Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-06

Il
year orders were issued by the British go
vernment for the seizure of neutrals Will
return cargoes, who were suspected on the
outward voyage, of having supplied the enc
| my with articles contraband of war. Under
these instructions the outward and return
voyages were considered as one. This was
the preparatory step for throwing the Unit
| ed States entirely out of the colonial trade
The next step was to declare that the land
ing of colonial produce, and securing the du-
ty according to law, did not break the con-
tinuity OF the voyage. Thus, West India
produce brought first to the United States
and landed, was considered as going direct
TO Europe. These decisions gradually form
ed on the orders of 1908, we're not known
in the United States uy-il 1906. The order
was issued without notiCe, and the applica-
ton to our commerce made known to the
United States, by the capture and condem-
nation OF vessels. Upwards of three millions
OF dollars of American property were cap
tured under these orders, for which no re-
paration has ever been made.
The immense capital embarked in this
commerce, its unexpected and unexampled
destruction, covered the table of the House
|'of Representatives, with memorials from al
most every commercial city in the union,
pledging their lives and fortunes to support
the government in demanding and obtaining
reparation. At this period also, recommend
ed the impressment of our seamen, who
we're seized, wherever found, by the British
officers, and dragged from the projections Of
our flag. A fragrant insult of this kind oc-
Cured at this period. In the summer of the
year 1904, in the port of New York, capt.
Bradley of the British frigate Cambrian
| caused a vessel, just arrived, to be boarded
| by persons under his command, resisted the
officers of the port, impressed and carried
oil many seamen and passengers actually
within the port of New-York and claimed
jurisdiction to the length of his barges. On
this occasion a law passed authorship the
| President to exclude by proclamation armed
vessels violating The jurisdiction and laws of
| the United States. In 1905, Capt. Whitby,
of the British frigate Leander, fired ON
coasting vessel within less than mile from
the shore, and murdered an American citi-
zen of the name of Pierce. The murder OF
Pierce produced on the part of the Presi-
dent, an exercise of the power to exclude,
by proclamation, armed vessels violating
the jurisdiction and laws of the United States
| The exclusion on that occasion was confined
to the vessel committing the outrage, and
not made general as to the British armed
vessels, until after the attack on the Chesa-
peake. The case of Bradley, and of Whit
by, was presented to the British govern
ment. In the case of Whitby, full and ade-
| quate proof was forwarded; the officer, how
ever was honorably acquitted and promot-
ed. At the succeeding session of Congress
under the feeling excited by the capture OF
| S 100000 of our property and the fagran,
insults in our ports and waters, the first
| Non-lmportation Act was passed against
Great-Britain. 1t was suspended from time
to time and did not SO into operation until
| all hope OF repatriation was abandoned. Al
this period our situation became again crit
cal with Spain. Payment for spoliations or
our cummerce, to a considerable amount
was refused, and a duty OF IL per cent. wa:
| laid on our imports and exports passing
through the Mobile. Two persons, of the
name of Kcmper, were seized within thS
territory of the United States by persons au
thorised by the Spanish government Or
this occasion the same pacific policy wa
peisued as in the year 1905. Negotiation
was still continued-a secret appropriation
| was made for the purchase of the Florida s
| which probably would have succeeded Lu
for the opposition made to the measure
which delayed the passage of the law unit
the opportunity for purchasing was passed
On the 10th of May, 1906, the blockade O
the coast from the river Elbe to Brest, inclu
sive, was notified by the British government
On the 2lst of November, 1906, the Berlil
decree was issued, declaring the British Isle
III a state OF blockade, and protesting to b.
| a retaliation on the blockade of May, 1906
and antecedent proceedings of Great Bri
tain, violating the law of nations. Thi
decree was not extended to the commerce
OF the United States, until the month of DC
| fnhnr 1907 f,,Ilou,,xI
British order of January, 1907, processing T.
be retaliation on that decree, and subject
ing TO capture the trade of the United State
from one belligerent port to another, an,
secondly, by the orders of November, pro
Tossing TO be a still further retaliation O,
the same decree, and prohibiting all com
merce on the part Of neutrals, with the enc
mics OF Great Britain. These late British
orders were followed by the Milan deere,
of December 18th, 1907, purporting to be
retaliation OH the said orders, and declarin,
the British Isles in a state of blockade. an;
prohibiting al commerce. to neutrals. Ii
the month of June, 1907, the attack on th,
American frigate Chesapeake, by the Bri
fish ship of war Leopard, was made. Tn,
circumstances of this transaction are to-
well known to require any comment.
/ In October, 1907, Congress was conyen
ed under Proclamation of the President
on account ofthe attack on the Chesapeake
On the meeting of Congress, it was stat
cd in the Message, " that an armed vesse
&" of the United States was dispatched will
" instructions to our minist er in London t.
:" call on that government for the satisfac
ton and security required by the outrage
"a very short interval ought now to brinl
"the answer, which shall be communicated
" as soon as received" This notification
on the part of the Executive, suspended al
proceedings on the affair of the Chesapeake