The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-11

ed with an actual blockade. The law of NOT;
ohs is perhaps more clear on no other point than
tnat OF siege or blockade, such as will iust;f,
Deli'Gerent nation in restraining the trade Of
;na as. Every term used in defining the case,
imports the presence and position of a force rem
1erihS access 10 the prohibited place mapifes,lv
aificu't and dangerous. Every iurist of reputa
,ioh' VINO treats with precision this branch of the
la" Oh ,iduons, refers 10 an actual and particular
o'ocKade Not single treaty can be found ,yb;-h
undertakes TO define a blockade in which the ne.
-, uoes not exclude general or nominal
blockade, by limiting IT to the case of n s,'a;",
force so disposed as 20 amount 10 an .c,,ai -
Particuit' blockade. To number of such trea-
ties, Great Britain is party Not to ,nutt,,I,,
Leierences on The subject, confine mvselfto tne
f'i article OF The convention of June, 1901 he
tween Great Britain and Russia, which nav;,,o
o'e" e"'ereu INTO Tor the avo Eed purpose al
SeunNg an inVar'G0le DENOMINATION of their oyin
ctPie' rp0" the rtghts Of neutrality must noes.
sArlly be consdl red IS a solemn rec1cn;,,on &c
an existing and general principle and right. mn,
as stipulation OF any new principle nr ripn, II
mi'ed 20 the parties themselves The ar';cis ;s
IN the words following g That in ord r. tn do
tsrmine what characteristics blockaded NOR,
uia. denomination rs given only to pjrt where
there IS, by the dispositions of the po,yer ,yh;at
attacks it with ships stationary or s,a;c'sn,,.
near an evident danger of entering II can
NOT Dc necessary TO dwell on the incons,stencu
OF the Kind OF blockade de Jared by commodor.,
HOOD, with the principle laid down concern;n,r
the rights of neutrality or on the conseoue
OF the principle, on which a blockade of .boI.
islands by few ships is founded, to the com
merce ana interests OF neutral nations. If the
aus u hsr'Ihque and Goudaloupe, the lat
ter not less than $50 and the former nearly 4 "a
hhes IN circumference, and each containing q
variety OF ports, Can be blockaded by detscb,
men's from commodors's squadron, il 10 evi
dent thai very inconsderable portion of the
BRUSH fleet may blockade all the maritime
countries with which she is at war: Ina,yo,d
such principle completely sacrifices the rights
VI isusta commerce to the pleasure OF the poi
cy ofthe parties at war But it deserves IN he
particularly remarked, that power to nrocIa;n
general blockades, or any block ide NOT formed
| Dy the real presence of stuff lent force fc hs
eSercIseu by officers at distance from the
control OF their government, and deepIy inter
ested m charging the field of captures which
'ncy are TO share, offers a temptation that mus,
pie itsei, VIC P''"0r
You will infer, sir, from these observations. the
s0I'ous nBN W whlch the President regards the
'.o.eeuu's, winch IS the subject ofthem, < will
perceive me grounds on which the iniuries accr,,
'ng from It to our commerce, will const,t,,,,. ;s,
claims oil IndemnIiicstion from TIN. Br;t;sb co.
eminent 10 diminish the extent of tbese nj,
res as much as possible, and to guard the pl,,d
understanding & friendly relations Of eyery sor,
""eh are so desirable to both nations, sorsinst IN,
tendency OF such measures, will, vcnt1re m az
SURE myself De sufficient motives with YOU +,
| employ the interpretations with commodore Hood
which you may judge best adapted 70 The nefur,
! Of the case.
have the honor to be, &c. &c.
y, lois ys JAMES MADISON.
Eaw'G Thornton, Esq. Grc, Gys,