Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-05-06

/ principles or inc il5v oi nations, winch arr
/ equally the principles Of justice and honor
--that they viii be I" abrogated" in conse
] quence OF the settlement between us anS
Britain. It's the most unlikely thing il
the world. Bonaparte can never bring in
dependent powers TO recognize his 6 law o
nations as the same editor proves beyond
question:
| s What are the principles of the law o
! nations as expounded by Napoleon in the
| preamble tohis Milan decree? First, that Z
nesttral vesssl $Aallnot for an, purpose Be u
SIDED BY 6 tslligesrnt: Cd, that the aeutra
I! Fas' shat 1fot copef enemy b,-Qberty. The
Milan decree is to Be. continued until Eng
land retuf73ato those prir.ciples
: The principles which Bonaparte terms
the law OF nations, form no part. neither 81
that code or of the custom of nations. No,
aWrlter.on the law OF nations acknowledges
them not nation in the world either, is in
lgsfntercourseW with another nation, govern
ed by them. Our own treaty with Napo-
leon, which was IN full force when he pass
Led his decress, but which were violated ~
them, admits the right of a belligerent TO
Visit a neutral ship, and it does not. admit
that the neutral lag shall protect enemy pro-
pert}. Every nation acknowledges contra
band OF war, and thence follows the right of
the belllgerentt to visit the neutral. Thatthe
hstof contraband is more or less extended
b. the conventional law, according TO the
convenience Of treating nations, is admit
eo5 but yet al admit connaband and con
sign TITO belligerent seizure. So ofenemy
property. See NJ. JetFerson's letter to Mr..
Gcnet. England therefore cannot return 10
those principles which Bonaparte terms the
law OF nations, for she never either acknow-
Lodged or praciised upon them not being tie
p5.ilcii9les q Aicla7vgt nations."
But there are other reasons, which have
otsoccufred to Mr.. Cheetham, which 90
eonclisively to prove that we must have war
with BeuaParte. He long since declared.
war bstveen. US and England, and instead Of
fesking wss with that power, we have made
tIrnl and no doubt q permanent peace he
VIII anauestlonablv attempt to pnnish.us for
disobedience OF orders, and unfortunately he
has.the means OF doing il, to a great extent,
IN his own hands. He has an immense al
mount OF our property Sequestered, and how
seqnesteredf Why, as security for our good
behavior u obeying his mandate. This has
been ofhcaally announced to us IN terms as
clear and unarlbiguous as words are capable
OF expressing. who can doubt then, that,
on hearing OF etsr-- arE'an9 aITenr with Eng
land, nc viii Immediately c0nfscate every
cent OF that properly? The property itself
viii be temptation which he cannot resist,
when such pretext presents itself to palli-
ate IT'S condemnation, to say nothing Of his
resentment against us for making terms with
ms enemy. Pressed at the same time by
9. Britain, by Spain, by Austria, and By
Turkey, It IS indeed possible that he may
tor once listen to reason. But it is only one
chance IN a thousand.
[Free1oa's Jou,21al.
ne pacific. state of our country, SAYS a.
cislzen, doubtless Will turn the attention of
congress to the progression OF the United
States, such as the cutting Of canals, and
above ali, the Immediate ttrnpkins OF the
public roads on which the mail travels, from
north to south, and causing bridges be e
rectca over the various runs and waters
which are now crossed Frequently with greet
difficulty and danger. From Washington
City to Wiliningtonin the Delaware state,
the rout is peculiarly bad, and was almost
impossible the latter part Of the last winter.
these are serious evils TO the affairs OF go
vernrnent as well as to individuals, and IN
all well regulated countries, good public
roads and safe bridges, are among the first
considerations OF governments.
[Ji0nitor.l
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