Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-10

country to support the war in which
she is engaged, and not to prevent the
supply of her enemies since permissi-
on to carry them American and foreign
produce is granted, after tax had
been paid In England. The avowed
motive is therefore mere pretext, C.
qually shallow and unjust; Intended
more to injure our commerce than to
distress France.
1cannot tor amoment believe the peo-
of this country will surrender their m
dependence and submit to the depra-
dation of colonies, without struggle.
The immunities of colonies are not ex.
tended to us under the orders of coun-
Gil, whose prosperity is in some degree
guaranteed by the supposed interest
OF the parent country in their growth
and Importance. II to us that feeble
tie is denied we may expect the COM
mercial restrictions Of England will be
dictated by jealousy, not affection, Ri
valship and not coincidence of inter-
est. Our trade placed upon basis
lsss favorable than previous to the re-
volution besides the oppressive tax
the English wish to levy, they prohi-
bit the trade in articles then tree, and
close channels of commerce then O
pen. Thus we find our commerce ex-
posed to all the restrictions of actual
colouies and the dangers of war, with
out a formal declaration Of it.
To these injuries must add ano.
Their, though OF different character,
not less offensive, and intoierable.
The attack on the frigate Chesapeake
in June last. 1t is needless to call
your attention to the particulars of
that transaction, they have not vet
been forgotten, and are fresh in your.
memory. Reparation has not been
made ; on the contrary we have been
considered the aggressors and the
mockery of making PREPARATION to the
honor and feelings ot the American
nation, has closed with a demand
which a just government would never
propose, and a free one will never con-
descend to grant.
It is impossible to conceive mea-
cures more hostile, more subversive of
justice or good faith ; but as there is
no man who viii justify, there can be no
necessity to examine more infinitely
tie avowal OF principle so inconsis-
tent with the treaty, repugnant to the
law OF nations, and destrutive to the in
terest of the u. States. Independent
OF the solemn obligations imposed by
treaty, to respect the commercial right
OF this country, France ought to be
more bound than any other nation be-
cause she Processes TO contend against
England for the establishment and
support of the very principles she
tra,nples under foot.
Though the terms of these DEGREES
are general, it was believed the u. S.
were excepted from the operation of
the first, until a case occurred in Au-
gust last, in which ii was enforced a.
gainst an American vessel standing on
the coast of France, and afterwards de-
clared by the French government to
extend to all neutral vessels. 1t is
proper to remark, that the American
minister at Paris applied to the minis
ter of marine, and was informed the
treaty of 1900 would be the basis by
which the courts of admiralty would
be governed in their decisions upon
our vessels. This explanation quiet
ed the approximations, and the practice
oil the courts confirmed the confidence
Of orr government in its correctness,
until the case aforementioned occur
red.
ltremains with the French govern
Bent to reconcile to the respect due
to its own character, and the duty it
owes to neutral and friendly nation
the silence SO long observed relative to
the explanation of the minister of ma
rine and its subsequent disavowaI.
1t was upon the reception of this
intelligence, and the well founded an
ticiPation of the British orders of
council of the 18th November 1907,
that the embargo was laid upon all A.
merican vessels and produce. By the
Joint operation of the DEGREES and or
ders of France and England, every
American ship and cargo would be IT,
able to- caufI1rf. and cuoGarot;o,, b,,