Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-27

we have emerged from it. tits we'll now,
after having escaped so great calamity
that we should retrace the causes Of that ca
lamity and the means which have been hap
PLY employed ultimately to avert it. The
original cause Of this calamity may be dis
tinctly traced to the issuing Of the Berlin
decree of the 21st November, 1906, and to
the conduct Of the American government
subsequently TO that period in relation TO
that decree--a conduit ] am free to express
my opinion not calculated for peace and as
little for war, calculated TO produce no other
practical effect than the ruin of ourselves
BY issuing the Berlin decree the Frech go
vernment infringed the rights of the Anne
rican republic and of the British govern
sment. They did an act which BY the law
of nations they had no right TO do, either as
itregarded this country or as it regarded
England. 1t was mode of attack, as
itregardcd England, to which France had
no right to resort. IF ] may be permitted
to simplify this idea, it was as improper for
her to have recourse as it would be in fair
boxing to knock an adversary after he was
down. There are laws Of war as we'll as of
peace between nations. You are not per-.
mitted legally TO do every thing which you
have the physical power to do. This need
but be mentioned to be clearly perceived by
every gentleman. France had not a right to
assail her adversary through neutral and
friendly power. France had committed an
act unauthorized towards England by the
Berlin decree the interests OF G. Britain
and the United States were both injured
by the Berlin decree. Their interests and
their rights then being mutually attacked, it
was a mutual concern necessarily between
the two countries. Both were interested in
repelling this infraction OF neutral rights
and the study OF our government should
have been. as to this Berlin decree and as
to that only, to have made common cause
with Great Britain, and resisted the decree.
If that common cause had been so made,
great deal OF distress and ruin which has
fallen upon the country would have been a
voided. Our government, however, was
silent upon this subject, though it was in
the nature of the thing a common matter
between this country and England; and
beg pardon OF any fastdious gentlsmen that
/ should think it possible that America and
England could have common rights. AS
Great Britain could not be reached but
through US, when she was so reached both
had one object both were assailed and
ought to have made common cause. But
what did the government OF the i. States /!
Did it shew at that time manly front TO
French injustice and arrogance Did it
consult with the British government what
neaeures should be taken TO repel this as
sault! No, sir, but it took steps (strange to
telI precisely OF an opposite Character.
The Berlin decree was issued or the 21st OF
November 1906; the treaty negotiated be-
tween Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney and
the British commissioners was signed on
the 31st December Of the same year, say
forty days after the issuing the Berlin de-
cree. Did the government of G. Britain, |
willing to ruin your commerce (and many !
hold out this idea( make use ofthis pretext
at that time to retaliate upon you? No sir |
but let ne ask what was the actual state |
of things? The Berlin decree had been
issued treaty was digested and signed
by the commissioners OF the two govern
ments of America and Great Britain, and I
there was much of friendly intercourse
between the two countries. I would de-
mand the manner in which the American
government received this decree? And
much, | say, for am not afraid to speak
the truth, was to be expected from. the A.
,nerican government placing itself as a fair
and impartial neutral between the two 60
vcrnments. Do you recolleet that TIE Bril-
fish ministers annexed to the treaty a note in
which, pointing to the consideration already I