Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-11
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANIES THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
BfR. MoyRoE 70 MB. FoS7ER.
gcog7IyUED.l


her Orders In Council, Until the commerce
of the continent is restored to the state in
which IL stood before the Berlin and Milan
DEGREES issued: until the French DEGREES are
repealed not only as to the United States,
bot SO as to permit Great Britain TO trade with
tke continent is it then meant that Great
Britain should be allowed 10 trade with al; the
poxers with whom she traded at that epoch I!
SINCE that time France has extended ner con-
o,,es.s 70 the north and raised enemies against
C;-e,,-B ritain, Is here she then had friends
Js II proposed 10 trade With them notwithstand-
inc the change III their situation Between
the enemies OF one date and those OF another
M Discrimination can be made. There IS
none in reason ncr Can there be any. OF right.
IN practice. Or do you maintain the general
rri,cir,le and contend that Great Britain ought
n trade With France and her allies Between
enemies there can be no commerce. ne
vessels of either taken b. the Other are liable
70 coa6scatinn and are always con.scated.-
The number of enemies or extent oil country
which they occupy cannot affect the question
The laws OF war govern the relation which
subxists between them, which especially III
,he circ,fu,stance under consideration are inva-
r;abIe. Tt were the same III times the most
remote that they now are. Even 1t peace had
taken place between Grcat-Britaln and the
mowers of the continent, she could not trade
with them without their consent. Or does
Great Britain contend, that the United States
as a neutral power, ought 10 open the CONT
nen, 10 her commerce, on such terms as she
NAV designate On what principle can she
set up such claim |? No example OF 1t can
he. found in the history OF past wars, nor Is It
founded in any recognized principle Of war, or
In any semblance of reason or rIght. The
United States could not maintain such claim
in their own favor though neutral. When adj
vanced IN favor Of IN enemy, 1t wo'Ld be the
most prepostersus and cxtrayosant claim ever
heard of Every power when not restrained
by treaty, has a right to regulate its trade with
other nations. in such manner as II hnds most
consistent with its interest; to admit, and on
Ire own conditions, or to prohibit the import
alton of such articles as are necessary to sup
plv the wants, or to encourage the industry
of i.s people. In what light would Great
Br;tain view AN application from the United
States for,the repeal Of right of any act of
her Parliament, which prohibited the inpor-
tation of any article from the United States,
such as their FISH or their oil +! Or which
claimed the dinlinution OF the duty on any
other. such as their tobacco, on which so great
revenue is raised 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 manufacture OF
thar bower which it was the policy OF the Brit
t;sh government to prohibit.
IL DELAYS have taken place in the restitution
Of American property, and m placing the A
merican commerce i'll the ports OF France on
a fair ard satisfactory basis, taey involve
questions, as has already been observed, In
which the United States alone are Interested.
Ashley do not violate the revocationby France,
other edicts, they cannot impair the obligation
ef Great- Britain to revoke hers; nor change
the epoch at which the revocation ought TO
have taken place. HID that duly followed, 1t
is more than probable that those clrcumstan.
ces, irrelative as they are, which have excited
doubt in the British government OF the practl-
cal revocation Of the French DEGREES, might
not have occurred.
Every view which can be taken OF this sub.
;ect increases the painful surprise at the IN
novations on all the principles and usages
heretofore observed, which are so unreserv-
edIy conteaded for, in your letters of the Sd
and 10th inst. and which if persisted in by
YOUR government, present snchan obstacle &c
the wishes of the United States, for removal
of the difficulties which have been connected
with the Orders in Council. Its the Interest
Of belligersnts to mitigate the calamities o
war. and neutral powers possess ample means
60 promote that object, provided they sustain
with iinpartiality and frmness the. dignity Q
.hs;r station. If belligcrents expect advan
tsse from neutrals, they should leave them in
,h s full enjoymentoft' sir rights, The pre-,
sna, msr has been oppressive beyond example
~ rs duration, and BY the desolation which il
H.. ,o,ead throughout Europe. 1t is highly
;,apoftlnt, that it should assume, at least,
miI.er character. BY the revocation OF the
ss