Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1811-12-09

me administration, Hayr ever considered The
pr;t;sh blockade o. May 1906 a sufficient
cause f5r tie freiich Berlin decree
The Berlin decree, the most arbitrary and
ou,rs efons decree ever knnwn n cisiiize,
eoantnrs. wnich declared an Englsnd and
Al English colonies and Island, ~ 4 state o.
blockade, without a ship 70 effect II, ann
rendered ali neural vessels and goods Law
fl prize hound 10 or from British rois
was issued IA Nov. 1906 and vet our Ruler,
chose not ID complain At II, fur the space oi
a whole year and siterWards laid an en-
barge. which had the effect, twheii,rr de
svned or not, o. further the views Of 30
ransle by the Beylia decree, in pattlng 81
cad 10 all British commerce with neutral
n4lions. Yet this gross interpolation in The
laws OF nations was not censured or resisted
by or Cabinet and il was said. by wa,
II submission 70 il. that the French were 10
able to enforce it, ana that 10 could do lis no
harm. In all cases OF Dispute with ENGLAND,
however, we find our administration con
iend for the princiose ot measure, IN which
they say is involved the honor of the nation.
But the effects OF the Berlin decree have
been most injurious. For those few armed
French Vessels which dared put 10 sea,
took Diasscre1 an. btsrEf our merchant ships
asd property ~ pursuance of the ba barous
decree Of 8crliH Aud this has been done
by order OF The Fcencu government. What
would have been the language and resent
ment Of our Rulers had the English treated
us an this way But against France, for this
conduct, they hardly dare com, lam; nor do
they insist upon restoration Of the proper
" uniastly taken fsoH. rs as above mention.
cd, and since by the Rdmbeglkiet decree, IN
der color OF reprIsals. But while our pro-
perty, thus wrongiully taken, to the amount
OF thirty millions and more, is detained and
refused to be given up by France, oar Ru-
lers have treated her as a friendly nation and
given her all the advantages Of our COM
merce.
We all we'll know the resentment and ella.
NOR against England on account of the per-
mission allowed rs by the orders IN Coua-
Gil to go TO France from G. Byifa,z upon pay
ing duty. We blame not our government
for refusing 10 submit to this duty though
such trade was for the interest of the mer-
chant, the principle was not honorable tothe
nation. AHd we remember the friends Of
administration said ii was most insolsnt i'm
England to require, and most servile in Il.
Dlerfca TO endure IL. And yet, France, after
all our attempts 10 please and favor her, per-
mats US only 70 trade 10 her ports, through
tcenees granted at Paris and dealt out to a
few of our citizens By the French consuls
residing here. Isstead OF resenting or com
planning ofthis, as was done IN the case of
similar conduct Of the English. we are very
meek and submissive nay our admnistra-
ton folks say it is great proof Of French
love for US. and would have it considered as
evidence of the repeal Of the DEGREES of Ber-
Ia and Milan.
Our Rulers were very indignant at one of
the terms proposed by the English, in order
20 our Withdrawing the commercial restric-
tons towards them, viz that they might be
permitted TO prevent any Of our vessels 60
ing 10 France, if the French refused to repeal
their decrees.-This it was said was insult
ing even TO propose. We allow il was i'm
proper, and ought not TO have been accep-
Ted But on the other hand, when The
French government, IN the time Of the En-
barge, declared our vessels lost their
neutral character and we're liable to be sci
zed and made prizes BY all French Ships,
because they did not return home, or be-
cause they dared to trade Al British ports !;
the administration never complained Of the
injustice and insolence of France No re-
tended that our honor and independence
were attacked.
While Mr. Madison demands Of England
the repeal Of all her obnoxious orders and
extends this demand 10 the Blockade of May
1896, which the law OF congress IN 1909 did
not pavticularizc, nor seem 10 embrace in
his acquisitions Of France. as necessary to
our reyiying commercial intercourse with
her, he only insists upon the DEGREES Of
Eatir and Mi'aE being withdrawn, though
others were in existence and in force, viz
The Bayoae and the Raptboaii'es decree, most
injurious TO our merchants and INCONSISTENT
with Justice and good faith on the part OF
the French government. Without demand
ing the repeal Of these, or At least, without
any promise from France TO repeal them, or
20 restore the immense property taken and
detained IN virtue 81 these and the other 81
her antineutral DEGREES, Mr.. Madison has
withdrawn all restrictions as II respects cul
commerce with French ports ard has been
most favorable TO the French government,
though we were suffering great injustice
from that nation And thus abandoned The
rights Of America, and given cause 10 En-
gland to complain Of cur partial and inyidi-
uas conduct.
When the French Ministers tell our Ru-
'ers, "thst we are destitute of courage and
honor II = that we are no longer an indie
pendent nation that we ought to tare up
CTR dcclarstian Of Independence" that !
we shall BE 40 longer neu.rals" &c. il is Ia
ken very quietly, as if we deserved it all !
ari no Indignation seems to be excited. !
But, they take Gre at once and boil with
rage aud resentment, when in the writings
q the British Minister there seems 20 Be
the most d.stsnt insinuation Of any want Of