Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-07-25

ple. and they grew rich with a rapidity
which exceeded the calculation of specula-
ton ITSELF
This prosperity was suddenly checked
bv the emperor of France. Exaltlng in
the conquest of Prussia and the north of
Germany, published his celebrated de-
cree at Berlin, in which, without being a
bic to station a'single ship before any one
port of his enemy, he declared all the do
minions in Great Britain in state OF block
ade, and not only prohibited the trade OF
neutrals, with those dominions, but IN artl-
cles of their growth or manufacture.
This was the commencement OF SYSTEM
completely new, and of character totally
distinct from any thing which preceded it.
The previous measures of the belFgererts
had in scme slight degree vexed commerce,
and might have been of questionable right
This was calculated to annihilate 1t was
an undisguised attack upon it, and could be
defended or excused by no pretext what
ever.
This decree was issued in December,
1906, and not having been resisted by neu,
trails, England, in Nov. 1907, issued her
orders placing the coasts of France and of
her dependencies likewise in a state of
blockade. These very orders, however,
contained several exceptions which mit;gat-
ed their rrigor and rendered them less OBJ
noxious than the decree they professed to
retaliate.
France Immediately passed her Milan &
Bayonne DEGREES, by which every Amerl-
can vessel that swims the ocean is liable to
capture; by which the mere circumstance
of having been visited by ship of war
subjects to confscation. She has proceed
ed to seize American property, wherever
found, to inveigle it by deceptive DEGREES
into her own ports and those of her allied
slaves, and then TO grasp it as her own, to
make its surrenderby her dependent neigh
bors the indispensable condition of Their ex-
istence, and with one general sweep TO car
ry it into the purse Of her emperor. She
has without scruple burnt our vessels at sea,
imprisoned our seamen, and sold them to
recruit her privateers. She has noeinyited,
but commanded us to engage in her wars
anu OCSadSc our ODSoASnSS dSeS Aol heSP
pace with the extravaganza Of her wishes,
she tells Hs, and proclaims to the world,
that we ought 6 to break the charter of our
ndepende nee" that we arc &c nation with
out just political views, without honor and
without energy" that we cannot be made
" to fight for honor" and may be COMPEL
ed to fight for interest"
T.. IL:
formed that vessel is ready to bring him
TO the u. S.
If the effect of these gross outrages, this
war of scorn and hate made by France up
on the government and people of the US.
be simply declaration,
Sc 1st, That England was the original ae-
gressor upon neutral rights.
Cd, That she still persists in some Of her
original aggressons, enforced and extended
by subsequent orders and
Sd, That the pretext that they are re-
taliation upon France, is false"
IF this be the sole effect of these outrag-
es, what is there that France can do which
America will resist? Who can presume to
place limits to her entertainments, or to our
submission?
1t is solemn truth, so interesting as 30
make the neglect Of it criminal, that if the
public mind be instructed to bear without
resentment intentional injuries and indigni-
ties so gross as those heaped on the y. S.
by France If it be trained up in habituat
hostility to a belligerent which wars for the
independence of nations, and in habrual
devotion to that which is spreading chains
and slavery over the world; it will not be
in the power, should it even be"in the. will
Of those wis. have made these fatally erro-
neous impressions, to eface them in any
possible state of things. Our prtjucices