Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-25

ised her capture in the moment she was en-
tering the neutral port of her destination"
We have here three distinct grounds Of
exemption from the effects of the November
decree.
1. The entire silence of that decree with
regard to its own influence over the conven-
ton of 1900:
ID. The carly period at which the ship
LETT the u. S and
Sd. The neutral character OF the port TO
which she was destined.
If such, sir, were the principles admitted
by the council ON the 5th OF March last,
with what correctness can it DE nov said
"that at no period have they partaken of the
opinion Of the minister ?''
The second fact asserted by the council
is, that the Interpretation OF the decree in
Question given on the 2&th OF December,
1906, was hrivafe, not Public OR in other
words, that it was the Interpretation of the
nan, not that of the minister and as such,
caBnot outweigh the more recent deciarati-
on coming directly from his m jesty himself.
On the comparative weight OF these de-
clarations | shall say nothing, nor shall l
do more to repelth first part of the insinu-
alton (that IN MINISTER'S declaration zvas
that only of the individual THAN to sub
mt to your excelency my letter of the 10Th
of December. 1906, claiming from chat mi
mister an official Interpretation of the dc.
cree in question, and his answer ofthe 24th
of the same month, giving to me the inter
pretat on demanded.
To your excellency, who as late rs the
Dist of August la It, considered the minister
OF marine as che natural organ OF his MAJ
jcs,y's viii, in Whatever regarded the de-
cree aforesaid, and who actually applied to
him for nflrmlsion relating TO 1t, this allie
CATION of the council of prizes and the rea
sonIng founded upon it, cannot but appear
very extraordinary, and will justify me in
requesting that his majesty may be moved
to set aside the decision in question, on the
ground Of error in tne opinion of the coun-
Gil
If in support of this conclusion / have
drawn no arguments from the treaty of
1900, nor from the laws of nations, your ex-
cellency will not be at loss to assign to
this omission it's true cause. 1t would sure
!y have been an useless form llity to appeal
TO authorities, not only practically, but e.
ven professediy extinct. In the letter of
the minister ofjust,cc of the 18th of Sep
TENDER, we are told by ms majesty himself,
that s. since he had uos Judged proper to
make any exception in the letter of his de-
cree, there was no room to make any in its
executions" and in the report of your ex-
cellency's predecessor, of the Goth of Nov
1906. we nave these memorable words {:
England has declared those places
block AIDED, before which she had not sin
gle ship of war;"
"She has done more, for she has declar-
ed in . state of blockade, all places which
ali her assembled forces were incapable of
block ading-immense coasts and vast en-
pre-"
6 Afterwards drawing from chemeri-
chi right and rom an assumed fact the con-
sequence that she might Justly make her
prey of every thing going to the places laid
under Introduction by simple declaration
of the British admiralty, and of every thing
arising therefrom, and carrying this doc
| 'rine into effect, she has alarmed neural
navigators, and driven them to a distance
from ports WHITTIER their interests attract
ed them, and which the law of nations au-
thorise them to frequent.
Thus it is that she has Turned to her own
profit, and 10 the detrinent of Europe, but
more particularly Of France, the audacity
will which she mocks az al right and in
suits eVeu reason tiSeLf.
"Against power which forgets to such
a pi,ch ali ide IS OF justice, and all human
sentiments, zviat can be done bit TO forget
them tOr an fnstGtf mes self 2"
Words cannot go further TO shew the ex-
tingused authority in the one case of the
treaty subsistins between the United States
and ms imperial majesty, and in the other
of the law Of nations. 10 appeal TO them
therefore would DC literally appealing to
the dead.
Accept, Sir, SC. Sc.
JOHN AR ISTRONG.
His Excellency the Minister
OF Foreign Affairs.