Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-28
From the Baltimore Federal Gazette.
THE NEW MARITIME LAW,
> HOnfitlentnJ NUStPj


An idea seems to have been adopted by ma
nv, syen among those who consider the Ber-
lin decree as an intclerable aggression on neu-
trail rights, that it was entirely founded OH the
partial blockades, or some other measures OF
England, and had not been practised by France
before, an error which, it may be important to
correct.
In 1904, during the war of the Spanish
succession, an edict was passed by Louis XIV.
authorising his cruisers to capture ships which
should be loaded with goods, the produce or
manufacture of his enemies, and permitting
the vessels to proceed on their voyage alter
landing the illicit cargoes. This continued to
be the rule of prizes in France, until the A
merican war, when, by the treaty OF l778,
neutral ships were allowed to protect the car
goes, not only when the growth or manulac-
ture of enemies, but even when the enemies
prSperty, terms whish were favorable to the
northern powers, and generally adopted by
them, but: of which the United States never
derived any advantage, for as soon as the late
war commenced, february, 1899 In viola
ton of the the treaty and the newly establish
ed right Of neusrals, the French began to seize
neutral ships and in ten weeks after they de-
clared war, passed AN edict to sanction the VI
olation. This went no further than to the
property of enemies on board such ships, and
the forced sale of provisions to them; but in
1898, the French government determined to
drive this country to eXtremites, surpassed
the edicts of Louis XIV and declared, that
vessels loaded in whole or i'll part with the
nrodsce or manufacture Of England, should
he considered as enemies and further, that
vessels touching at English ports, should also
be liable to con6scation if they entered the
ports of France.
By the treaty of 1900, the present govern
ment of France restored the principles of the
former treaty with us, and 1t was again de-
clared, that neutral flags should protect the
carpoes. The DEGREES Of 1906 are more
yiolent outrages of the right here allowed,
than that of 1893; for ships spoken on theirs
passage even to France, are made, liable to
con6scation. Great Britain had for long
time before, and always since, conformed to
the principle declared by general Washing
ton. through Mr.. Jefferson, whilst secretary
of state, that enemies property on board OF
tbe shirs of friends should be conhscated, and
the nroperty of friends on board of enemies
ships, respected. Thus we see, that though
the violation of 1906 exceeded that OF 1898,
as much as that OF 1898 exceeded that OF 1904,
the principle wac not new to the French, and
their return to it lately. can only be referred
20 the same desire to involve others in the
contest for power and ACKNOWLEDGMENT, which
siynaIizcd their former governments
The vacilation of their measures proves
how little dependence can be placed on the
:, .o,,,;sss Of the modcra French, and that what
ever advances society may have made there,
Erapce is still ready, whenever occasion Of
fers. 70 return to the violencc and injustice OF
darker times. =.
That those DEGREES were only modified up
ON the condition OF our excluding the produce
and manufactures of England, that IS, con-
forming to the very letter OF the DEGREES
themselves, is evident from the letters OF Mr..
Smith. MIR. Russell, and Mr.. Serrurier hlni-
.elf so that, in fact, by submitting to become
colonists of France, we obtain limited trade
with our mother country; this we call mo-
affection OF her DEGREES, the refusal to follow
,,h;ch example, on the part OF her enemies,
: considered as sufficient cause for us to be-
$40 ,atiye partners in the war OF plumber.
+. xvas thought and with reason, that the
,,.;,c;nIes of l778 were Important to this
sro,,,,trv. and il was for his scqulescence In
The violation of them by France, from 1898 to
,-as flat MIR. Monroe, formerly minister to
T.orcs- was dismissed by Gen. Washington.
Taoppose the still greater violation of 1873,
this country armed Itself, and Washington
sccen,eda command, even against what was
Ssl,sg the French Republic but, in 1906,
sft.r despot had oyerthrown that republic,
anJ Il, the others in his neighborhood, the VI
citation Of these right. by him. was passed o.
GU a,rost uneticed, and the very man who
VA hssn dismissed by Washington for his
a1,lnasle acouicscence in 1896, is exalted to
~. I Office of secretary of state.
'n Tn this pelicy. and in this only,as conceive,
:" We We look for as many of the evils of the
,..s tlav, as it was in the power OF an A
! prsSsr government to guard this country
s se il may well be feared, that we shall not
s s, have happy, or even toleraele tunes, un-
:. !, i reversed, and the people. are made
" Of tho necessity of RETURNING to that
r,,,rs,,ed by Washington.
Pursu'e TIE Old Baifimorean.