The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-12-06

t- ~ Ars IN y Aat ttft
Of ne .rinis.er sf Tsrsign -afsrs ef Fsanor .'ir
cax~rAcsy, % Genera, Asnsraos4, .et'usfsr
Of the Unised Ssaies, sf Paris, dated .fae"Ssrss,
xrsrst 20, 1900
sIR,
ellis Majesty understanding that YOU are ahoHt to
despatch ship TO the United States, commands me
TO make Known TO you the unalterablc principles
which have and viii regulate his conduct in the
great question respecting neusrals.
"France admits the principle that the flag protects
trade The trading vessel which carries the license
Of its government, may be considered as moving
colony to insult such vessel by Search pursuit, or
any act Of arbitrary power, is violation OF the fun
danenta law Of colonization, and is an attack upon
the government of the The seas belong to ev.
cry nation, without exceptions they are the conmoa
property and domain Of all mankind.
"Cons;sently with this doctrine, merchant vessels
belonging to individuals may pass by Inheritance to
persons Who never exposed themselves to be made
prisoners of war. In all her conquests France has
considered sacred private property deposited in the
warehouses OF the vanquished State, and such have
had the complete disposal of matters of trade; and
at this momeut conveys by land of merchsndze, and
especially cottons, passing through the French
army and Austria, TO proceed the destination com
merce directs. If France had seized the monopoly
of the seas, she would have accumulated in her terri
tory all the products of the earth, and she would
have obtained unreasonable wealth.
which she has acquired the ocean, her acquisitions
would have been equally enormous, She wonld,-ss
in times of barbarism, have sold the conquered, and
distributed them slaves throughout her land. The
avarice Of trade would have absorbed every thing,
and the government Of an enlightened nation, which
has brought the perfection, would
have given the earliest instance of the return ct the
savage ages That government is fully impressed
with the injustice of its naval code. But what has
that government to do with Justice, which inquiries
only for profit
"whcn France shall have established naval pow
or, which, with the extent Of her and her pop
uation will be accomPlished then will the En-
perour reduce these principles to practice, and apply
his mandate to render it universal. The right, or
rather the usurpaon, Of bockadng rivers and coasts
BY proclamation, palpably contrary to and
equity. Alright cannot possibly spring from the viii
OF an interested party, but must always be founded
on the natural relation Of things. place is net
properly blockadcd unless it be .besieged by land
and water. 1t is bocaded to prevent the introduc-
ton Of assistance, by which the surrender of the
place MIGHT be protracted and then we have only
the right TO prevent neutral ships from entering the
port, when the place is thus circumstanced and the
possession OF il is matter of doubt between the
besiegers and the besieged. On this is grounded
the right to prevent neutras from entering the place
The sovereignty and independence of its flag,
like the sovereignty and independence Of its terrific
ry, are the property of every neutral state may
transfer itself to another state IL may destroy the
archives OF its Independence, and pass from Prince
to Prince, but the right of sovereignty is indyisbic
and unaenable no one can rencunce H. ~
England has placed France in a state Of block.
sde.--The Emperour has, in his decree Of Berlin,
declared the British Islands in state Of blockade
Tie first of these regulations forbid neutral vessels
to proceed to France: the second prohibited their
entering English. .harbours
England has BY her orders Of council. Of the
llth of November, 1907, cyied impost neutral
ships, and obliged them to enter its ports before
they sail TO France. the decreesof the 18th Of
December, ofthc same year. the Empro,r hstde.
creed, that all such ships bc denatonalized, which
had entered English ports. or submitted to be
searched.
In order to ward off the ineonvepenccs with
which this state Of things threatened her commerce,
America laid an Embargo in all her harbours: and
although France had done nothing more than used
che right Of retaliation, its wts, and those of its
colonies suffered much from this measure yet dfh
the Empcrour magnanimousIy connve at the pro.
ceeding in order rather to endure the prvaton Of
commerce. than to acknowledge the authority OF the
usurper of the seas. af
The embargo Was raised, and system Of non.
intercourse substituted for it. The powers On
the Continent in alliance with England, having the
same object in view. made common cause with
her, that they might derive the same ADVANTAGES.
The harbours Of Holland Of the Ebc, Of the wcser,
Of Italy, and Of spain, to enjoy those benefits
from which France was to be excluded and the
commerce, circumstances rendered expedient, 50
as France was bereft oE it.
Thus, Sir, in point ofprinciple, France recog-
nizes the freedom Of neutral commerce, and the in
dependence Of the maritime powers which she res.
pecet up to the moment when the maritime tyranny
of England that respects nothing, and the arbitrary
proceedings Of its government, compelled her to
dopt measures Of retaliation, to which she resored
with regret. Let England revoke her blockade Of
France. and France viii recall her dccaarstion OF
blockade against England. Let England revoke her
Cabinet Orders of the 1lth Nov 1907, andthe Milan
Decree viii expire of itself The American CON-
merce will then recover its complete freedom and
be assured Of finding in the harbours OF France IA
YOUR and protection But it belongs to the United
States to attain this happy object by their rnness
Can nation, resolved to remain free, hesitate be-
tween certain momentary interests, and the great
cause of maintaining her independence her honour,
her sovereignty and her dignity
(signed) "M cHAAiPACNY"
III