Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-18

exceptionable. (.
AS the act Of Congress, repeating
the late restrictions on the COM
mcrce of the United States with the
two beligerents, must be unequal
in its operation, in case G. Britain
should continue to interrupt it with
France. inasmuchas France is una
bic to interrupt it materially with
her, the British government may
feel a temptation to decline e course
which might put an end to this adj
vantage. But if the unworthiness
and unfriendliness of such purpose
should not divert her from it, she
ought not to overlook either the op.
pcftunity afforded her enemy of re-
torting the inequality, by a previous
compliance with the act of Congress,
or the necessity to which the United
States may be driven, by such an
abuse of their amicablc advances,
to resume, under new impressions,
the subject of their foreign relati-
'ons.
ifthe British government should
be disposed to meet, in favorable
manner, the arrangement rendered,
and should ask for explanations, as
to the extent of the repeal Of the
French DEGREES whichwill be requir-
ed, your answer will be as obvious
'as it must be satisfactory. The
repeal must embrace every part of
the French DEGREES, which violate
the neutral rights guaranteed to us
by the law of nations. Whatever
part of the DEGREES may not have
this effect. as we have no right, as a
neutral nation, to demand a recall of
them, G. Britain can have no pre-
text, as a beIkgerent nation, to urge
the demand. If there be parts of
thesdecrees liable to objections of a.
mother kind, it lies with the United
States alone to decide on the mode
OF proceeding with respect TO them.
In explaining the ext mt of the
repeal, which, onthe British side, is
required, you will beguidsd by the
same principle. You will, accor-
dinghy, let it be distinctly under
stood, that it must necessarily III
cipde an aunulment of the blockade
of May, 1906; which has been a.
vowed to be comprehended in, and
identified with, the orders in coun.
Gil. and which is palpably at vari-
ance with the law of nations. This
is the explanation which will be gil
ven to the French government, on
this point, by our minister at Paris,
in case it should there be required.
But there are plain and powerful
reasons, why the British government
ought to revoke every other block
ado resting on proclamations or
diplomatic notifications, and not on
the actual application of naval
force, adequate to a real blockade.
I. This comprehensive redres. is
equally due from the British govern
ment to its professed respect for the
laws Of nations, and 20 the just claims
of a friendly power.
.. Without this enlightened pre-
cauuon, it is probable, and may indeed
be Inferred from the letter of the duke
OF Cado,e TO Gen, Armstrong, that
the French government will draY O..
Britain and the United States to issue,
on the Legality of such bl',kades, by
accedipg o the act of Congress, with
a condition, that repeal ofihe block
AIDES shall accompany repeal of the
orders in counoii, alleging, thai the or
dsrs and blockades, differing little, If
at all, othe fwise than IN name, repeal
of the former, leaving in operation the
latter, would be mere Illusion.
3. Ifit were even TO happen, thar
mutual repeal of the orders and de-
orets could be brought about, without
involving the subject of bIoekades, and
WITH a continuance of the blooksdes in
operation, Row could the United States
be expected to forbcar an immediate
call for their annulmeDt, or how long