Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-26


fully examined, compared and considered.
as well in reference to the time, before the
commencement of hostilities in 1895. between
Great Britain and France. as since thar e
vent and down to their treaty Of peace IT
Amiens, IN 1902, that first section of the sub
ject viii De rested. upon the facts and oSser-
Nations which have been heretofore collect
ell and submitted.
On to- Fart 81 .he lsoversa,enf of Fiarc-,
from the renewal OF the war in 1905, until
the date of her ailedged rctaliatory decree
or the 2ist November, 1906, there does not
appear arnon5 fse foreig-s acts, of which CO.
pies were transmitted with the message of
the late president Jefferson on the 2Sd De
Gender, lS0S, any one single decree or p.'o-
ciamation, executive, legislative or military,
affecting neutral rights, before that of the
Slst OF November, 1906, commonly 6enomi-
mated The Fr7-h Berlin decree. 1t appears,
therefore, that no and-neutral act of the
French government could have laid any jrs,
foundation for any anti-neutral or alledged
resaliatory Orders in Council, on the part Of
Great Britain, between the renewal of the
war in 1905, and the issuing of the Berlin
Decree.
On me hart IF Great Britain, the sever
al following important acts occurred AID
were proclaimed to the whole world, her
allies, her adyersaries, and amica5le neu-
trials.
Great Britain re-enacted, in 1905, the fol-
lowing section of 1875 in public act of le-
gislation. provided always, and be it en-
acted, that nothing in this act'' Ito promote
her navy. through her seamen) " shall becon-
straed to restrain his majesty, his heirs and
successors. from giving such further rules
and directions, from time TO time, to his res
pective courts OF admiralty and vice-admi-
rally, for the adyuaicafion and condemnation
Of fTizes, as by his majesty, his heirs and sac-
cessors, with the advice of his or their privy
Council, shall be thought necessary or fro
fef!
This public statute gave to bellirerent
France and neutral America, solemn and for
mai notice, that Great-Britain deliberately
intended again to counteract the constitutions
OF the court of admiralty and of Great Bril-
tain, as authoritatively settled & admitted by
the jadge, the kings law officers * the king
himself, through his prime minister the duke
OF New Castle, iii the time of the last war
OF George the second, in the case Of the ST.
lesia loan. This British statute once more
fundamentally converts the fn6iic h17v cour1
IN Great Britain into an executive Office of
state, which in the hands of Sir William
Scott, had been made and is continued to be
made pliable instrument to impS& and
destroy neutral trade, to confscate htral
property and TO preventive commerce, sup
pies andprosperity of adversary belligerents,
at the despotic will of one government. and
IN manner unauthorised by the law of ma
tons. 1t is in truth a stationary indemnity
for every violation of the law of nations,
ensuring the habi:ual commitment of such
acts.
II.
On the Esd of June, 1905, (and after the
present war with France had commenced, J
Great Britain issued an order in council, sub
Jectlng neutral vessel and new cargo in a
new voyage, in the trade between neutral
countries and belligerent colonies, to seizure,
II the neutral vessel, in her outward voyage
mad supplied an enemy with articles contra
Dand OF war---d seizure tsnnufhorised by the
fd7c of nations and an psurpation of the re-
gulaton OF neutral trade, tempting or pro-
voklnS her enemy to n similar usurpation, as
often as we submitted TO it,
III.
On the 25th of July, 1908, the British Adj
miral, sir Samuel Hood, notified pretended
blockade OF fEco zvhoLe and considerable
French Vest India Islands. This ur cxam-
pied act was made refroskectfUe, to the ex-
tent OF thirty eight days. 1t was in operation
for nearly seven months, during which France
and our trade must have been materially har-
rassed and injured 1t was abandoned after
a long time, as unlawful, but without re.ne-
dy.
w.
In the month of March, 1904, the British
admiral, SIR John Duckworth, the same who
tried 20 coerce the Turks, after fruitless
attempt to take BY siege the principal place
OF arms os the island of Corracoa, fsroeLdimed
blockade ofthe whole island. 1t is not I'M
derstood, that any check or censure was given
to admrais Hood and Duck worth, but on the
contrary, they, Ike admirals Nelson, Berk-
ley and Popham, several of their commo-
dores and navy captains, have been cherish
cd, countenanced and encouraged, and con
verted into pernicious examples by a change
to better employments and by actual promo
ton. Such things excite the opposite beli-
gerents to similar or other vexations and in
juries to neutral rights and commerce be-
sides, the immediate injuries to the legiti-
mate trade and property Of countries in ami
y and peace.
V.
On the 9th ofAugust, 1904, Great Britain
announced apretended blockade ofthe months
oftwelve rivers, bays or ports, on a long line
OF the French and Netherand coast, and
this too by the British king, sitting inland, in
council, in their remote executive chamber
notify admirals or commanders at arms and