Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-18
AGRICOLA-No. v.

cf those orders to have been retaliation Jor
the French DEGREES Of Berlin and Milan -
When the Betlin decree was first passed, u.
Byi,ain. by note annexed to the treaty made
BIZ Messrs Monroe and Pinkney, declared, un-
less the American government would assert
its neutral rights, In opposition to 1t, she
should be compelled to retailate, and the SUI
pulations of that treaty would OF course DC OF
no effect. In consequence OF this, Mr.. Jetfer-
son at once rejected it, without even submit
tine If to the Senate for their consideration,
as he was bound TO do. When a false pro-
mise on the part of the French minister, that
the DEGREES should not &c considered as Contra
veniag or rlghts made sacred By inc sflfiuEa-
tions ofa treaty, was done away by suose-
eaent declaration made shortly after, by the
Grand Minister Reignier, that the intentions
If the Ensheror acre, that by Oirfae ct me de-
cree. French armed vesSelS night seize IN neu-
trak UesSeIs, either English PROPERTY or 7ner-
chandize proceeding. from The Engiish manufac-
tories aud that he had reSerDea for future de-
ci:on, u1ether they might NOT Possess. herr
se2ves OF neural leSSeis going 10 c',ffoal Ing
land, although they had no English mana5fac-
lures on board G. Britain passed her ordeEs
j., council, Had Mr.. Jefferson, instead ofre-
iecting, in the manner he did, the treaty OF
Messrs Monroe and Pinkney, recommended
the passas &C of law intefdicung ali trade With
France, unless the Berlin decree had been de-
sclared of no effect as to Us thing which we
hal riqbt. in consequence OF an existing
treaty to demand--it is evident the orders in
council never would have applied tous; and.
most probably we should never have expe-
horo h-
very reonestin the rejected note, aftef trying
embarpoes aud commercial restrictions, Con
gress at last adopted But upon what princl-
Die did they do II then, which would not have,
made it proper to have doneit, when the LIN
neror frs. commenced his system OF COM
mercial interdict against his enemy! | have
shewn that the blockade of l8o6 was considered
by us, rather as advantageous than otherwise,
but al all events, France had no rightto punish
nc for the injuries G Britain had inflicted up
on her. without our consent. The only pos
s;ble answer IS, that Mr.. Jefferson saw in the
rejection of the treaty the commencement OF
commercial controversy, which would end, as
II has done, withthe aid of diplomatic manage
,oent. In war with England; tor by strange
tumble of things, we have come at last to act
with more violence against Great-Brltaln, on
account of her orders IN council, than she wish
ed ms to act against France, to avoid the APP
D,icatisn of those very orders-ln plain deal
;ao. we have refused TO assert our neutral
RIGHTS against France, and have said to Great
Rritain, if you take offence at this, and dare to
modest us forit, we will make war upon you,
and aid your enemy, all In our power, to de-
strov YOU To Mr. Jefferson therefore, prln-
c;nolIy are TO be attributed the evils we now
endnre. and on his head willrestthe blood that
shall be she'd, and tue mischief that snail pc
fall our country in this unhappy contest Ills
successor has fatally followed up his measures
70 their ultimate object and has inqeed ma
tured the system his predecessor bad planned.
Whether the American people VIII continue
a. nnhold the views of Jefferson, Madison and
Bonanarte, their ensuing elections must de-
eide.
The g address, states, " that after the pas
..ra of the orders in council, each OF the bel
l;o.erents encreased their depredations on the
,rronnd Of retaliation against It's enemies - but
thew saw, 6 as the field of commercial enter
,,riye after allowing to the DEGREES and or
ders their full practical effect, is still rich and
eytens;ye. there seemed as little wisdom as
{ ohl;oation to Weld solid and certain realities,
for unattaina6ie hretensions. Every consider
alton of moral duty and political expedleney'
seems TO concur in warning the United States
not to mingle in this hopeless and' to human
eve. interminable European contest ne ma
ture and extent Of the injuries accumulated by
the mutual efforts of the belhgerents, seemed
m teach the American Statesman this lnpor-
ran, lesson. not 20 attach the cause OF his coUh-
FRY, ~ one or the other of them, but by syste-
matte and solid provisions, tor sea-coast ana
,,ar;tir,e defence. and arming and discipiining
the militia, to place It's interests as iar as IT'S
.itna,;on and resources permit, beyond the
reach or rapacity of any European power;
A different policy, however, governed our y. : ad-
ministration, ard the long cherished oplllon