Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-19

~ 4 III j
Eyen this communication, although silencins
States to acquiesce in those edicts, originally
the sole plea for them, received no attention.
Ii no other proof existed OF a prede-
termination Of the British Government
against repeal fits orders, it might be
found in the correspondence ofthe Minis
ter Plenipotentiary OF the United States
at London, aud the British Secretary for
Foreign Affairs in 1910, on the question
whether the blockade of May 1905 was
considered as In force or as not in force.
1t had been ascertained that the French
government, which urged this blockade
as the ground Of its Berlin decree, was
willing, liz the event Of its removal, to re.
peal that decree which being followed
by alternate repeals fthe other offensive
edicts, might abolish the whole system
on both sides. This inviting opportunity
fer accomplishing an object SO iinportant
to the United States, and professed
SO often to be the desire of both the
beiligereats, WAS made known to the
British Government. AS that government
admits that an actual application Of an ade
quate force is necessary to the existence OF {
legal blockade, and it was notorious, that il
such force had ever been applied, its long
discontinuapce had annulled the blockade If
question, there could be no sufficient oblec.
ton on the part of Great Britain to formal
revocation of it and no imaginable obiec
ton to declaration of the fact that the bloek.
ade did not exist. The declaration would
have been consistent with her avowed prlncl.
pies of blockade, and would have enabled
the United States to demand from France the
pledged repeal of her DEGREES either with
success, in which case the way would have
been opened for general repeal of TIE bel.
llgerent edicts or without success, in which
case the United States would have been lusti-
fed in turning their measures exclusively a.
gainst France. The British government would
however, neither rescind the blockade nor de-
clare its non-existence nor permit Its non
existence to be Inferred aud affirmed by the A.
merlcan PlenipotentaFy. On the. contrary by
representing the blockade to be comprehend
ed in the orders in council, the United States
were compelled SO to regard it In their sub:
sequent proceedings.
There was period when favorable change
in the policy of the British cabinet was Justly
considered as established. The minister pie
nipotentiary of his Britannia majesty here pro-
posed an adjustment of the differences more
Immediately endangering the harmony of tie
two countries. The proposition WIS accept
ed with promptitude and cordiality CORES
ponding with the invariable professions Of this
government. A foundation appeared to be
laid for a sincere and lasting reconciliation -
The prospect, however, quickly vanished
The whole proceeding was disavowed by the
British government without any explanation
which could at that time repress the belief,
that the disavowal proceeded from spirit of
hostility to the commercial rights and pros
perity of the United States. And it has since
come into proof, that at the very moment when
the public ministe was holding the language
of friendship, and Inspiring confidence in the
sincerity OF the negotiation with which he was
charged, a secret agent Of his government
was employed in intrlgues, having for their
object subvcrsion of our government, and a
dismemberment of our happy Union.
In reviewing the conduct of Great Britain
towards the United States, our attention is ne
cessarily drawn to the warfare Just renewed
by the sayageS on one of our extensive from
tiers a warfare which is known to spare nei-
Their age nor sex, and to be distinguished by
features peculiarly shocking to humanity. 1t
is difficult to account for the activity and COM
binatons which have for some time been de-
veloping themselves among the tribesin con-
slant intercourse with British traders and gar
risons, without connecting their hostility with
that influence and without recollecting the
authenticated examples of such interposi-
tons heretofore furnished by the officers and
agents of that government.
Such is the spectacle of injuries and indig-
mites which have been heaped on our coun-
try; and such the crisis which its unexam-
pied forbearance and conciliatory efforts have