Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-11-09

West-Indies, should the smallness Of
the island of Curacao still render me-
cessary any distinction of the invest
inert being confined to particular
ports." MIR. Merry here alludes to the
orders sent from the admiralty Office
to Commodore Hood in relation 10.
Martinique and Guadaloupe.
Sir William Scott, on pronouncipg
Judgment on the 18th of December,
1898, in the high court of admiralty,
in the case Of the Betsey, Murphy
master, said" The word complete
(alluding to blockade) is a word Of
great energy, and we might expect
from it to fad that number of vessels
were stationed round the entrance of
the port tn cut off all communication"
He further said, "The lords CT APP.
peal have determined that such pro-
c!amation declaring the French islands
in stare Of complete b!ockade) was
not in itself sufficient TO constitute a
l.galblocsade." ISee Robinson's Adj
m.ralty Reports, vol. l. page 79.
Thus, the law of nations (; the Bri-,
fish convention with Russia; the or
ders of the admiralty Office of Grea,
Rritain; the assurances of the En-
slish minister resident near the United
States, twice given in one day T; and
the decision of learned judge of the
British high court of admiralty, all
coincide in declaring that naval force
must be actually stationed before a
port, so as 10 make the entrance dam
perous, in order TO constitute a legal
blockade.
But England, regardless of the
principles Of public law, and careless
of her own reputation, has set up a
rule of conduct with respect TO block
AIDES, which subjects to her caprice
and her naval ornaments, whenever
cruising, the whole commerce OF a
neutral nation. She declares, for ex-
ample, by an order in council, the en-
tire coasts of Europe in state of
blockade and, without placing an a.
dequate force before any OF the ports
on the line of coast thus interdicted,
seizes, wherever her ships of war can
find them, neutral vessels bound to a.
ny port within that line.
This belligerenc mode Of action, in
the present condition of the world, o.
perates precisely in the same manner
upon the Americans, in relation to the
ports thus placarded, as an actual bloc
kade of the ports Of the U. States BY
the British fleets; for, in the latter
case, American vessels would be bloc
kaded in their own harbors; and, in
the former they are not permitted to
approach the coasts OF continental Eu-
rope without being captured, which
amounts TO the same thing as if they
were not permitted to put to sea at all.
To suffer our mercta anthem to 90 out,
and then capture them half seas over,
or ns ar Tie port of destination, is to
say to the u. States, g your vessels
NAV sail into the oCean, but they shall
not trade with our enemy it we can
catch them before they get there. :"
And what is this but an active priuci-
pie of hostility against America?
Something of his kind was attempt
ed by Englard and. the United Provin
ces towards the close of the seven.
teenth century. :" In the treaty Of
Whitehall, (says Vattel, book 8, CHI. Z,
9112,) signed on the 22d Of August,
1859, they agreed to notify 10 all states.
not at war with France, that they
would attack, and previously declared
every ship bound to, or coming out Of
the harburs of that kingdom, to be a
lawfol prize: Sweden and Denmark,
from whom some ships had been ia
ken, entered into a counter-treaty on
the 17th Of March, 1898, for maintain.
ing their rights, and procuring just sa.
tistaction. And the maritime powers,
perceivng that he complaints of the
two crowns were well grounded, did
them justice" In the trade of com
mon goods (ssSs Vattel, in the same
s ctionl neutral nations are to- enjoy
an entire liberty. An attempt to mo-
lest or destroy this trade would be a
breach ct the rights Ct neutral nations,
Hagrant injury o Them"
faded, the Legality of a mere bloc
kade, even by force, against neutral
trad, was, formerly very equivocal !;
and, for that reason, it was frequently
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