Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-14

l;veretI 10 the States General ofthe United
Provinces, ard published BY authority in
the Urcch. Gazette, July, 1855 declares,
If any Dutch ships carry any gonds or msr-
chapdize Of thc growth or manufacture
of the enemies Of France, they shall be es.
termed good prize, but the ship shall be
di charged. On the. 9th ct May, A. D.
1893, France authorised the capture OF
neutrai vessels, laden with provision, be
longing to neutrals, but bound TO enemies
ports. This decree was prior, by one
month, to the order Of Great Britain, of
similar import. On the 2Sd Of the same
month she declared j, should not extend
TO American vessels, which latter decres,
she repealed, on the 2sth OF the same
month Of May, and the first remained in
force. On the LIST July she again decreed
rs on the the 23d May Twenty seven
days afterwards, this decree was repealed,
and that of the 9th May remained in force
until 4th January. 1875. On the 9th
November 1895, the French Commission
ers at Cape Francois, authorised the cap.
ture ofaI American vessels bound to or
from English ports. February LIST, 1897
Commissioners a. Capt-FraGcois ordered
the capture of all vessels, bound to any
ports in the West Indies, delivered up
to the English, and all vessels cleard out
generally for the West Indies.
In January, 1898, France declared that
the condition of ships in every thing, which
concerns their character as neutrals or en-
emies, shall be determined by their car
goes, and every vessel found at sea, laden
in whole, or in part with merchandise,
coming out of England, or its possessions,
shall be declared good prize whoever may
be the proprietors of such commodities or
merchandise, and this Decree is founded
expressly ON the Or,ionnance OF 1904.
1t is therefore an incontrovertible truth,
that France, from the earliest time, and
certainly PRIOR TO the year 1856, has adopt
ed, in principle, and in practice, broader
rules for limiting the commerce OF neutrals,
and conde'nnng their property, and with
fewer and shorter intervals of regard to
their rights, than has been assumed by her
enemy, and of course could, on no ground,
be justified by the pretence, that the de
cree OF November 1906, and the subsequent
one OF Milan, condemning the property of
neutrals because the vessels had been spo-
ken with by British cruisers, were a reta-
liation for similar violations OF public law
by her foe.
The second resolve proposed assumes as a
TACT, that the measures, adopted by the
congress of tue u. States, in the last year,
which were the acts imposing an embargo
on the trade of her citizens, were measures
OF resistance against France y Grea. Bril-
tain. An assumption, which would be
scarcely decent, for this legislature to a.
dept, when the president had pledged his
word, which ought to be sacred, to both
these nations, that they were not measures
nc h,rf I lx.ffo s~e . u
secretary of state to the minister of the u
States at the court of France, under date
OF February 8, 1908, and by similar letter
TO our minister at the court of London, IN :
der date of Dec. %, 1907.
And surely the Legislature of Massachu-
sets would be altogether unmindful of its
duties should they attempt to pledge the
people of this conmoDwe wealth 10 sanction
any measures the Congress might see fit to
adopt, after the fatal experience of their
measures for the last year-measures which
however intended, have produced only dis
tress and Indebtedness at home, disgrace
and degradation of our national character
abroad.
A short review Of the circumstances and
condition of the u. States from the adop
zion of its present constitution, and the con-
duct of the different administrations under
them, may serve to shew what the in
terests and honor of the nation did, and do
require 60 be done, on the part of our GO
vernment.
1t is well known that, when Congress first
assembled, under tee existing Constitute
on, the administrations was encompassed
with the most serious embarrassment, at
home and a5TOad-embarrassm arising
out of the waste Of capitol, the defeat OF
credit, and want of revenue, at the conclu-
sion of the Observation-Disclosures, procee-
ding from the reciprocal claims of the u.
States and G.. Britain, lelative to the exe-
cution OF the treaty of peace-embarrass-
ments concerning the navigation of the
Mississippi and embarrassments, aggrava-
ting all such as before existed, which a
rose out of the French Revolution, and
that were followed by extensive depredati-
ons, committed on our commerce by En-
gland, by France and by Spain.
With these obstacles to contend with, the
peace and neutrality of the nation we're
Impartially asserted and maintaned--with
England our ancient controversies we're
satisfactorily adjusted the posts on orr
frontiers were given up--indian wars ex.
tinguished-adequate compensation, for de
predations conmitted upon our trade OBJ 4.
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