Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-01
will now inquire whether France has

will now inquire whether France has i
ertormed her part of this arrangement.
1t is understood that the blockade of the
british isles is revoked. The revocation |
laving been officially declared, and no ves- |
'el trading to them having been condemned |
Dr. taken on the high seas that we know
Of. 1t Is fair to conclude that the measure is
relnquished. ltappears, too, that no Ame
rican vessel has been condemned in France
for having been visited at sea by an English
ship, or for having been searched or carri-
ed into England or subjected to impositions
there. On the sea, therefore, France is UNI
derstood to have changed her system.
Although such is the light in which the
conduct of France is viewed, in regard to
the neutral commerce of the United States.
since the list of November last, it will. ne
vertheless, be proper for you to investigate
fully the whole subject, and to see that no.
thing has been, or shall be omitted on her
part in future, which the u. S. have a right
to claim
Your early and particular attention will
be drawn to the great subject of the COM
mercial relation which is to subsist in future
between the u. S. and France. The Presi.
dent expects that the commerce of the u.
,. will be placed in the ports Of France on
such a footing as to afford to it a fair mar.
ket, and to the industry and enterprise of
their people, a reasonable encouragement.
An arrangement to this effect was looked
for Immediately after the revocation of the
DEGREES; but it appears from the documents
IN this department that that was not the case /;
on the contrary, that our commerce has been
subjected to the greatest Encouragement, or
rather to the most oppressive restraints
that the vessels which carried coffee, SUI
gar, &c. though sailing directly from the U.
>. to French port, were held in a state of
sequestration on the principle that the trade
was prohibited, and that the importation of
those articles was not only unlawful, but cri-
mlnal: that even the vessels which carried
the unquestionable productions of the u. S.
were exposed to great and expensive delays,
to TEDIOUS Investigations in unusual forms,
and to exorbitant duties. In short that the
ordinary usages of mmercebetweenfriend
ly nations were abandoned.
When it was announced that the DEGREES
OF Berlin and Milan were revoked, the re-
vocation to take effect on the first Novem.
Der last, 1t was natural for our merchants
to rush into the ports of France to take adj
vantage OF a market to which they thought
they were invited. All these restraints.
therefore, have been unjust in regard to the
parties who suffered by them; nor can thev
be reconciled to the respect which was due
to this government. If France had wished
to exclude the American commerce from
her ports, she ought to have declared it TO
this government, in explicit terms, in which
case due notice would have been given of II
to the American merchants, who would Ell
Their have avoided her ports, or gone there
at their own hazard. But to suffer them TO-
enter her ports, under such circumstances.
and to detain them there, under any pre-
text whatever, cannot be justified. 1t is not
known to what extent the Injuries resul,ine-
from these delays have been Carried. II ;s
evident, however, that for every injury thus
sustained, the parties are entitled to repa-
ration.
1.-THE ports of France and her allies are
not opened to the commerce of the Unit
ed States, on liberal scale and ON fair
conditions, of what avail to them, it NAV be
asked, will be the revocation of the British
orders in council? In contending for the
revocation of those orders, SO far as it was
an object of interest, the U. S. had in view a
trade with the continent. 1t was fair and
legitimate object, and worth contendine for.
while France encouraged it. But if she
shuts her ports on our commerce, or bur-
dens it with heavy duties, thar motive is at
an end.
That France has right to impose such
RESTRAINTS is admitted: : but she ought to be
aware OF the consequences to which they
necessarily lead. The least that ought to be
expected to follow, would be such counter.
vailing restrictions on the French commerce
as must destroy the value of the intercourse
between the two countries, and leave to the
U. 5. no motive of interest to maintain their
right to that intercourse, by sacrifice Of
any other branch of their commerce: AIDE
quate motives to such sacrifice could only
be found IN considerations distinct from any
reasonable pretensions on the part ofFrance.
10 the admission of every article, the
produce OF the u. 5. no objection is antici-
pated; nor does there appear to be lust
cause tor any to the admission of colonial
produce. A supply of that produce will be
annually wanted in France and other coun-
tries connected with her, and the u. s. alone
car furnish touring the war. 1t will doubtless
be the interest of France and her allies to
avail themselves of the industry and capital
ot the American merchants, it furnishing
those articles by which the wants of their
people will be supplied and their revenue
increased. Several Of the colonies belonged
to France, and may again belong to her.
Great Britain, by securing to her own colo
mes the monopoly of her home market, les
sens the value OF the produce Of the con-
quered Colonies France cannot be indif-
terent to-the distresses of her late colonies,
nor ought she to abandon because she can
not protect them. In pressing this impoi-
tant object on the government of France IL
VIII not escape your attention, that several
articles in the list of colonial pro-
ductions are raised in Louisiana, and will ne
course be comprised among those of the u.
States.
You will see the injustice, and endeavor to
prevent the necessity of bringing in return