Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-29
From the Democratic Press.
~ zT0M nc l1cWocTdfIc ZoTeGS.
AN ExAMINATIoN OF
THE CONDUCT OF GREAT BRITAIN,
Pcshecticg ncutsuis. since the breach Of The
feacs Of Anacns in 1sos, end before the
3 French Berlin Decree in 1908.


Nc II.
As the British government pretended to
erect system of retaliation deeply affecting
the United States, upon the foundation of the
conduct of France in the Berlin decree of the
2lst of November, 1906, against the Berlin
trade, it must appear very unfortunate for
Great Britain, that she VIGOROUSLY gave to
France the ten several provoking examples,
recited in our last number. 1t may be en-
phatically added here, that those ten acts
fully justified remedy az arms on the part
of the nations then neutral
But these were not all the unlawful ope-.
rations of Great Britain since the treaty of
Amiens, which appear to have brought on
the French Berlin decree.
We shall proceed distinctly to exhibit a
few more from the chamber of the king, sit
ting in council.
The British government issued an order
Of the 1st Of February, 1905, by which YES
sells passing, though with grain only, from
the twelve ports of France, pretcnded:to be
!" bioekaded' ports in August, 1894. cs,ild te
seized, if going to any port whatsoever OF Spain
though unblockaded. The same British Or
der affeetet. 20 trr,,sss (as fhstst.
stl,s.,e was a right TO forbid such trade) the
carrying of foreign and American grain from
unblockaded places, into all the ports of
Spain, not under blockade. Here the odious,
injurious and unlawful doctrine of the British
orders in Council of June s, 1898, and May,
1875, to both which Sweden, America and
France had manifested the soundest and
strongest objections, were insinuated, reviv-
ed and maintained. In this war Britain thus
advanced and maintained that doctrine a.
lone, rendering manifest her increased bold
ness in wrong and violence
XII.
On the 21st Of May, 1906, the British go
vernment formally "herpntted" all trade in
| the Baltic, whether with friends or enemies
| ports, by eXempting every article and vessel
| whatever there from capture Thus did
| tley sinsularly favor in May the great mass
Of the dominions of the king of Prussia, who
had SING hostile manner" taken possession
Of the German dominions of the same prince,
who is king of Great Britain, and for which
| act and the exclusion of British ships by
| Prussia, the British king had blockaded
| friends, allies and enemies, in .Ahril, on four
| great rivers Of imperial Germany and Den
mark. Thus was the neutral trade with
| those four rivers of the German Ocean, OF
| North Sea, ilegitimately arrested, under the
! penalty of a total confscation for certain hos
| fikities and municihaE ia7ys Of the king q
| Prussia, while much of the benefits of thai
i trade, by the known means OF the Prussiaf
rivers, 7oiih an offensive al ecfafio1 qfright
| III D1dratime fogDeT, was PERMITTED to the l.
IDENTICAL prince who committed the recen
hostility and ordained the offensive munich
! pal law Thus did the British government
within the knowledge of France, purchase
| the favor of her enemies, by The sccndafota
consideration of the rights of the neutrals, ant
/ of her nitjea. 1t is remarkable, that this act
/ al. A.
! Berlin decree, and preceded it by only few
months of military agitation aud operation
II cannot be doubted, that the Emperor o
France had in particular and serious con
contemplation the four above mentioned acts
No. Z, Eo. 9, 10, and No. -, of the British
governu ent. The last seven of the British
series, including those four, we're within til
short term Of ten months. The 9Th, 5th, 9th
9TH, eth and 9Th, considerations in the pre-
amble Of the Berlin decree, leaves no room
for doubt, but that the fiifbfc or non-nunici
tai parts of that decree were intended 20 b
specific or virtual retaliations. 1--WE hav
resolved to enforce against England (says tn
closing sentence of the preamble) the usagc'
which she has conseerated in her maratim
code"
XIII.
II is a very Curious circumstance, that o
the 23d Of May, 1906, Great Britain, then
. perating on the temper and interests of Pru'
STA, even issued a special order Of the king
council, to exempt the Prussians Ceateki7
: fsh, aud conveying them fresh TO marke
t fTou scizurc and conJfscadon! The lort
; commissioners ct the British treasury & adm
!, rally, & the judge of thc high court Of adm
$ rally, we're specially charged with the etfe'
c tua. execution Of this basiGcss, in favor Of d