Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-01


exten. of her coasts and her populate,
on, will be accomplished, then viii the
Emperor reduce these principles t.
practice, and apply his mandate 10 rem
der it universal. rne right, or rather
the usurpation of blockading rivers &
coasts by proclamation, is palpably con-
.rary to reason and equity. A righs
cannot possibly spring from the will OF
an interested party, but must always
be founded on the natural relation OF
things. A place is not properly block
ad@d unless it be besieged by land and
water. Il is hiockaded to prevent the
introduction OF assistance, by which
the surrender of the place might be
lp'otracted and then we have only the
right TO prevent neutral ships from
entering the port when the pIae: il
thus circumstanced, aud the possessi-
on of it is matter of doubt between
the besiegers and beseiged.- this
is grounded the right to prevent neu.
trails from entering the place.
"Fne sovereignty and independence
or Its flag, like rac sovereignty AMI in-
dependence of its territory, are the
property of every neutral. A state
may transfer itself to another state :.ir
may destroy the archives of its indie.
pendence, and pass from Prince to
Prince, but the right of sovereignty
Is indcvisible and unalienaale NO one
caa renuunce it.
England has placed France in a
state of blocka le. - Eb Emperor has.
in his decree OF Berlin, declared the
British Islands in state OF blockade.
fhs first OF these regulations forbid
neutral vessels to proceed to France
the se:oal prohi )ited their entering
English harbours.
"England has, by her orders of,
Council of the 18th of November.
1907, levied an impost on neutral ships.
and Obliged them to enter its ports be-
fore they sill to France. BY the de-
cree of the 18th of December. of the
came year, the Emperor has decreed,
that all such ships be pationaiized.
which had entered English ports, or
submitted to be searched.
niences with which this state of things
threatened her commerce, America
laid al Embargo in all her harbours;
and although France had done nothing
more than used the right OF retaliati-
on, its wants, and those of its colonies,
suffered much from this measure yet
did the Emperor magndnimously con-
nive at the proceeding, in order rather
to endure the privation Of commerce
than TO acknowledge the authority of
the usurper of the seas.
g The embargo was raised, and a
system Of a non-intercourse was sub,
stituted for it. The powers on the
Continent, in alliance with England,
having the sane object in view, made
a common cause with her, that they
might derive the same advantages.
The harbours Of Holland, of the Elhe,
Of the Weser, Of Italy, and of Spain,
were to enjoy those benefits from which
France was TO be excluded; and the
other were to be opened or clo-ed to
commerce as circumstances reudered
expedient, 50 as France was bereft OF
it.
"Thus, Sir, in point of principle,
France recognizes the freedom ofneu
trail commerce, and the independence
of the maratime powers; which she
respected up to the moment when the
maratime tyranny of England, that
respects nothing, and the arbitrary
proceedings of its government COM
PEELED her to ad 3pt measures Of retail
alton, to which she resorted with re-
greet. Let England revoke her block
nde Of France and France will recall
her declaration of blockade against
England. Let England revoke her
Cabinet Orders of the 18th Nov. 1907
and the Milan Decree will expire of
itself. The A nerican commerce will
then recover its complete freedom, &
be assured of finding in the harbours
of France favour and protection.
But it belongs to the United States to
attain this happy object by thejc FIRM
ness, Gan nation, resolved to re-
main free, hesitate between certain