Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-14

tlat She continues TO act in conformity with
the revocation.
10 shew that the repeal is respected IL is
deemed sufficient to state that not one yes
sci has been CONDEMNED by French tribunals,
on the principles of those DEGREES since the
LIST Nov. last The New Orleans Packet
from Gibraltar to Bordeaux was detained
but never condemned. The Grace Ann
Green, from the same British port, to Mar
settles, WAS likewise detained but afterwards
delivered up Internationally 20 the owner as
was such part of the cargo # the New-Or-.
leans Packet as consisted of the produce os
the United States. Both these vessels pro-
ceedng from u British port, carried caTgoes,
some articles of which in each, were prohi-
bited by the laws of France, or admissible bv
the sanction of the government alone il
does not appear tha. their detention was i'm
putable to any other cause. If imputable to-
the circumstance of passing from a British
to French port, or ON account Of any part
OF their cargoes, IL affords no cause OF COM
plant to Great Britain, as violation Of our
neutral rights No such cause would be AFT
Corded, even in case of condemnation The
right ct complaint, would have belonged 10
theUnited States.
In denying the revocation of the DEGREES,
SO far as tits a proper subject of discussiori
between us, 1t might reasonably be expected
vessels taken at sea, in VOYAGES 10 British
ports, or ON their return home, and condemn
cd under them by French tribunal. None
SUCH has been afforded by you. None such
are known TO this government.
Aoa urge only IS All evidence that the de-
crecs are not repealed, the speech of the
Emperor of France To the deputies from the
tree cities CT Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck
the imperial caict dated at Fontainbleau on
the lSth Oct 1910; the report OF the French
Minister of Foreign aTlirs dated IN Deem
Der last, and a letter OF the Minister of Jus
tice to the President If the council OF Prizes
of the 25th of that month.
There is nothing IN the first of these pa
pers incompatible with the revocation ofthe
DEGREES, in respect to the United States. It
is distinctly declared by the Emperor in his
Speech to the Deputies the Hanse Towrs.
that the blockade of he British Islands shalf
cease when the British blockades cease and
that the French blockade shall cease in favor.
OF these nations ii whose favor Great Britain
revokes hers, or who support their rights
against her pretension, as France admits the
United States will do by enforcing the nom
importation act. The same sentiment is ex-
pressed in the report of the Minister of For
eign affairs. The decree Of Fontairbleau
having no effect on the high seas, cannot be
brought into this discussion. 1t evidently
has no connection with neutral rights. The
letter from the Minister Of Justice, to the Pre-
sident of the Council of Prizes, is of differ
ent character. 1t relates in direct terms to
| this subject, but not in the sense in which
| you understand it. After reciting the nota
| from the Da1e Of Galore of the 5th August
/ las., to the American Minister at Paris.
which announced the repeal of the French
DEGREES, and theproclamation Of the Prcsi-
dent in consequence Of it, it states that all
| causes arising under those DEGREES after the
Istof November, which were then before the
Court, or might afterwards be brcught before
it, should not be judged by the principles of
the DEGREES, but he suspended until the I'd
February, when the United States having
! fulfilled their engagement, the captures should
be declared void, and the vessels and their
cargoes delivered up to their owners. This
paper appears to afford an unequivocal evil
denCe of the revocation of the DEGREES, so far.
as relates to the United States. BY instruct-
ing the French tribunal 20 make no decision
till the Cd of February, and then to restore
the property 10 the owners, on "a particular
event which has happened, all cause of doube
on that point seems TO be removed. The u
| nted States may justly complain Of delay in
the restitution OF the property, but that is an
injury which affects them only. Great Bril-
tain has no right to complain of it. She was
| interested onlyin the revocation ofthe DEGREES
by which neutral rights would be secured
from future violation or If she had been in
terested i'll the delay it would have afforded.
| no preteXt for more than delay in reDeal-
ing her orders, till the ID of February. From
that day at farthest the French DEGREES would
cease At the same day ought her orders to
have ceased. might add to this statement,
that every communication received from the
French government, either through our re-
representatives. there. o. IS representatives.
here, are IL accord with tie actua. reneal Of
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, in relation TO
the neutral commerce # the United States.
But it will s,ifIce TO remark that tile best, and
only, adequate evidence If their ceasing to
operate, is the defect Of evidence that they
do operate. II is a case where the want Of
proof against the fulhltneut Of q pledge. is
proof Of fulhment. Every case Occurring,
to which IL the DEGREES were in force, they
would be applied, and to which they are noe
applied, is proof that they arc not in force.
And is these proofs have been more multi
Piled, need not remind you that couse is
to be found in the numerous captures under
your orders in council, which continue to e.
vince tie rigor with which they are enforced
after failure OF the basis on which they
were supposed to rest.
But Great Britain Contends, as appears by
your last letters, that she ought not 70 revoke
her Orders in Council, until the Commerce
Of the continent is restored 20 the state i'm
which it stood before tho Perrin and Milan
DEGREES issued until the French DEGREES arc
repealed not only as to the United States but
so as to permit Great Britain 70 trade with
al.s.o I. I'll.