Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-11-16

80 49,
taliating injury agains ben s'l. e g bspea-
sured.
Such are the pretexts and such the pfirci-
ples on which one great branch Of the lawful
commerce of this country became q victim
to the first British order, and on whichsthe
last orders arelnow sweeping from the ocean
all its most valuable remains. .
Against such an unprecedented sy stennof
warfare upon neutral rights and national IN
dependence, the common Judgment and
common feelings of mankind must forever
protest.
touch, sir, with reluctance, the ques-
ton on which Of the belligerent sides the
invasion Of neutral rights had Its origin
/ AS the u. States do not acquiesce in these
invasions By either, there could be nofPlea
for involving them in the controversy. but
as the British orders have made the decree
of France, declaring, contrary to the law OF
nations, the British islands in a state OF
blockade, the immediate foundation OF their
destructive warfare on our commerce, it be-
longs to the subiectt to remind your govern
mcnt Of the Illegal Interruptions and spolla-
tons suffered, previous to that decree, by.
the neutral commerce Of the u. States un-.
der the proceedings Of British cruizers and
courts, and for the most part IN consequence
of express orders of the government ltself.
Omitting proofs Of inferior note, ! refer to
the extensive aggressions on the trade Ct the
U. States, founded on the plea OF block
AIDES, never legally established according to
recognized definitions to the still more ex-
tensive violations of our commerce with
ports of her enemies, not pretended to DC In
state Of blockade; and to the British or
der of council issued near the commence
ment of the existing war. This order, be-
sides lis general Interpolation agai.sst the e
established law of nations, is distinguished
by a special ingredient violating that law as
recognised by the course Of decisions in the
British courts. Itsubjects to capture and
condemnation all neutral vessels, returning
with lawful cargoes, on the sole considera-.
ton, that they had in their outward veyage,
deposited contraband Of war. at a hostile.
port. IF the commerce Of the u States
could therefore in any. case be reasonably
made the victim and the sport of mutual
charges and reproaehes between belligerent
parties, with respect to the priority OF their
aygressicns en- neutral commerce, 9. Britain
must look beyond the epoch she has chosen
for illegal acts Of her adversary, in support
of the allegation on which she Pounds her
retaiating edicts against our commerce.
But the United States arc given to under
stand that the British government has, as a
proof Of its indulgent and an3icable DISPOSE
ton towards them, mitigattd the authorised
rigorit might have given to its measures,
by certain exceptions peculiarly favorableto
the commercial interests Of the u. States.
forbear, sir, to express all the emotions
with which such language, on such an oc-
casion, is calculated to inspire nation
which cannot Tor moment be unconscious
Of its rights, nor mistake for an alienation
of wrongs regulations to admit the validity
of which would be to assume badges Of hu
initiation never worn by an independent
power.
The first Of these indulgencies is a COM
mercial intercourse with the dependencies
of the enemies Of Great Britain, and it is
considered as enhanced by It's being a devi-
alton ii favor Of the United States from the
0ncien; and established principle of mari
tine law prohibiting altogether such an in
tereourse In time OF wal.
Surely, Sir, your government in assum-
ing this principle in such terms IN relation
to the. United States, must have forgotten
their repeated and formal protests against it,
as these are to be found in the discussions
aud communications Of their minister at
London, IS vel as i'll explanations occasi-
onally made on that subject to the British
representative here. Rutpermit me to ask !,
more particularly, how it could have hap