Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-01-18

d. Il AAAN1 n &ts&D
the produce OF the United States, is at this
time specially and absolutely prohibited
From the decree of the 18th July, 1t,
moreover, appears, that there can be no
importation into France, but upon terms and
conditions utterly inadmissible, and that
therefore, there can be no importation at all
of the following articles, the produce OF the
United States, namely, fish. oil, dye-wood,
salt fish, cod fish, hides and peltry
AS these enumerated articles constitutes
the great mass of the exports from the U.
States to France, the mind is naturally awak-
ened to a survey of the actual condition OF
the commercial relations between the two
countries, and to the consideration that no
practical good, worthy of notice, has result
ed to the u. 5. from the revocation of the
Berlin and Milan DEGREES, combined as it I'M
expectedly has been, with a change in the
commercial system Of France, SO moment
Gus TO the u. s..
The act Of Congress of May last had for
its object, not merely tie recognition of a
speculative legitimate principle, but the en-
loyment of a substantial benefit. The over
ture, therein presented, obviously embraced
the idea ofcommercial advantage. 1t includ-
ed the reasonable belief, that an abrogation
vi tlC bCEAln 0itAl AtAlihI NObl1 ICdbC
the ports OF France as free for the introduc-
ton ofthe produce ofHe u. States, as they
were previously TO the PRONUNCIATION of those
DEGREES.
The restrictions of the Berlin and Milan
DEGREES had the effect of restraining the A
m~erican merchants from sending their YES
sells to France. The interdictions in the
system that has been substituted, against
Al. .J,.-nfon n a M ptru, -uaI,At, ,usI
have the effect ofimposing upon them an e.
quail restraint 1t, then, Tor the revoked de-
crees, municipal laws, producing the same
commercial effect, have been substituted,
the mode only, and not the measure has un-
dergone an alteration. And however true it
may be, that the change is lawful in form, it
is nevertheless as true, that it is essentially
unfriendly, and that it does not at all com
port with the IDEAS inspired by your letter of
tie eth ult. in which you were pleased to
declare the " distinctly pronounced intention
OF his Imperial majesty OF favoring the com
mercial relations between France and the u
nited States in all the objects of traffic,
which shall evidently proceed from their ag-
ricultlre or manufactures"
If France, By her own acts, has blocked
up her ports against the Introduction of the
produces OF Tie GniICd CtdLGS, WlaJ mOtlVe
has this government, ina discussion with a
third power, to insist on the privilege of go
ing to France? Whence the in~ducement to
urge the annulmens Of blockade of France,
wien. if annnlled, no American cargoes could
obtain a market in any OF her ports? In
such q state OF things, a blockade of the coast
OF France would be to the United States as
unimportant, as would be a blockade of the
coasl OF tie Caspian sea.
Tue British edicts may be viewed as hav-
ing q double relation; first, to the wrong
done to the United States; second, to the
wrong done to France. And it is in the lat
ter relation only, that France has a right to
speak. But what wrong, it may be asked,
can France suffer from British orders which
cooperate with her own regulations
However sensible the United States may
be to the violation of their neutral rights IN
der those edicts, yet, if France herself has
by her own acts rendered it a theoretical in
stead Of a practical violation, it is for this
government to decide on the degree in which
sacrifices Of any sort may be required by con
siderations which peculiarly AID exclusively
relate to the United States. Certain it is,
that the inducements to such sacrifices are
weakened, as far'as France can weaken them,
by having converted the right to be main
tanned, into a naked one, whilst the s%acrif-
ces TO be made would 90 substantial and ex-
t~ensive.
A hope, however, is INDUCED, that your
instructions from your government will soon
enable you to give some satisfactory e~xplana-
tons of the measures TO which reference has
been made, and that their operation in vir-
tue OF moditicaticns, which have not vet trans
pired, viii not DO as has been herein repre-
scented.
The president has received with great salts
faction the information, that the consuls Of
France have been heretofore in the official
and authorised practice Of furnishing certiti-
Gates of origin to American vessels, as well