Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-14
l. Z L L E K
JOHN LOVE, Esq.
70 his Constituents.

DIR,
The eleventh Congress having
closed its third session, proc, ell to
the last duty, which as your represrn.
tative, 1 have to perform, by giving
you such view. of the posture Of our
public affairs, as their situation will
warrant.
In relation to our foreign concerns,
can add but little 10 what I stated
in my letter addressed to you some
days ago. Assurances are vet salts.
factory, that the late arrangement with
France, for the revocation of her de-
crees, will be carried into effect, ON
the basis of the law of the 1st OF May
last, Offering the same terms OF friend.
ship to both the belligereu,s. No in.
formation is yet received from Great
brltain. OF that power having acceded
In like manner to the equitable terms
OF our law; to do so, her bes, inte rests
seem to be strongly pledged, as are her
honor and character, by the repeated
declarations of her ministers, that the
orders in council were only in retalia.
ton Tor the DEGREES of France, now
lrescinded.
In closing my official duties, shall
be pardoned for taking retrospect of
the course which has been pursued.
and l, as your representative have
participated in, through the diflicnlt
scenes which the last tour years have
produced and by doing SO, it will be
IN my power to give you the better
exposition of our present situation and
prospects.
The occasional violations of our
neutral rights, which previous to nv
election to congress had for several
years been committed by England
and France, assumed the character of
more regular system, about that
time. 10 make more proper esti-
mate OF the disposition of those two
governments, it will not be necessary
20 go further back than the period
OF 1906. The system as of late ma
tured and in operation, seems proper
w TO take the date of its commence
ment, with the British orders in coun-
c'l OF May of that year, declaring a
coast OF the continent of Europe, not
less than Thousand miles IN extent,
and embracing the principal markets
OF the world for American produce,
10 be in state of blockade, without
having stationed or pretending to sta,i-
ons any force In situations competent
to effect such an object, but which
formed the pretence, and justified the
commanders of British vessels. to
seize our products destined to those
ports.
This Unprecedented infraction Of
neutral rights, was followed by France
IN November III the same year, by her
sdict, called the Berlin decree, declar.
ed to be in retaliation for British mea-
sures, and announcing 70 the astonish-
I'd world, the island Of Great Britain
and her dependencies, to be in state
OF blockade, and all connection with
them unlawful. In January 1907, G..
Britain issued another order in retail
iation of the Berlin decree. This, in
addition TO the order Of Nav 1905.
forbad a neutral to sail from one port
OF her enemy to another; thereby
| tdi more uncertain the
chance OF escaping from her cruizers.
In this posture, commercial affairs
remaued, unit November 8o7, when
the b itish government again acting
on the subject, and premisite that her
former orders had not been sufficient
y operative, issued those Of that date,
consisting Of repeated declarations and
provisions, interdicting to the use Of
the ". States, the whole of France
and those countries 10 alliance with
her, or from which the British flag
was excluded. This was followed up
IN December Of the same year, by the
Milan decree of France, properly still.
ed rejoioder to the British trd rs in
council, and closing completely all the
avenues to American commerce, sub.
Ject however by the rms Off, % an
nulment in fact, as soon as the pr.Ur
orders of the British government
were repe lied.
10 these several aggre. sions, the
United States opposed q moderate, nd
SO far as was in their power, the an
o