Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-03-06
From The .ae4,. York Eyening r. ST,

INTERPRETATION, Construction ana TfcNEfeH
Of tie French DEGREES. I" 1t is all ackh owiedg-
ed maxim, (says nv Lord Bute's editor at
Richmond) that every nation Is the best IN
terpreter and Judge Of it's own laws Every
nationis supposed to be best acquainted With
its own meaning" Ono neutral nation says
he, has a right to protest against the 7roras
or sthit Of such decree, SO long as Its con-
struction and execution are strictly compau-
bic with the law of nations" Such beng the
/ rules laid down by this French American, let
us ros test them by facts.
First" Every nation is the best lnterpre-
ter of its own laws as best understanding their
meaning"
The Milan Decree issued on the 18th OF
December, 1867, aid on the 18th OF March fol-
lowing, three months afterwards, Monsieur
Collin, Director General of the Customs ana
Councillor Of State, wrote at official letter 10
the proper authorities, in the seaports Of
France, Holland and Italy, to inte'flrft this law
for them, as best understanding the nleaIlrg.
The following is literal extract nom this
letter:
g The scques.rtion of neutral vessels must
be carried into execution, according to to- e
orders CT lis imperial majesty, which orce IS
require il express terms, that Ill such vesf els
must be seGuestered which Lave been Visited
bv the enemy, either tcfre the decree fci the
18th December passed, or subsequent to it,
srd after that be brought before thc Cou1 Gil
OF Prizes" ~
Here was an Interpretation with vitne "a
it WAS the Interpretation CT their own lazy Nv
the French, ard Every ration, says ~ cG-
itor, is the best Interpreter c. its CIV Tvs )"
nor has any neutral nation a right 70 ,,,tcss
against the words or spirit CT sr ~ t,cree
$50 icng as its construction sid sfr,",;G,, 70
strictly compatible with tteT w.of ,.t;ors--
believe it viii hardly be Lr,,enccd 1Lafanx
law Of civilized nations evr permitted az cree
to have retroactive Of r. 7 sh.n certa;,,l,
take it for granted, tfs> ~ law of naticrs ever
dit, III ally shape ar n,;t ibis ,hcr,;nsbIe rcr.
1uue.i0I. tal:u /" GO tie Frerch. Courcil CT
80 :, 80 4sy DO not themselves pc
e : - following anecdote is taken
'oii >'"i''s.-' rs pamphlet:
ge.' .ernan or whose verocity car re-
" :oi'! - he lad an opportunity Of sseI.s
oiS'iL'So <-Siicd n,onbe OF the Ccuncli Ct Prizes
ing the capture CT sii American YES
90, and in support OF tbs gentienlan's algu-
4, III her favor, he clted & passage iloIr
:ttcI, to which tie flerchnan icccsely rf
piicd, I'VE know nothing Of H6hr iaw or,
f, what YoU call tie law q iatici.s; We NUS
! follow The DEGREES o. he rcror.'' +
! Scr UGH fer construct tor now for exec Il
ton. tie following cases are selected cut Ct
vast number. Ter correctness VII r0. lie
/ denicd Tor they ale taken from prirtcf re-
port Of the proceedings OF the French Cuuncil
Of Prizes, at Paris, TOW III this city.
. 1t is only to be promised that the infamous.
and execIablc Milan decree, making good
prize of Ill neutrals that had been visited by
al enery's ship, At sea, passed the 18th CT
December, 1907 and the Berlin decree TIE
llst Nov. 1906.
l. The Pcuiina, Clarke, CT Baltimore. in
her WY to Malaga, which voyage was begun
in Seftttnster, 1906, was carried io.o SD.ir,
the latter part OF November, under the Berlin
decree, Just then made known ID Spain Both
ship and cargo were corderrp ID, after which
the ship was purchased BY t,hc agent of its
owner, and sent Cn her Ncyage. But Oh TIE
18th Of JANUARY, sos, She was taken again iva
French rrivateer under the Milan decree CT the
18th December, preceding, having Leen sttok-
en- with by an Er.s lish bris On the same 18th
Of December, AMI consequently before the cx-
istence of tie decree could be known. The
ship and ca.,,5so were both condemned.
= The. IiofesreU, Shepard, sailed from Sa-
lem, Massachusetts,, for Bordeaux, On the Sd
OF December, 1907, fourteen days before tie
decree was passed, was visited by an English
vessel, End forced to change her course & sail
fcr England. On the oath she was taken bv a
. Preach privateer, before tie existence of tie
decree was known. Both ship and cargo we're
condemned under this decree by the French
Council of Prizes.
8. The Catherine, sailed from Boston bound
to Legholn, the s3d Of November, 1907, "a
days before passing the Milan decree: she
was However, captured under it On the I'd of
January, and both ship aid cargo condemn
ed.
4. The Grace, sailed from Boston for Leg
horn with rich cargo, On the 18th of Nov.
twenty-eight days before the MILAN decree
was passed but was captured under it on the