Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-29
aicbn,onn forier Current.
DOCUMENTS
Accommodating the Presidents Message Of
the 8th November, 1905.
Continued.

Continued. 81
General Armstrong to NJ. Chsmpasny.
Paris, .fhru2, 1903
Srr Having submitted tothe government
rs tbe n 6, copies oe the imperial DEGREES
rs ,be olss No,'. 1906 and 18th Dec. 1907,
ord oc the eyDasitions which your eXcetlcn-
cy has bYen pleased Mt different times tn
Owe of them. have recently received the
Instructions OF the Presidentto reiponstra'e
against bn,h the provisions and operation
of the said DEGREES on tn" ground OF ths'r
infracting as well the positive supn'at!ons
of particular treaty, rs the incontes1ioie
principles of public law.
In d scharging ,his du'y your eXccHency
will permit me to REGAL 70 your remem-
brance the 18th anil i4tt articles OF the
treaty msde between the u. s and France
on the So.h y psember, 1909. These arti-
oles provide that
Gi. 1t shall he iewfm for the citizens of
either counsry.to sail with their ships and
merchandise (contraSand goods always ex-
ceptedN from anv port whatever, to any port
of the enc ny of the other, and 70 sail and
trade with their ships and merchandise
with perfect security and liberty IRON the
countries, ports aud places of those VIII" are
en-, mics Of 5otn, or OF either party, with
ont ANY opposition or d sturbance whntso-
ever; and to pass not only directly tron
the places and ports of the eHemY atofesa'd'
TO neutral ports and places, but also RON
one place Belonging 10 an enemy TO "no,Ner
place belonging TO 81 enemy, whethcf ttey
be or he no,, under the jurisdiction OF the
same prwer, unlrss srch ports or p'acrs
shall he actually blockaded. besieged or in
vested"
''2 That vessels sailing for port or
place belonging TO an enemy without know
ing that the same is either besieged, block
AIDED, or in~rstcd, may be turned away
from such port o. place, but they shalt nor
be detained, nor any psrt OF their cargo (not
contTabaad) coniscatcl, unlcsS, after no.
ticc os such blockade or investment, they
shall again atemrt to enter; but they shall
be permitted n - to any other port o. place
they snail think proper"
UJ. That free ships snail give freedom
to goods, and that every thing shall he dee.
med - be f-.c AMI exempt, which shall be
found ON board the ships belonging to the
citizens of either of the contracting parties,
aitho' the whole ladng or any part there
oe should appeTtain TO the enemies Of Ell
ther, contraoand goods being always exceP-
ted"
l neWs Sli.lNlHfifflN we not UlOIC b4Nd' ~
Themselves, nor nf more indisputable ap-
plicatioa avid anihor;tv in the present case,
than the in;unc ions of public. law by which
they arc enforced. viz. that local regulate
ons lexccDtiag ~ virtue Of ronven.ion) can
NOT apulv 20 foreign nations on the high seas,
.,vithNr. Violating the rights nS che one, and
the Freedom of the other; that blockadcs
can only exist when places are 50 invested
that NJ serious attempt can nc made TO APP
prAach them without expos;n- the parties
making them - Imminent danger; that mcr-
chant vessels may be visited without any
degradation 20 the flag Of the natioH 10
which they belong &c. Hc. But why null
tip!y proofs of D f'tion which is not dent.
ed Docs not the Official report OF your en-
lightened Predecessor Of the DIST Novem-
Der, 1906, admit the lcgitimacy Of .he o..
ri,iaal decree Dies II not expressly say
that the doctrines Of blockade introduced
bv ENGLAND, arc mN1e'rnuP aud indefensj-.
bic, and that the practice, Ike the doctrine,
is a mnckery of right an An insult upon
reasor After structures 50 severe, because
90 lust, what can be said for the policy Of
France, which differs in N'hing from that
of F.nplqnA iIas your r. llencv stSemp-
ted ~ defend eitherthe theory or the prac-
tice Of this policy On the ground Of les con-.
forni'y N Tie principles Of public law Or
have Won done more at any time, or on any
occasion, than TO seek Justification 'or Il
ON the bare suggestion tina; the y. S. have
acduiesced in the measures Of England
And how has even this suggestion been main
taihe1 By m ezn0yitiDn oS thc wrongs in
hict-d on American commerce, and which
have been notorj0uslY p~Actiscd ny all the
bclligercnts IN turn Have not the ships Of
the u. 8 been encountered by all Have
tfcy not hccn turucl from their original des-
tination ? Have they NOT been dragged into
foreign ports Cor adjudication Have they
not in several instances been burnt on the
high se1s2 Is not the argument founded Oh
th.s state Of things equally good for either
or or M he hciliyersoss md c1n Frspce
dcrive from 10 rights which do not equally
accrue TO her enc piss There is however
another and better answer IN this saggcs-
tion which your excellence has already seer
ir the letter aud ihs honor ~ writing 70
you on the 10th Februarv last viz. that the
SUGGESTION is neither well nor plauslDly ioun-
ded and tlat the u ). neither have sun
ntttcd nor will submit % the usurpations o