Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-15
STATE PAPERS
TRANSLATION.

SIRE--The maritime rights VI Aeu''SAo
have been solemnly regulated by the treaty OF
Utrecht, which has become the common Ia"
OF rations.
This law. expressly renewed IN all the sub
seouent treaties, has consecrated the Prlncl-
piles am about to expose.
The fag covers the property. Enemy,S
property under aneutrsl flag, is neutral; as
neutral property under an enemy's dag, IS e.
neny's property. The only articles which
the Gag does not cover, are contraband arti-
cles; and the only articles which are contra
band, ard arms and munitions of war
A visit Of neutral vessel, by an armed
vessel, can only be made by small numoer
ufmen, the armed vessel keeping beyond the
reach of cannon-shot.
Every neutral vessel may trade from an
enemy's port to an enemy's port, and from an
enemy'S port to a neutral port. The only
ports excepted, are those really blockaded;
and the ports really blockaded are those which
are invested, besieged, and in danger OF being
taken Cen treveation d'0tre fr1s and into
which a merchant ship could not enter with.
out danger.
Such are the obligations of belligcrent ma
tons towards neutral nations such are the
reciprocal rights Of both, such are the maxlms
consecrated by the treaties which form the
public law of nations. Often has England at
tempted to substitute for them arbitrary and
tyrannical rules. Her unjust professions
were repealed by all governments, sensible to
the voice of honor and to the interests of their
people, She saw herself constantly obliged to
recognise in her treaties the principles which
Ia re
Amiens was violated, maritime Legislation rest
ed again on its ancient foundations.
By the course of events the English navy
became more numerous than all the forces OF
the other maritime powers.
England then supposed that she had nothing
to tear, she might attempt every thing I; she
imme diately resolved to subject the nsviga-
ton of every sea to the same laws which GO
verncd that of the Thames.
II was IT, 1906, that she commenced the ex-
ecution OF this system, which tended to make
the common law of nations yield to the orders
in council, and to the regulations of the admit
rally of London.
The declaration of the 10th May annihilat-
ed, by single word, the rights of all mari
time states candy put under Introduction vast
coasts and whole empires. From this mo-
ment England no longer recognised ncutrals
on the seas
The orders of 1907 imposed on all vessels
an obIigationto enter English ports, whatever
might be their destination; to pay tribute to
Ensiana; md to subject their cargoes to the
tariff of her cuStom-houses.
By the declaration of 1906, all navigation
was intcrdicted to neutrals. By the orders of
1907 the faculty Of navigating was restored
to them; but they could only use it, for the
advantage OF English commerce, by the COM
binations of her interest, and to her profit
The English government took OFF thereby
the mask with which it had concealed its pro
lccts proclaimed the universal dominion of
the seas; regarded every people as their tri-
butaries and imposed upon the continent the
expcnces OF the war which it maintained a.
gainst it
These unheard of measures excited
general indignation among those powers who
cherished the sentiment of their independence
and of their rights. Bit at London, they
CARRIED to the highest degree of elevation the
pas,onsi pride they displayed TO the English
peeAle Iuturity rich with the most brilliant
hopes.
The commerce, their industry, were TO
DC hei.ceiorward without competition the
productions of the two worlds were to fow
into their ports, do homage TO the maritime
and commercial sovereignty Of England, in
paving to her toll duty, and afterwards pro-
coed TO other nations, burthened with enor-
nous costs, from which English merchandise
alone would have been ,exonerated.
Your majesty perceived at single glance
the evils with which the continent was threat
ened. The. remedy was immediately resort
ed to. You annhilated by your DEGREES this
arrogant and unjust enterprise, SO destructive
s OF the independence of all states and of the
rights of every people,
The decree Of Berlin replied TO the declara-
ton OF 1905. The blockade of the British
isles was opposed TO the imaginary blockade