Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-21
co y G. II f. S S.
IN SENATE.
Tuesday, May S. 1912.
{ Reported for the Baltimore American

ANoh-thl)OVtdton ACT mlynt De repealed, or
30 modified that they might be permitted to
bring their funds into the United States from
Great Britain and her possessions-Report-
ed, THAT it was inexpedient to grant the
prayer of the petitioners" which report be-
ing under consideration, Mr.. LLOYD moved,
. that the report and petition be re-commit-
ted, and "that tie committee be instructed
TO report bill granting the prayer of the
petitioners" On this motion, the ayes and
noes werc called and Mr.. Smith of Mart
land, moved, that the further consideration
OF the motion of Mr. Lloyd, the report of the
committee, and the petition, be postponed
until the first Monday of June. On this mo-
tion he made the following observations -
MIR. PreSidcnt--I have made the motion
ION po"'nonement, because / am unwilling,
that a cunC.l I've vote on the question should
be taken at this time. When members place
their names OH record, there is an unwilling
hess to retract their vote, until more suit
able time for decision occurs That time
will be, ON the arrival of the Hornet, which
must certainly happen before the first of June
and from the information which She will
bring, we shall be enabled to vote more adj
visedly.-This subject being before the Sc
uate, / will be permitted to take short
view of our political relations as they bear
upon this particular subject.
The non-intcrcourse law prohibited all in
tercourse between the United States and G..
Britain and France. IL however authorized
The President, in case either of those powers
should so repeal or modify their unjust acts.
as that they should cease to violate the neu-
trail rights of the United States, to relieve
such nation from The operation of this act.
Great Britain, by her minister Mr.. Erskine.
did agree, that her odious Orders in Coun
Gil should be repealed, and the President.
with p:oniptitude that did him credit)
declared by proclamation, that the COM
.mcrce between the United States and Great
Britain should be restored, and all America
applauded the act. The negotiation made
by Mr.. Erskine, contrary to the opinion of
every enlightened man, and to the astonish-
ment of our government, was tlisavowed by
Abe King of Great Britain. What was the
coduct OF our Executive on being informed
OF the disaYowals 1t was that which graft
fed every American. He instantly imposed
the Non Intercourse OF Great Britain, and
placed that nation, precisely in fAe same 81.
{tafion in 7phichs heq vaS, gvlien Mr. Erskire,s
arrangement took place. And, sir, IbeIeve
chat in doing SO, lie met with the approbati-
on of every good man. He certainly had
mine. The Non-Intercourse law continued
until May 1910, EoheH IL eIJiired 6Y ts ou,,l
Limitation. ! state this, Mr.. President, be-
cause confusion has arisen from the yar;
Gus law which have passed on this subject.
and many wellinformed men have believed.
and do now believe, thaffhe non i1teTcouyse
(agv eTisred against both nations avAen the
fTeSent restrictions acre inIhoxed on our
commerce with Great Britain. Not so, Mr..
President. AT that time our. trade was un-
restricted by any law of the the u. States.
but Congress, in the same month of MAY,
1910, passed an act, by which the President
was authorised, III the event of either France
or England repeating her unjust acts, or so
modifying the same, that they would no lon
ger affect our neutral rights, TO impose GER
tain sections OF the non-intercoursc law on
the nation refusing to do us justice, which
eections amount 10 a non-imfortation.
This act was made known TO both nations
and France, embracing the proposition, did
by the letter of her prime minister the Duke
of Galore, under date of the 5th August,
1910, promise TO revoke the Berlin and Mi
Ian DEGREES, so far as they related to the
United States, on u condition ); with which
condition the President complied by issuing
his Proclamation of the LIST November, in
which, agreeably 20 the act of May 1910,
lie declared that all importations from Great
81 tain and her possessions should cease on
the Sd February, 1911; unless that nation
her Orders in Council. Great Britain refus-
ed 10 do this, and has pertinaciously adhered
10 system equally injurious to the interest
of beth nations. Mr.. President, / was among
those who approved of the proclamation of
The President ofthe United States interdict-
ing all importations from Great Britain. 1t
appeared to me, 20 be strict compliance
with The tenor Of the law !; for, sir, ! did be-
lieve hat all credit was due to the solemn
declarations Of nations, made offcioliv by
their public ministers, and therefore justifi-
cd ,Ie President for the confidence be had
placed in those Solemn assurances.
I cjd expect, that decree, revoking the
Berlin and Milan DEGREES, q so far as they
related 70 the United States, " would have
been issued Immediately after the Emperor
should have seen the act Of Congress con
frning the proclamation. Indeed, sir,
thougbtit ought to have been issued imme-
diately after he had seen the proclamation
Has any such decree yet issued No Has
Trance practically complied with her pro
mise made IN the ietter Of Ssh August, 1910,
signed by the Duke de Galore If she has,
MIR. President, then are we bound, Me M
fiDHGi faith and honour ere bound, and no
c0nsfdern,ib1f o1fght 10 biGuee Senate to
argec 70 tie motion ffhe hoHorabie geR-
HemaH tMr. Llcyd.) Bat If France has not
complied with her engagement, if her cruz
2ers, as well public as private, continue UNI
der the authority Of the Emperor, to act in
the manner authorised by the Berlin and Mi
Ian DEGREES, then cur honor calls upon US,
fhe nafionat honor fnHc1fonsiy cais ufon
RS, to place both nations hreciseiy In the
sffhaff9a IN wdich fhcy 7vere 7Vhen me
PROCLAMATION Of tie PreSideaf, dated fsf
Nor. 1910, zgas isSucd nor ought the do
ing so TO affect The interior measures con-
Ncmpated against Great Britain. In act