Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-04-01

have shewn. from the correspou-
dence, that the blockade of Nav.
1906, was the only one included in
the demands of the Executive. L
have shewn that it is not only 10
iation OF our neutral rights, but of
the principles commended for by men
OF all political parties under every adj
ministration OF this country; and
cannot but express my regret that the
gentleman from New York should
consider that, under the. law of the
last session, this blockade ought nsE
to have been Included in the, demand
OF the Executive on Great Britain;
that ne should declare in the hearing
OF the British agent that demands
had been made by the Executive of
the United States which it would be
extremely convenient for us if Great
Britain would allow, but which she
never could yield. The gentleman
from N. York has entered into an ar
gument to shew that the Berlin and
Milan DEGREES are not repealed:
have just heard of the arrival of a
French minister he has left France
at time to bring US certain in.erma.
Etion on this question. have no wish
to enter on this interesting question,
with bandage around nv ewes.
Whether France has complied with
her eng gements-Whet Their France
mas failed IN her engagements, cannot
be subjsct of ingenious speculation
many days longer. Whatever may
be the information received, I shall
endeavour to adhere to what I deem
the real interests of MY country, and
so tar as l am able, to maintain its
rights against the unprincipled agrees
slons OF every foreign nation.
will now, sir, make few obser.
vations on the bill before the House.
1t contains but single section, aud
exempts from forfeiture goods owned
wholly by citizens of the u. States.
which shall have departed from
british port prior to the second day
OF February, 1911. When the report
OF the Secretary of the Treasury on
the subject of notifications of the
non-lntercourse system was referred
to the committee on foreign relati-
ons, 1t appeared to be the unanimous
sentiment of the committee that goods
which had left British por, before
the Presidents proclamation reached
the port ought to be exempted from
the penalty of the non. intercourse law.
although they might not arrive until
after the Cd day of Feb. II was con.
sidered not inconsistent with an hon
est compliance with our engagements
with France, and seemed to be re-
qhIred by that general principle Of Do
hey, which is adhered to in all free
countries, OF allowing sufficient notice
to ITS citizens Of the commencement
OF penalties and forfeitures. The
bill tor enforcing the non-iutercourse
system was reported with that limited
Provision--a'ter the bill was printed.
various statements were received bv
the committee all tending to shew
that the orders Of our merchants were
sent out in September and October.
that from the change in the actual
state OF commercial capital in this
country, goods. were at present pur-.
chased with cash, and not only became
the property of our citizens under thx
orders OF merchants sent before the
Presidents proclamation issued. BIN,
were at the risque of the purchasers
that these goods were actually paid
Tor before the Presidents proclama,i-
on issued-that they could not be
brought in before the I'd day of Feb.
The commi tee having previously de-
cided that time ought to be allowed
Tor the Presidents proclamation to
reach British port, and taking into
view the great injury our own citi-
zens would sustain from rigorous
construction of the law, determined
to extend the time to the ultimate
period at which a citizen could nut his
property on board without infringing
the laws of his country. 1t is NOT
supposed that the construction put I'M.
on the law is strictly within its letter
lit is however perfectly within ire
object. 1t was designed to operate on
the nation refusing to modify or with.
draw its edicts. To give it a constrnc-
ton which would either con6scate nro-
PeEty bona 6de American or lock i nm