Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-03-01
From the Meuu-7ork Evening Past.

ID
French DEGREES were first promulgated IN
this country, our democratic newspapers
came out with q justification ofthem, on the
ground that thsv were only Municipal Re-
gulations. " Every nation," says Jefer-
sons paper at Richmond, " has right to
pass such municipal Iazvs as she pleases to
adopt: provided she respects the obl'sa'
ton of treaties" {" Has not France, ne
continues to ASK right to make regula'
tons for her own ports ! May she nor ex
clude or admit any species of cargo or Bat
toms, as her policy or CAPRICE may dc
tate" &c.. But does France allow the
benefit Of the same distinction to US {! We
passed an act prohibiting the vessels OF both
bs|hgercots to enter our harhors or waters,
on penalty of conhscation, !. they insisted
upon doing so, after due and proper notice
not to do SO. If there ever was munich
pal regulation, that is regulation extead-
ing to the territory. harbors and waters OF
the notion adopting it, surely this was one
But what says the French emperor! Or
rather what does he; for his way is to
strike frs, and then speak f? He seizes all
American property 10 France, sequssters
it, con6scates it, and when our good Pre-
sident asks with amazrment, I" what all
this MEANS" he answers, with sneer,-
Oh It's only by way OF rttbrlsdl Trend
You have seen fit TO pass non intercourse
law, exposing French ships to con6scat'on
if they enter your potts, after notice; this
you call np';cibal regulation; call it so
if you please, but have seizsd and conhs-
Gated all American property in France. -
9 Blu. you surely can't be serious, brother
Bpney mine IS only a ",m1ic;Fai res-ula.
tion at worst. such as we both have long
snce, vou know, maintaued that every
nation has a right to make for itself. On
this eFounG alone, have our friends here,
always JUSTIFIED your Berlin decree, in SPITE
| of facts. 1t was distinction that has saved
your cause" :" don't care 6g for your
| distinctions. Talk Till you're blind, still
you'l End that hsre there is no law, muni.
cipal or national, that can stand momen,
in the way Of the emperor of France. -
6 But, brothsr, hear me one word the a
mount of what We have seized, if we have
seized any thing, which have never heard
of, mus. be very tri(ling; whereas you have
sequ,stered millions upon millions tbs out
of all proportion, and"-" What is that to
me SO much the more in nv favor."-
Well, but consider it will be impossible,
really impossible for me 70 carry on any fur
Their this negotiation with you against Eng
laad, it will be out Of my pawrrto bring the
country to consent to wiihdrswthe operation
| of this municipal regulation as to you & re.
vive it against G.. e. unless the business of
the late sequsstra,ions, can somehow be nut
on better, or at least more plausible
footing than this ; you must recoilect that
Great Britain not having seized and Sc
questered our property on the ground of
reprisal tor our non intercourse, it will
have a bad, very bad effect among our
friends here, If we attempt harsh measures
aeans, her, while we strive to decrease
the bonds of amity between rs and France.
am therefore really constrained 70 saw,
that cannot 80 on with the negotiation.
until l obtain at least promise, that the
conhscalion Of this property shall not a,
present follow the representations" 81
tell you again once for all, that this pro-
perry thus seized and s,qucstered shall be
confscafea." Promise then that YOU will
consider this subject, as, at any rate omen
to negotiation hereafter give NE some.
thing to say to The people" :" No will
not triHe about it, the law of repyisal shall
govern it shall be sold for the benefit Of
my us.sury." :" cannot possibly then
go on with this negotiation, without some
preliminary promise, or some plausible en-.
enlargement respecting these seizures, for
the Americans are vary impatient about
them" That we shall see.''
What did we in fact see ? We saw Mr..
Madison take the FIRST moment to issue 2
proclamation, stating to the nation what was
rot true, tor tbs purpose of admitting
French vessels 20 free entry. To free
entry thsy were accordingly admitted, ON
the faith OF the emperor's assertion thai he
had revoked his DEGREES. 1t turn, ON,
however as We all know, and as the federal.
lists then predicted, that he. only gave his