Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-07-30
LONDON, June s.
AMERICA.

The general tone Of American government
seems warlike. they have called upon the
different states to arm their quotas OF militia,
but the President has no power, to take the
militia past the frontiers. They have raised
between two and 5000 recruits, and 100000
of dollars subscribed to their Loan. An IN
crease Of forces has been made Oh the frontiers
of Canada. Some measures have been taken
to increase the powers of the war department,
and of the Quarter Master Generals. The
language of the government papers is violent !;
and we hear that the government state, they
are TOO far pledged in their doctrines and re-
solutions respecting the Orders in Council to
recede with honor.
That the commercial BODY were against war
and for a settlement with England and that
the report OF the Duo de BAssANo upon the re-
publication of the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
was but just arrived before the accounts came
away. We cannot but indulge belief that
thisreport will have great effect, and as this
report places the justification of the Berlin de-
cree upon Mr. Fox's blockade of the 9th
May, 1906, we are persuaded that America
will not plunge herself into helpless war,
with the view Of forcing Great Britain to re-
noupce the principle Of a biockade u1ton zvhich
her salUafion stands Let every Ehglishman
consider the principles and necessity of that
blockade. The enemy had been collecting
vessels of all kinds In all her ports immedi-
atcl} opposite to Great Britain In the Channel,
all within few hours sail of England from
the Schcldt to the Seine. This part of the
coast, so made depot for invasion. Mr.. Fox
Jec \ Il
sufficient naval force for the purpose. This
measure of strict legal maritime defence
France made the pretext Of the Berlin Decree
for interdcting all trade with England, and
for declaring Great Britain and Ireland in a
state of blockade. France proclaims she will
never repeal the Berlin Decree till we repeal
the principle of this blockade; America Joins
France in the demand-Can we comply with
it. Will Great Britain submit to renounce
the rightof Seifflrotection 2 Will she submit
to allow, that when the French ports opposite
to her coasts, within a few hours sail Of her
harhors, were filled with the ornaments for
invasion, she has no right to counterfeit the de
signs of the enemy, no right to impede those
ornaments, no right to obstruct their progress
and completion by preventing their receiving
from neutrals every supply OF intelligence, OF
provisions, Of stores, and neCcssaries J.?
France has placed the repeal of the Berlin
and Milan DEGREES upon this issue. This IS
sue was adopted BY France on the suggestion
of the American government. Should we re-
pealthe Orders in Council without renouncing
the principle of Mr. Fox's blockade, we do
nothing And we trust therefore America
will recollect, that she is demanding what DO
country can demand Justly from another: she
is demanding for the sake of her commercial
interest, that Great Britain should sacrifice
and renounce those established principles Of
maritime defence, which are essential to the
protection, not of British commerce but Of
British security and existence against the ar
maments aud invasion of the eEemy.
We know the Orders in Council were made
the pretext for American complaints. But
the real ground of these complaints is Mr..
Fox's blockade of May, 1906. The Berlin
decree is stated by France as retaliatory on
that blockade, and on its principle, France and
America have both taken this ground for JUS
tifymg-the one their outrage--the other their
complaints: and Oh this ground must our cause
be tried. Courier.