Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-02-28

they would submit, Win uI ~ "o|"~~ ~
" colonial, to carry on their trade through
BRUSH ports, and to paw such duties as the
British government should think tit to i'm.
pose, and such charges as British agents
and other British subjects might be content
TO make.
The United States abstanrd from this
traffic, in which they could not embark
without dishonor. And in 1909 the system
shrunk to narrower dimensions, and took
the appearance of an absolute prohioluon OF
I'll commercial intercourse with France,
HollAnd, and the kingdom of Italy.
The prohibition was absolute IN appear
ance, but no, in fact. Ii had lost some
thing Of former exubsrance, bu. nothing of
former piaucy and in the event was soon
to WELD TO the demands of one trade, While
it prevented ever olher-controuled and
relaxed and managed by licences, it did not,
after chef exhibition of impartial stern
ness, aEec. TO " distress the emmy By tho
occ. sion of his ports, when the commerce
OF England ooul! advan,agr ously find Its
way TO st-m-at length, however, this con.
v,nis nee seems to be enjoyed no longer;
and the orders in council may appareltly
be now considered IF indeed they ought
rot always 70 have been considrrreD as al
tecting England with loss as heavy as
that which they inAict on those whose rights
the violated. In such circumstances, if
it he too much to expect the cTedulity OF
1907, it may yet be hoped thar the evi-
dcn,e Of the practical effect of the French
rep al need not be very strong to be salts
factory. 1t is however AS strong as the ma
,u,e Of such case will admit as a few
observations will shrw.
On such an occasion it is no paradox to
say that the want Q! evidr nee is Itself evil
d-nce. That certain DEGREES are not in
force is PROVED by the absence Of such
facts as would APPEAR if they 7rere in force
Every motive With can be con cc:ured
TO have led TO the repeal Of ,he edicts, in.
vites to the full execution OF chat repeal,
and 40 motive can 0c imagined for di!ftr-
eE, course. Those considerations are alone
conclusive.
But further, it is known that American
vessels, bound conlrssedly 10 Eng gland, have
before the lst OF November been visited
by French prlvate.rs and suffered to pass,
upon the foundation OF the prospective re-.
peal OF he decree cf Berlin, and the proxi-
mir OF the day when it would become an
actual orc.
It ,hets are not even stronger facts TO
shew tina, the decree Of N1iLan is also with.
drawn, your lordship can be at no loss for
the reason. 1t cannot be proved that an
American vessel is practically held bv
France not to be denationslized by British
visitation, because your cruiZers Visit on.
ly to capture, and compel the vessel visited
to terminate her voyage, not in France but
in England. You vii not ask for the issue,
of an experiment which yourselves inter.
cept, nor complain that you have not re-
ceived evidence, which is not obtained be.
cause you rendered it impossible .--The
vessel which formed the suhiec, Of my note
of the ah instant, and another more re-
ccu,!y ssiZsd as prize would, if they had
been suffered as they ought, 70 resume
their VOYAGES after having been stopped &
examined by English cruizers, have fur
nished on that point unansw cradle proof
and l have reason to know that pre- cis-
offers have been made to the BRUSH 90.
vernmen, to pus to practical test the dis
position Of France in this respect, anl that
those offers have ben refused. Your
cruizers however have not been able Ia
visit all American vessels bound 10 France.
and it is understood that such as have ar
rived have been received With frienlship.
l cannot qui; this LIST qu, s,it,n without
entering my protest aesnst the preten,ion !
OF the BRUSH government TO postpone the
Justice which i, owes to my government, &
country, for this tardy investigation of
consequences. J ano ret able to comprs
hnd upon what The pret' n'ion rests, nor
to what limits the investigation Can be
subjected. IF it wer= even admitted that
France were more emPhaticali. bound
u repeal her sln,os, nominal DEGREES than
Great Britain to repeal her substantial or. |
ders (Which will not be ADMITTEDLY VIVA,
more can be reasonably required by the (
latter thao has been done by the for,,.r !