Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-10

our share, had the whoio "o's :
peace. ,.,
In Nav, 1910, the Congress directed
thstthe non intercourse act shoum CEASE
as TO that beIligerent which shoula mrs,
so revoke its ediets as that they shoufo
cease TO violate eur neutral commerce !;
and that it should operate On the Other
which should neglect so to 90 wlthi"
three months after the Presidents pro-
ciatnation DECLARING the Tact that sucp
revocation Ind taken place. On the
10th If August following, the Duke OF
Csdore, in letter to our munster IN
France, stated that the Berlin and MI.
Ian DEGREES were revoked, and that al
Ter the first of Nov. then next they
would cease TO have effect, it being un-
derstood that the English should revoke
their orders in council and renonnce
their new principles of blockade, or that
the u S. should cause their rights to De
respected. This letter was considered
by tho President an absolute repeal OF
the French DEGREES, though 1t appeared
to many persons ut that time tn nave.
been only provisional repeal upon con-
ditions that might never happen ana
was not confirmed br any Instrument
of which the courts or people 81 Franc
were obliged te take notice. The Pre-.
sident, however, on the "a Nav is)"
snnounced By Pruclamation that 'hr dc
crees of Berlin and Milan were revoked :
and in March following the congress
passed law confirming that proc'ama
ton, and the revival of non-ntercourse
agains, G Britain
When our government was thus com
mitted, it was the policy OF the French
emperor. to convince the BRUSH nalion
that his degrees were not revoked, and
he took eti'ectual measures tor thatpu'-
pose. His public ships by his .anthori-
~ and unt.cr his Instructors, committed
depredations on our commerce, burnt
our vessels the French cruisers and
privatesrs captured them, and they were
condemned in the French coW's'; nor
has France made the least reps,at'"n tor
the plumber. On tie 3lst OF March,
1911. the emperor declared to his coun-
Gil Of comnsrce, that the DEGREES OF
Berlin and Milan were the fundamental
laws of his empire. Many other decla-
rstions of this kind were made by the
French government, and though our
ministers demonstrated against them as
containing no exception in favor Of the
United States, aud requested some au-
tAentic &C. Of the French governing ntto
lastly our national measures, no salts
faction could be obtained. 1t the pre-
sident had then REVOKED his proclsma-
ton, the numerous evils that have fol.
lowed from that unfortunate measure
might have been prevented. But as if
the Frenc hzssnperor was determined to
put our government IN the wrong, the
Duke Of Bassano In May 1912, when 1t
might be presumed that war between
this country aud England would take
place, produced to Mr.. Barlow decree
which bore date the 2sth OF April 1911,
repeating the DEGREES of Berlin & Milan,
and assigning as the cause at the repeal
he Act Of Congress OF March 1871 -
To suppose, theeeiore, that the French
DEGREES were repealed on the I'd OF No.
vernber, 1910, involves the absurdity
that the effect took place long before the
cause.
AT the same time that the above de-
cree was produced BY the Frcn h nini,-
ter, he into, med Mr. Barlow that tie
decree had not been published, but de-
elaJed it had been communicated to eur
tormelAminister in FraBce, and likewise
sent to the French minister here, with
orders to communicate it TO Mr.. Monroe.
On the correctness OF this statement it
may be Improper to form an opinion un.
Ill our government explain the uansac,
ton But OF this we may be certain, that
if that decree was made in April, ls |,
according TO its date, il was concealed
for the purpose of producing war be-
tween this coupuy and Great Britain
Tor the party who concealed il well
knew that if the decree was kEown in
England, the orders in conneiI would be
revoked. If the decree bore false
date, and had not been communicated
10 our ministers, no man either In the
administration or among the peorD'. can
hereafter doubt concerning the character
OF the French government or the impo.
sition. practised upon U.s..
The principal remaining alledged
cause OF hostility, is the impressment Of
seamen from our merchant vessels.
The war in Europe opened to these
states such sn extensive field for com.
mercial enterprise, that it might have
been difficult to procure Immediately
such numbers of American seamen. as
could probably be employed. Our
wealth and navigation increased with a
rapidity which has never heen exceeded
many thousands, therefore, If British
seamen deserted that service for q mpre
safe x lucrative employment in ours; &
orr ,hoc l. h..