Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-14


pught to trade with France and her allies K. !
Between enemies there can be no commerce.
The vessels of eiiheritaken BY the other are
liable to coniiscation * arc ALWAYS conhsca-
ted. The number Of enemies or extent of
country which they occupy cannot affect the |
question The laws of war govern the re- |
lation which subsists between them, which
especially in the circumstance under consitl- |
sraton are invariablc. They were the same
IN times the most remote that they now are.
Even ifpeacc had taken place between G.
Britain and the powers of the continent, She
could not trade with Them withou. their con-
sent. Or does Great Britain contend, that
the United States as n neutral power, ought
70 open the continent to her commerce, on
such terms as she may designate. On what
principle can she set up such claim! No
example of it can DC found in the history of
past wars, nor is it founded in any recognize
cd principle of war, or ia any semblance Of
reason or right. The United States could
not maintain such claim in their own favor
though neutral. When advanced in favor of
EN- enemy, il would be the most preposterous
and extrayagant claim ever heard Of. Eve
~ power when not restrained bvtrcaty, has
4 right TO regulate its trade with other ma
tons, in such manner as it finds most consis-
tent with its interest to admit and on its
own conditions, or 10 prohibit the importa-
tion of such articles as are necessary 10 sup
ply the wants, or encourage the industry of
its people. In what light would Great Bril-
tain view an application from the United
States for the repeal of right Of any act of
her Parliament, which prohibited the impor-
tation of ary article from the United States.
such IS their fish or their Oil? Or which
Claimed the elimination of the duty on any o.
ther, such as their tobacco on which so great
revenue is raiseds In what light would
she view similar application made at the
Instance OF France, for the importation into
England, OF any article the growth or man
uiacture Of that power which it was the poll
lev Of the British government to prohimit.
Hdelayshave takenplace in the restitution
of American property, and in placing tho A.
merican commerce in the ports of France
on fair and satisfactory basis, they involve
questions, as has already been observed, in
\ which the United States alone areinterested
AS they do not violate the revocation by
France, of her cdiCts, they cannot impair
The obligation of Great Britain to revoke
hers nor change the epoch at which the re-
vocation ought to have taken place. Had
that duly followed, it is more than probable
that those circumstances, irrelativc as they
are, which have excited doubt in the Brit
ish government Of the practical revocation
of tue French DEGREES might not have occur
red.
Every view which can be taken of this
subject increases the painful surprise at the
innovations on all the principles and usaees
heretofore observed, which are So unreser-
yedly commended for, in your letters of the
Sd and 10th inst. and which if persisted in
by your government present such an obstacle
10 the wishes Of the y. States, for q removal of
the difficulties which have been connected
with the Orders in Council. II is the inter
est ofbelligerents to mitigate the calamites
Of war, and neutral powers possess ample
means to promote that object, provided
they sustain with impartiality and frmness
the dignity Of their station If belligerents
expect advantage from neutrals, they should
leavethem IN thefull enjoyment oftheir rights.
The present war has been oppressive beyond
example, by lis duration, and by the desola-
tion which it has spread throughout Europe.
tits highly important that it should assume
at least, a milder character. By the revoca-
ton of the French edicts, so far as they res
pected the neutral commerce of the United
States, some advance is made towards that
most desirable and consoling result. Let
Great Britain follow the example. The
ground thus gained will soon be enlarged, by
the cOrcurring and pressing interests of all
parties, and whatever is gained, will accrue
to the advantage Of afflicted humanity.
Iproceed to notice another part Of Your
letter Of the Sd inst. which is viewed in a
more favorable light. The President has
received with great satisfaction the commu-
nicaticn, thai should the Orders in Council
Of 1907 be revoked, the blockade of May Of
the preceding year, would cease with them,
and that any blockade which should after
yards be instituted, should be duly notified
and maintained by an adequate force. This
frank aud explicit declaration, worthy of the
prompt and amcable measure adopted by
the Prince Regent in coming into power,
seems to remove material obstacle to an
accommodation Of differences between our
countries, and when followed by the revoca-
ton Of the Orders in Council, will, as j am
authorised to inform YOU, produce an imme-
diate termination Of the ncn-importation law,
By an exercise Of the power vested in the
President for that purpose.
j conclude with remarking that I have
confined this letter e. the subjects brought in
60 view by yours, il is not because the United
States have lost sight in any degree Of the
other very serious causes of Complaint, Oh
which they have received no satisfaction, but
because the ccnciliatcry policy of this go
yernment has thus farseparated the case OF
the Orders in Council from others, and be-
cause with respect to these others, your com
munication has not afforded any reasonable
prospect Of resuuing them, at this time, with
success. X is presumed that the same lber.
al view Of the true interests Of Great Bri
tain, and friendly disposition towards the u
Dited States, which induced the Prince Re.
gent to remove so material a difficulty as had
arisen in relation to repeal Of the Orders 4,
Council, will lead to a more favorable fur
flcr cCuSidpyafion ~ the fema;y;,ar d,(Er,1