The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-06-18
Rave been marked by every species Of in

Rave been marked by every species Of in |
clt, injury, and injustice
The .assemblage' affirm. that the firs,
fragrant violation of our neutral rights was
Inflicted by the Berlin decree This decree
was undoubtedly a manifest violation OF our
neutral rights but it has been demonstrated
CO =
~ OF the stale governments, that Great
Britain. for more than half a century, has
carried into effect "a maritime rule OF her
own, which has derogated essentially from
our neutral rights. as established by the
law of nations. And it is we'll known
chat the armed neutrality, during our reyo.
lutionary war, was form,d by European
powers, for the express purpose of asserting
fhesr maritime rights, and for opposing the
violation thereof. on the part OF Great Br-
tain. And of what consequence is it to the
United States, which of the bclligerents was
foremost in depredations In municipal
crimes. there is no discrimination between,
convicts. whether first or last. in robbing
unoffendiag travellers. And wher is the
difference. on the land or on the ocean, be
tween public and private robbery: ex
sePt, that the former is pre-eminent in cri-
rniuality.
Again. It is stated, that no proposal or
nope is offered to US, of a restoration of the
vast property unjustly surprized by that per-.
Gdious (meaniGg the Erench) nation Are
or ought they. in regard to pending negoci-
Htions, to be public IF not. how can it be
asserted SHAT there is no proposal or hope
Tor such q restoration = The government
Of the United States. on every occasion, yvsth
Snrivatled ability. has commended for our ma
kio;ial and individual rights; and is il not
surprising, that the assemblage' should
ehus Tempt to condemn our national mea
ourcs, without the least knowledge of them?
:, The sassemSlage' have resolved lastly,
kheg they consider the statute of congress
OF the I'd of March last, as an unjust, OBJ
Tressive and tyranDical act and thai. the
only Wesus short OF an appeal to force TO
prevent its cdlamitous effects !. is the cleo
Gon OF such men to the varisus Offices in the
State Government, as will oppose by pea
Seaole ,.butlhrm measures, the exc cution of
laws, Which II fersistedi IN must aud auiu be
$easted.'
The congress of the first of May 1910, in
teTdicted 'irom and after the passage of it !,
eyery British or French armed vessel with
certain exceptions, from entering our har
pors and waters : and provided tor its ceas-
1hg to operate against either Of those pow
ers, who should revoke OF modify to certain
purposes. before the I'd OF March, 1871, its
obnoxious edicts, and also for continuing in
full force against the other power, who
should not within three months thereafter
revoke or modify her edicts 10 like man.
ner, Certain provisions of an act TO nUer-
dict the commercial Intercourse between lie
Unittd States and Great Britain aud France
Ihe Emperor Of France officially made
4nown to our Government. that on the LIST
OF Nov. 1910, her obnoxious edicts would
Cease to have effect and the President,
by his proclamation of the Cd of the same
month. discontinued ALT the restrictions i'm.
posedby that act in relation TO France
Great Britain had three months by the
act. to adopt similar measure, but re-
FUSED or neglected it and our Co.
verement at the end of four months, by its
act of the I'd OF March last carried the in :
serdicsing act in effect and this is the sta
su,e, which the 'assemblage' have declared,
'suRjust, oppressive AID tyrannical,' and one
OF the laws. which, if persisted in, must 8.
will be resisted
The " assemblage' having declared as the
caiy means to avoid certain calamities,
change OF our government, or the alterna
tives torCe, Tor resistance) makes use OF
shese as convertible terms and they are
such, the definite meaning of resistance, be-.
ing the . not yielding to force or opposing
force to force And why must force be op :
posed to the execution of these laws. be-
cause, says the assemblage, every cit
zen haG right TO construe the act of the
4st OF May, $780," and to- govern his Con
due accordingly "and that any law, which
should nave the effect TO make his constrsC
sion a crime, must be not only an &c most
Sacto act. but unjust, oppressive and tyran-
nical.' This doctrine of the right Of every
citizen thus finally 10 cdnstrue a law, and
80 govern his conduct accordingly, is novel :;
such authority beng invested only IN she ju
dietary. If person charged with having
Isolated q law, has BY due process been Con
ticted thereof and received his sentence
sbis viii and ought ODE carried into effect. |
MS construction of the law Notwithstanding.
Il often happens, that a law in some instan-
ces operates unjustiy, and the effect of it,
III such case. Is usually prevented by pc |
fiiioning the Legislature (whose duty it is) |
70 redress the grievance; or, by recon-
incubation {before sentence) Of tbs udici- |
Al court, for pardon of the person convict |
ed. Ii all defective laws, are &c fo8t Jacto |
gets, because in few instances, they may
Fave operated as such, our national and
State codes abound with them; and every |
Legislature has been justly chargeable with |
injustice, oppression and tyranny. Many |
laws are OF great length ADD in ricacy, and |
the construction Of them by individuals !
may be right, or wrong, or partaking OF both
these qualities; still these constructions, ac- |
cording TO the opinion OF the assemblage, ?
are tobe SO many criteria for determining
whether the Law is an er host. faeso act, or
Unjust oppressive and tyrant,ical IF everv