Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-15
) the Commonwealth, near the Bell TaTcrn..

made. He has inconsistency and CONTEMPT
tuously withdrawn from her the ground up
OIL which she has taken 4 hostile attitude
against Great Britain, since the repeal of
our orders in council, and even the renunci-
alton Of our rights of blockade, would no
longer suffice to obtain repeal of the Ber-
lin and Milan DEGREES. "a
His majesty government cannot but hope
that America, considering all the extrava-
giant pretensions set forth by the ruler of
France, in the Duke of B.tssano's report,
and at the same time the resolution 80 march
his armies into all states, into the ports of
which the English flag is admitted, viii ac-
knowledge that this doctrine and resolution
Constitute complete humiliation of neu-
trality, and that she is bound as Il neutral
state to disarow and resist them. Every
state that acquiesccs in this report must act
upon the principle, that neutral and enemy
are to be considered henceforward rs the
same in the language of the French law of
nations, and Great Britain has right to
consider that every nation who refuses To
admit her flag upon the principle assumed
admits and recognizes the doctrine of the
report.
will not navy trouble you, sir, with many
observations relative to the blockade of May
1906, as the legality of that blockade, assn
ming the blockading force to have been SUIT
6cient to enforce 1t, has lately not been
questioned by YOU
i will merely remark. that it was impos-
Sible Crest Britain should receive otherwise
than with the utmost jealousy, the uneX-
pected demand made by America for The
repeal of the blockade as well as of the Or
ders in Council, when it appeared 10 be
made subsequent to, if not in consequence
of, one OF the conditions in Bonaparte's
pretended repeal of his DEGREES, which con-
dition was our renouncing what he calls,
" our new principles ofblockade - that the
demand on the part of America was addi-
tional and new, is sufficiently proved by
reference to the overture OF MI Pinsney,
as well AS from the terms on which Mr..
Erskine had arranged the dispute with A
merica relative TO the orders in Council
In that arrangement, nothing was brought
forward with regard to this blockade. A.
merica would have been contented at that
time, without any reference to it. 1t GER
tainly is not more a grievance OF injustice
now than it was then. WHY, then, is the
Pronunciation of that blockade insisted upon
now, if it was not necessary to insist upon
il them 1t is difficult to fiud any answer,
but by reference to subsequent commuhica-
tions between France and America, and a
disposition in America 10 Countenancc
France in requiring the dIsavowal of this
blockade, and the principles upon which 1t
rested. as the condition sine qua non OF the
repeal f the Berlin and Milan DEGREES. 1t
seems to ha,e become an object with Ame-
rlca, only because it was prescribed as d
condition by France.
On this blockade and the principles and
rights upon which it was founded, Bona
Iparte appears TO rest the justification OF all
his measures for aboiishing neutrality, and
for the invasion OF every state which IS not
ready with him to wage war OF cxtermina-
ton against the commerce OF Great Bri-
tain.
America, therefore, no doubt, saw the ne
cessity of demanding its remuneration; but
she will now see, that it is in reality vain eli
ther for America or Great Britain TO eS-
poet an actual repeal of thc French DEGREES
until e. Britain renOunces: First, the ba-
sis, viz: che blockade OF 1906, OH which
Bonaparte has been pleased to found them !;
next, the right of retaliation IS subsequent
Nv acted upon in the orders in council fur
Their till she, is ready TO receive the treaty
of Utrecht, Interpreted and applied by the
Duke of Bassano's report as the universal
law of nations and hnally, till she abjures
all the principles of maritime law, which
support her established rights, now more
than ever essential to her existence as ma
ton.
Great Britain feels confident, that Ameri-
ca never Can maintain orultiinately sanction
such professions and his royal highness
the prince regent, entertains the strongest
hope, that this last proceeding OF France will
strip her measures ofevery remnant OF dis
puise, and that America, in justice to what
. Il. H., ,cr,x ~, Il hoe.
honor as a neutral state, will instantly with
| draw her countenance from the outrageou:
system the French government, and cease
to support, by hostile measures against Bri
fish commerce, the enormous fabric of usur.
patton and tyranny which France has en-.
! deavored TO exhibit to the world as the Law
of nations.
America cannot now contend, that the or
| ders in council exceed in spirit of retaliati
| on what is demanded by the DEGREES, til,
principles or the usurpation of BoDapartO
| The United States government must at las
| lie convinced, that the partial relaxations o
| those DEGREES in favor of America, have beef
insiduously adopted by France for the mer,
| purpose Of inducing her to close her ports a
! gainst Great Britain, which France canno
| effect herself by force, and size must admit
that IL Great Britain were now to repeal he
orders in council against France, it woulC
be gratuitously allowing to France the com
| meIc &c of America and all the benefits derl
vable from her flag as an additional instru
| ment for the annoyance of Great Britain
| and that at a moment when every state /
threatened with extinction or really dies
troyed for merely supporting their own RICH
to trade with Great Britain.
| am commanded, sir, to express on tn
part of his royal highness the prince regent
that while his royal highness entertains TN
most sincere desire 70 cODciIiate America