Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-12

of the letter of the Minister of Justice, OIL .he
25th last December, confirms me in the infer.
ence Dire W from it, forotherwise why should
that minister make the prospective restora,,o'i
of American vessels, taken after the Isl No
vember, to be consequence OF the noh-'n-
portation and not of the French revocauoh.--
If the French government had been sincere,
thew would have ceased infringing on the neq-
trail rights of America, alter the lst Novem-
Der THAT they violated them, however, al
ter that period is notorious.
Your government seem to let 1T be Under
stood that an ambiguous declaration rom
Great Brilain, similar to that OF the french
minister, would have been acceptable to them.
But, sir, is it consistent with the dignity ofa
nation that respects itself, to speak IN ambiSu-
Gus lanpuacsl The subjects and CITIZENS Oh
either country would in the end be the VIC.
tins, as many are already, In all Pro2aoii'y'
who froa misconstructlon OF the meaning
of the French government have been ia INTO
the most imprudent speculatlons. Su9h con-
duct would not be to proceed fdT7 faS@Ft VIII
France in reyoking our edicts, but to d;'cend
to the use of the perfdious and Juggling con-
triyances of her cabinet, by which she MIS- her
Golfers at the expense of independent natiYns.
A similar construction of proceeding Aar
fassu, might lead to such DEGREES as those Oh
Ramboullet, or of BAyonne, to the system Aot
exclusion or of licenses, all measures ~
France against the American commerce, ~
nothing short of absolute hostility.
1t is urged that no vessel has been con-(
dcmned bv the tribunals of France on the
principles of her DEGREES since the lst Novem-
Der. You allow, however, that there have
been some detained since that period, and that
such part of the cargoes as consisted OF goods,
not the produce of America, was seized, and
the other part, together with the vessel Eselt,
only released after the Presidents proclana-
ton became known in France These cir
cumstances surely only prove the difficulty,
that France is under in reconciling her anti
commercial and anti-neutral system, with her
desire to express her satisfaction at the mea-
sures taken iii America against the commerce
of Great Britain. She SEXES In virtue OF the
Berlin and Milan DEGREES, bat she makes par
tial restoration for the purpose of dcceivins
America.
have now followed you, I believe. sir,
through the whole range of your argument,
NAV securely say that no satisfactory proof has
as yet been brought forward OF the repeal OF
the obnoxious DEGREES of France, but on the
contrary that it appears they continue IN tuil
force, consequently that no grounds exist on
which you can with justice demand OF Great
Britain revocation of her orders in council
that we havea right to complain OF the con-
duct of the American government IN enforcing
the provisions of the act Of My, 1910, to the
exclusion of the British trade, and afterwards
in obtaining special law fol the same pur-
pose thou2 h it was notorious at the time that
France still continued her aggrcsslons npon
American commerce, and had recently pro
mu!eaed anew her DEGREES, suffering no trade
from this country, but through licences pub
licly sold by her agents, and that all the sup
positions YOU have formed of innovations on
the part of Great Britain or OF her pretenslons
to trade with her enemies are wholly grounu-
less have also stated to you the view his
Naiesty's government has taken OF The ques-
ton Of the blockade of May, 1905, and it now
only remains that urge afresh the injustice
of the United States government perseverng
in their union with the French system tor the
purpose ofcrushing the commerce OF u. b.
From every consideration which equity,
good policy or interest can suggest, there ap-
pears TO be such call upon America to give
up this system which favors France to the In
Jury Of Great Britain that cam, ot, however
little satisfactory your communications are, as
vet abandon all hopes that even before the
Congress meet, a new view may be taken CT
the subject by the President, which VIII lead
to a more happy result
have the honor to be, with very high con-
siderStion and respect, sir,
Your most obedent humble servant,
AUGUSTUS y. FOSTER.
To the Hon. James M,woe, Gc. &c. &c.