Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-15

u oohgaton to enter English ports, whatev-
r might DC their destination; to pay tribute |
D England and TO subject their cargoes to |
he tariff OF her custoa.-house>.
BY the declaration OK 1906, all navigate
IN was interGictcd TO rieutrals. BY the or
lers OF 1907, the faculty of navigating was
restored to them but they could only use
Il, for the advantage OF English commerce,
by the combinations of her interest, and TO
her profit.
The English government took OFF thereby
the mass Nth which it had concealed its
projects; proclaimed the universal domiui-
on OF the seas; regarded every people as
their tributaries and imposed upon the con-
tnent the expenses of the war which it
maintained against it.
These unheard of measures excited PC
neral Indignation among those powers who
Cherished the. sentiment of their indepen-
dence and of their rights. But at London,
they carried to the highest degree of eleva-
ton the national pride; they displayed to
the English people a futurity rich with the
most brilliant hopes.
iheir commerce, their industry, were to
DC hencetorward without competition the
productions of the two worlds we're to flow
'hso their ports, do homage to the maritime
ana commercial sovereignty of England, in
paying to her a toll-duty, and afterwards
proceed to other nations, burthened with e.
normous costs, from which English mer-
chandise alone would have been eAoncrat-
ed. =
Your majesty perceived ct 4 single glance,
The evils with which the continent was
threatened. The remedy was Immediately
reSorted to. You annihilated by your de-
cices this arrogant and unjust enterprise,
so destructive OF the Independence of all
states and of the rights Of every people.
The docree of Berlin replied to the decla-
ration OF 1905. The blockade Of the British,
isles was opposed TO the imaginary block
ade established b. England.
The decree of Milan replied to the ord er
OF 1907; it declared Genatisru6-ed every
neutral vessel which submitted to English
Legislation, known to have touched at an En-
giish port, known TO have paid a tribute to
England, AID which thereby renowned the
independence and the rights Gifts flag. All
the merchandise osthe commerce ans! of the
Industry of England were blockadcd in the
British Isles; the continental system exclu-
ded them from the continent.
Never did AN act Of reprisal attain its OBJ
Ject IN manner more prompt, more certain
or more victorious. The DEGREES Of Berlin
pons which she had directed against un,ver-
sal commerce. The source Of commercial
prosperity, which she thought so abundant,
became a source of calamity for English
commerce in the place OF those exactions
which were to have enriched her funds, a
depreciation, continually increasing, impairs
the wealth of the state and that of individu-
ais.
When the DEGREES OF your majesty ao-
pea.ed, the whole continent forcsaw that
such would be the result, il they received
Their entire execution; but, as much as Eu-
rope was accustomed to see your underta-
Kings crowned with success, they were at a
loss to conceive by what new prodigies your
majesty would realise the great designs
which have been SO rapidly accomplished
Armed with all your power, nothing could
turn your majesty from your object IIol-
land, the Hanseatic Cities. the COASTS which
lie between the Zuyderzec and the Baltic.
were be united to France, subject to the
same administration and the same REGULATE
ons; the immediate and inevitable conse
quence CT the legislation of the English
government. --Sonsiderations of no Kind
were able tobalance, in the mind of Your
msJesty, the first interest Of your empire.
Will net stop TO recapitulatc the adyan-
tages OF this important resolution. After Eff
teen months, that is TO say, after the Scnatus
Consuitum OF re union, the dccregs of your
majesty press with all their weight unon
England. She flattered herself 70 invade tbc
commerce Of the world, and her own com
merce became mere stock jobbine affair
(dgi0fdSe) which could not be carried on
but by means of twenty thousand licenses is
sued every year. Forced to obey the law Of
necessity, she thereby renounced her navi-
CATION act, the original foundation Of her DOW :
en- She aspired 10 the universal dominion Of
the seas, AID navigation is interdicted 10 her
vessels; repulsed from all the ports of the
Continent, she wished to Zurich her fi,nde
with the tributes that Europe was TO paw.
and Europe has Withdrawn itself not ONLY
from her injurious pretcnsions, but like wise
from the tributes which it paid to her indus
try: her manufacturing cities have become
deserted; distress has succeeded to a rros-
perity until then increasing the aiarmins
disappearance OF specie and the absolute nri
walton of business, daily interrupt the public
tranquility. Such, for England, are the re-
suits OF her imprudent attempts. She thence
learns, and she will every day learn more
fully, that there is no safety for her but in ,
return TO justice and to the PRINCIPLES of the
law Of nations, and that she will not be able
to participate in the benefits Of the neutral
ty of ports, unless she will suffer neutraIs e
profit the neutrality Of their flag. But un
I'll then, and as long as the British orders in
Council are not revoked, and the princirIe,
of the treaty of Utrecht in relation 10 neu-
trails pat M force, the DEGREES Of Berlin and
Milan ought to subsist for the powers who
suffer their flag to be denationaized. The
ports ofthe continent ought to be opened nei.
neither to denationalized flags nor to English
merchandise.
1t cannot be concealed, that to maintain
bcyond'he reach OF attack this great system
IL is necessary that votir fnaiestv Oh LII -.