Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-18
boye cited, but to the answer given
to MIR. Merry, ofJune 1906, to the

enclosed therein OF Ii Tt r TO HIN from,
commodore Hood, commander In chief
OF his Bri.arnic maiesty's ships If
war on a West India station. The
latter bears date Of rhe sSth of July
last, ard requests that the American
government and agents OF neutral ma
tons might be, made acquainted, thar
the Islands o! Martinique and Guada-
ioupe are and have been blockaded
from the 17sh Of June, preceding, by
dctachments from the squadron uoder
his command, In order mat there NAV
be no plea for attempting TO enter the
ports of the islands.
1t viii, without doubt, occur to you.
sir, that such communication would
have been more properly made through
another channel, than directly from the
consulate at New York. The impor.
lance and urgency of the subject how
ever supercede the consideration Of
forms, and i lose no time in commu-
nicating to you the observations which.
the President deems il to rs qqire.
1t will not escape your attention.
that commodore Hoods letter is dated
no less than three months before it
could have the efFsct of notification.
and that besides,this re markabIe DELAY
the alleged blockade is computed from
date more than one month prior to
that OF the letter itself. Bot these cir
cumstances, however important it NAV
be, do not constitute the main Objects
on TO the proceeding of the British
commander. His letter, instead of
stating that particular port or ports
were blockadrd, by force actually
before them, declares, generally, TWO
entire and considerable islands to be iu
state of blockade. 1t can never be
admitted that the trade of neutral
nation, in articles not contraband, can
be legally obstructed to any place, NOT
actually blockaded, or that any notfi-
cation or proclamation can be of force.
unless accompanied with all actual
blockade. The law of nations is per-
haps more clear on no other poinr
than that of siege or blockade, such
as will justify beiligerent nation in
restraining the trade of ueutrals. Eve
ry term used in defining the case inn
ports the presence and position of a
force rendering access to the prohibited
place manifestiy difficult and danger
GUS. Every jurist of reputation, who
treats with precision this brand of the
law OF nations, refers to an actual
and particular blockade. Not a SIM
gle treaty can be found which under
takes to define blockade, in which
the definition does not exclude a geper-
al or no9inal blockade, by limiting ir
to the case of sufficient force so dis
posed az TO amount to an actual and
particular blockade. To a number of
such treaties, Great Britain is par
ty. Not to multiply references on
the subject, l con6ne myself to the Ath
article OF the convention OF Tune.
1901, between Great Britain and Rus
: STA, which having been entered into
for the avowed purpose =. of settling
: an invariable determination of their
: principles upon the rights of neutrali-
. rs" must necessarily be considered as
t solemn recognition of an existing &
general principle aud right. not as a
stipulation of any new principle or
right limited to the parties themselves.
The article is in the words following I
hat IN order TO determine W hat
: characteristics a blockaGsd port, that
: denomination is given only 70 port
: where there is, by the dispositions OF
!, the rover which attacks il with ships
stationary or sufficiently near, an evil
dent danger OF entering" Il cannot
: be necessary to dweIi on the ineohsis.
n tency of the kind of blockade declares
|. by commodore Hood, with the prin
h ciple laid down concerning the right,
II Of neutrality; or on the consequences
# of the principle, on which a blockade
. of whole islands by a few ships is foun.
ded to the commerce and interests O
: neutral nations. If the Islauds of Mar
Unique & Guadaloupe, the latter no les
(. than $50 & the former nearly $50 mile
In circumference, & each con ain ny
!. variety OF ports, can be hlockaded b.
:; detaehments from a commodore
:, squadron, il is evident that a very ia
" considerable portion of the British