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

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the continuance of the war, and COM
pelled them to hazard their lives M
in defence oftheir country, but aca;ns
those In amity with US. This prac,;c.
has always formed a subject OF seriouI
complaint, and perhaps none has nro
duced stronger feeling among the
merican people. The silence of ~
treaty, with regard to seamen. ina,
much as their protection and secnr;r
formed the principal inducement AN
object ofnegociation, rendered il b;ol
ly unacceptable to the governments
1t was attempted to supply ,be 4.
feet by an informal note, which nlsdo
ed the British government to issv
most rigorous injunctions to the n,
val commanders to discriminate c,rs
fully, and in no instance molest 60;
zens OF the United States. Swell
arrangement could only be cons;de,.
ed an Indication of the dispositions Of
the existing ministry, and not a com
pact by which the nation WIS bound
security insufficient, because !, W..
temporary and dependent onthe cont;
nuance IN Office OF men who felt fried
ly dispositions. This construction
was evidently given by the BRITISH
cabinet, from Mr.. Canning's answer
TO Mr.. Monroe when reminded hu
him OF this stipulation in favor of sea-
men, he declared he could onlv loot
into the body of the treaty for il. con-
tents, and not to an incidental psper.
The other objections relate to the
East and West India, and colonial
trade. The first is placed upon a foot
ing less favorable than in the treaty of
1874; the second left as at pr sent.
and The thirdless favorable thanstis es.
taolished ny the brush orders o. coun-
Gil, ana the decisions OF their admit
rally courts.
The subsequent conduct of Grea 3
britain mas lessened our regrd very
much for the failure of the nedocia;iJ
on, and diminished its Importance \
she has advanced principles hgaiasr
which the treaty in a much mo Re peri
feet form would not present barri1
err; and indeed seems I'd demdnstrate|
the ineflicacy of any treaty to secure
our rigtts. On the 7th of I4nuary1
1907, only seven days after the treat,l
had been concluded, an order OF coun
Gil was issued, prohibiting Am4ricanv
from trading between the diaere,i,
ports belonging to France and her all
lies, and compelling them TO sell their
cargoes at the frs, port they entered,
whether in demand or not; plainly in
violation of the 18th article, which ex-
pressly gives the right OF CARRYING
freely to any port of Europe not bloc
kaded," even colonial produce from
the United States.
shall not dwell upon the injury
done to our commerce by this regula-
ton; but mention it to shew the little
respect paid to the most solemn COM
pacts by that government, when in
conflict with her power or interests. =
The orders of council of the 11,h of
November last, issued to countervaiL
the French decree of 22d Novem6,s
1906, Extended in its construction
American vesselsin Augustlast, havS5
given the finishing blow to the COM,
merce ofthis country. They prohibit
us from trading to any place but En-
gland and her dependencies, and inn
pose tax upon all articles shipped
from thence elsewhere. The actual
amount of the tax fixed by parliament
is not yet known; but is said to ex-
ceed one third of the value of some of
our most important articles, in which
are included cotton and tobacco. Up
on the injustice of this order, it is im-
possible to comment In terms too
harsh. 1t is a direct attack upon the
sovereignty and independence of the
u. S. against which it was levelled
and is an odious attempt to tax them,
without their own cnnsent---commer.
cial ingenuity could not devise a more
effectual plan to destroy our trade, and
fetter the growth Of our country.
One oftwo thingsiuevitablyresults;
the who'll commerce Of the u. S. is IL
mited to Great Britain, or that part of
it strugglingt to ind markets elsewhere,
is exposed 10 certain ruin from the de-
probation Of British cruisers. If ship