The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-12-12
MESSAGE.
Feliow Citizens If Ihe SENATE,
and of fhe UUuse Of RehresrnkdtfUcs,

FeIow CHizens u me SENATE,
and Of ihe House Of Representatives,
THE endorsements which have prevail.
ed in our foreign relations, and So much EN-
pioyed the deliberations OF Congress, make
il d primary duty, in o:eeting you, 10 comnu-
nicatc Whatever mIy have occurred, IN that
branch OF our national affairs.
Tas act of the last session OF Congress,
:. concerning the commercial intercourse be-
tween the United States and Great-Brhain
and France and their dependencies, having
invited, in new form, termination ot tbcir
edicts AK Inst our neutral commerce, copies
of the acts were Immediately forwarded to
our Ministers at London and Paris I: with a
view that il, object might be within ;hc cafty
attention of the French and BRUSH govern
ments.
By the communication received through
our minister al Paris, it "ppeaicd, tnat a
knowledge of the act Uy the FrcnCh govern
ment, was followed by a declaration tbat the
Berlin and Milan tlecrees were revoked, and
would cease 10 have effect Ola the lst day OF
November ensuing. These byng the only
known edicts oil France, WITHIN the descrp.
ton of the act and the revocation OF them
being such that they cessed, on that date, to
violate our neutral commerce (: the fact, as
prescribed by law, was announced by proc
lamation, bearing date the 2d day oi No'em-
ber.
II would have we'll accorded with the con.
ciIiatory views, ind Gated by this proceeding
ON the part of France, 10 have extended them
to all the grounds OF just complaint, which
now remain unadjusted with the United States
Ii was particularly anticipated that, as iutther
evidence oi JUS, dispositions towards then.
restoration would have been immediately
made of the property OF our citizens seized
under misAppication of the principle OF re-
prisals, combined with u misconstraotion OF a
law Of the United States. This expectation
has not been fulfilled.
From the British government no commu-
nication on the subject ot The act has been re-
ceived. To a communication from our mln-
lister at London of the revocation, by the
French governments, of it's Berlin and Milan
DEGREES, ii vas answered that the British sys-
ten would be relinquishcd as soon as the re-
peal OF the French decrecs should have actu-
ally taken effect, ana the commerce oil neu-
trai nations have been re stored 10 the condl-
ton i'm which it stood, previously to the pro-
mitigation o, those decrees. This plcdge,a!-
though il does not nee sssarily import, does
not exclude the intention oil rclinquishing, a-
long with the orders in council, the prac uice
of those novel blockadcs which have like
effect Of inlerrupting our neutral commerce.
And lhi. further Justice to the United States
is the rather to be looked for, inasinuch as the
blockades in question, bein,: not more contra
trary to the established law of nations, than
Inconsistent with the rules OF blockade for-
merly recognized by G.. Britain herself, cctd
have no alcdyed basis othcr than the plea o
retaliation, Alleged rs the basis OF the orders
of council Jalcr the mDdiication ot
the original orders Of " vemoer 1897, into
the orders OF April, 1899, there Is indeed
scarcely a nom,u,l dislinction between the
orders anfbloc&ades. One of those Hicgiti-
nate biockAdes, bearing date in Nay 1906.
n,ving been expressly avowed to be still no-
recinded,and TO be in effect, comprehcaded in
the orders o! council, was too distinctly brol'
Within the pWvicw of the act of Congress.
not To be comprehcnded in the explanation OF
the re uisi,es To- a compliance With 1t The
British government wss accordingly appsiscd
nv our minister near it, that such was the
light in which the subject was to be regard
ed.
On the other important subjcct' depend
ing between the Y. States and re, govern
rnent, no progress has been uule, from
shicn a. early and satisfactory result can be
relied on. af
In this new posture Of eur relations wish