= and consequently, whether in any case
= the United States can be involved il
questions concerning measures of re
Il taliatiou, supposed to accrue to ont
J.. belligerent, from such a proceeding, b,
l. another. But it is worthy the iustic,
}. aud the liberality oil the British govern
ment, to recollect, that within the pc
rod of those great events, which con
I'd tinue TO agitatc Europe, instances hav
occurred, in which the commerce O
IL neutral nations, more especially of tn
"a United States, has experienced the Sc
&c vcrest distresscs from its own order
and measures, manilestly unauthoriz
4 49, e.. e