Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-06-29

CdIccr9oi amoitlOn and the 1noruInate
thirst tor riches are not to be arrested
by maxims of justice or laws consecra-
ted by the wisdom of ages. They must
be satisfied that the greatest insult tina,
can be offered Co the ou:stretched arm
ofpower is to attempt to arresr it BY
argument or remembrance. They
must see that England and France
stand In the same attitude towards us,
and that the assertion Of our indepen-
dence can oaly be correctly displayed by
ceasing to palliate or apologize for the
unjust conduct of either.
There was for time faint hone
that the proposition submitted by our
government that the respective orders
and DEGREES OF the 5elligerents should
be chronologically revoked, would be
agreed to by them, and something like
an accommodation be the result. But
even this hope, shadowy as ii. was, is
now dispelled. England has refused
to annul the orders of blockade issued
by her antecedent to the date of the
Berlin decree, and thereby neutralised
the OTTER OF the French government to
revoke that decree on condition of the
previous revocationby the British gov
ernment of her previous biockades
ofFrances
AS this is a point of considerable
importance, inasmuch as it proves IN
equivocally the disposition of the Bri.
fish government, and tests the sinceri-
ty OF rs previous assurances, we shall
dilate little upouit. If, in perform
ing this duty, the facts stated, or the
inierences deduced from them, evince
a want of goood faith on the part of
sne Brush government, we trust we
shall not, In condemning such conduct,
be viewed as virtually advocating the
conduct OF the French govern nent.
! we wish it to be distinctly understood
that we can condemn the conduct of
one, without approving that of the O.
ther; thaf, in the structures offered, we
act the part of Americans that we
are neither Frenchmen, or English
men, but Americans & that although
as philanthropists, we wish well even
70 our enemies, yet as patriots, we
consider it our duty to maintain by all
just means the rights and interests OF
our own country.
1t will be recollected that the viola
tions of our rights by France & Eng
land have been an.along justified by
each on the ground of retaliation.
Neither government has maintained
Its right to originate the .aggressions
committed by il, but each has Insisted
upon its right to retaliate upon its
enemy for her original violations OF
the laws OF nations. 1t has been in
vain that we have denied the Justice
OF this principle of retaliation, by al.
led ing that q just retaliation could only
tall on the enemy of the offending ma
ton, and not On neu:rals, who had
maintained an inviolable impartiality.
Having once taken their ground, both
the beiligerents have been deaf to our
remonstrances.
In the course of the numerous ex-
plantations which these outrages gave
rise to, both the English and French
ministers frequently declared, that, as
the measures taken by their respec-
tive governments were entirely retail
atory, either would, on the previous
repeal Of the orders of the other, re-
woke its own.
| To put the sincerity Of this assurance
to the test, we find that Gen. Arm
strong, in virtue of an instruction from
Mr.. Smith of the first Of Dec. last,
enquired of the Due de Galore "what
were the conditions on which his ma
Jesty the Emperor would annul his
decree, commonly called the Berlin
deere and whether, if Great Britain
revoked her blockades of date ante
rior TO that decree, his majesty would
consent to revoke the said decree"
To this enquiry the due de Galore
returned for answer:
The only condition required for
the revocation by his majesty the En-.
peror of the decree of Berlin, will be
a previous revocation by the British
government of her blockades Of France
or part of France (such as that from
the Elbe to Brest, &C. of date ante
rior to that of the aforesaid decree"
These blockades, it will be held in