Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-11

mus place 1t beyond the posSiblLt, ufdou6t. ,
In both Houses these leaders expressed IA
disposition to torbear to canvass, in the pre-
sent state OF our relations the conduct OF the
United States towards England, as it could
not be done without reproa- hing her in a |
manner to increase the actual irritation, and |
TO do away what Lord Bathurst stated to
be the feeble hopes of preventing war.
"ln the House OF Commcns, Mr.. Rose !
virtually confessed, that the orders in coun-
Gil were maintained to promote the trade of
England at the eXpence of neutrals, and as
2 measure of commercial rivalry with the
u. States. When Mr.. Canning inveghed "a
gainst this new (he must have meant newly
acknowledged ground of defending these
orders, and commended that they could be
justified only on the principle OF retaliation,
on which they were avowedly instituted and
that they were intended to produce the eff
fects Of an actual blockade, and liable to all
the incidents of such blockadcs-that is that
they were meant only to distress the enemy
land that G.. Britain had no right to defeat
this operation by an intercourse with that
enemy which she denied to neutrals. Mr.
Percival replied. " that the orders were
Still supported on the principle of retaliation
but that this very principle involved the
license trade; for as France, by her DEGREES,
had said that no nation should trade with
her which traded with England England
retorted, that no country should trade with
France but hro' England. He asserted, that
neither the partial nor even the total repeal
OF the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, as they re-
lated to America, or to any other nation, or
alt other nations, could form any claim on
the British government while tie continent
tai system, so called, continued in operation.
He denied that this system, Oh any part of
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES were merely
munfcih0L They had not been adopted in
time of peace with Il view to internal reg
plation, but in time of war with a hostile
purpose towards England. Every clause
and particle of them were to be considered
of nature entirely belligerent, and as such
requiring resistance, and authorizing retail
iation on the part OF G.. Britain. 1t was j.
die and absurd to suppose that G. Britain was
bound, in acting on the principle of retalia-
ton in these times, to return exactly, and
III form, axe for ike, and to choose the OBJ
Iect and fashion, the mode OF executing it,
precisely by the measures of the enemy.
In adopting these measures, France had
broken through all the restraints imposed
By the laws ofnations, and trodden under foot
the great conventional code received by the
civilized world as prescribing rules for its
Conduct in waras we'll as in peace. In this
state OF things England was not bound any
longer to shack!e herself with this code, and
by so doing become the unresitiDg victim
Of the violence IF her enemy, but she was
herself released from the laws of nations
and left at liberty to resort to any means
within her power to inure and distress that
enemy and to bring it back to an observance
of the jus gentiunt which it had so egregi
ously and wantonly violated. Nor was
England to be restricted any more in the
ertent than in the form of retaliation; but
she had n right both as to the quantity and
manner to intlict upon the enemy all the c.
vil in her power, until this enemy should
retrace its steps, and renounce, not only ver-
baliv but practically, its DEGREES, its CONT
mental system and every other of its bel
Ggerent measures incompatible with the
old acknowledged laws of nations. What
ever neutrals might suffer from the reta-
liatory measures Of England was purely in
cidental, and as no injustice was intended
to them they had a right to complain of
none. And he rejoiced to observe that no
charge of such injustice had that night been |
brought forward in the house. AS England |
was contending for the defence of her ma
ritime rights and for the preservation of her
national existence, which essentially depend |
cd On the maintenance of those rights, she |
Could not be expected. in the prosecution of |
this great and primary interest, tn arrest or |
vary her course to listen 10 the pretentions |
OF nuetral nations, or to remove the evils, |
however they might be regretted, which the |
impcrious policy of the times indirectly and |
pnintentially extended to them"
'' AS the newspapers of this morning give |
but very imperfect report of this speech |
Of Mr.. Percival, / have thought It to be my |
duty t. prese a. YOU with a more particular |
acc )unt of the doctrines which were main. |
tanned in it, and which so vitality affect the
rights and interest of the United States.
= no longer entertain q hope that we
can honorably avoid war"
Extract cfa tetter from Mr.. Russell TO tie
Secretary If STATE.
LONDON, Goth March, 1912.
81 had the honor to address you on the
4;h instant, giving brief account of the
debate in the House of Commons OH the pre-
oeding evening since then no change in re-
Iation to us has taken place here
Extract ETA letter from Mr. Russell TO tie
Secretary Of State.
LONDON, 18th March, 1872
Since had the honor to address YOU
few days since, nothing has occurred here
to induce hope of any change in our
favor"
Extract ofa letter. iron, Mr.. RusaeN 10 the
Secretary If State.
LONDON, 9th April, 1912
Since my last respects to you, nothing