Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-21

from this order, were however submitted to
| negotiation, and settled by treaty. The
peace OF Amiens followed but was of short
duration. In the year 1902, hostilities were
renewed between the belligerents of Europe.
A change in the British ministry followed,
and former ministers were considered to
have been too easy In their terms of accom-
mediation with the United State. Jealousy
was entertained for the prosperity of our
commerce and no doubt as preparative
tor instituting severe system of restriction,
we we're accused of covering enemy's pro :
perry with our flag. A succession of victo.
ries, was imparting to France the empire
OF the continent. Britain had the dominion
OF the seas; and on the 9th of Nav 1906, in
order o ensue the destruction of the foreign
commerce OF America, and that part of the
continent within the controui Of France, she
declared the whole of the coast of the cont
nent, from the mouth of the Elbe to Brest,
in state of blockade. Whether she was
able TO invest this line of coast, with actual
blockading squadrons, need not be determin
ed but IL is certain she did not, and pro-
ceeded to capture & condemn vessels bound
to ports not actually 6iockaded. This was
violation OF the law of nations and Napo-
leon on the 21st Nov 1906 issued the cele>
brated Berlin Decree, which declared the
affected to prohibit all commerce with them.
England hen proceeded further, and on the
7sh ofJanuary 1907, issued an order of coun
Gil, wbIeh as followed by another, dated the
nth Nov in the SAME year, prohibiting ali
trade directly from America, from entering
any port from which the British flag was ex-
Guided by NapCleon's Continental system.
Our cargoes were indeed permitted indi
rectly to proceed to the continent, but not
until they were first landed in British port.
British permission for their ~exportation
obtained, and tribute paid to the British
government for permitting the ships If an in
dependent nation to pursue a lawful trade
to the continent IF Europe. These orders
OF the English council we're immediately
followed, on The 18th of Dec. 1907, by the
I7Han Decree, which subjected to forfeiture
as British property, every vessel that had
submitted to make voyage to an English
port, or had paid tribute To the government
of England. England was plunderng, un
der various preteXts, the foreign commerce
OF both Europe and America, upon the high
way OF nations, without insituting actual
oloekades torits legitimate destruction Ma
poeone could hot Distinguish, between the il
|eSHimaEeGestructlon OF commerce with fleets
ana without actual bloCkades, and the lille
gitimate destruction of commerce without
fleets and with paper biDckades; ard the
commerce of the world was nearly annihi
lated The United States has resotted 10
an embargo, for the preservation of the pro.
perry of her ciiizens--- and a non-intercourse
law, for the punishment OF aggressors, and
20 force them to respect her neutral rights.
These measures were found inefficient not
from their wanting powerfully destructive
operation on European agsressors. but be-
cause some OF our own citizens wanted the
patriotism TO desist from their violation. A
proposition was then made, as the asst effort
TO evade war, by the United States. A
law OF Congress was passed holding forth to
both the belligeren.s, that either of them
who would respect cur neutral flag, by re-
vocation OF the edicts under which il had
been outraged SHOULD no longer be subjected
to the priyatiOns arising from our non>inter-
course. France annuiIed her DEGREES, on
condition that. 1T England did not within
gwen time revoke her orders, the u. States
would cause the non .jnterCourse to be en
forced against her. England paid no respect
TO the proposition, and our commerce con
tinued to be subjected TO her plratical de
rrecations--but had she revoked her orders
ON he same condition on which the DEGREES
" france we're annuiied, wlfat would have
been our situation Our neutral flag would
have been respected by both, and a war
would have been evaded But England dar
ed nor revoke her orders in council. IL she
mad done so, the very events she fears would
nave been the result. An open trade be-
tween the continent of Europe and the Uni
ted States, according TO the Lar of Nations,
would have rendered her fleets compare
tiveiy useless. She would have had no com
merce to piunder, no legitimate antagonists
but ships OF war ; and there Weuld have been
more on the ocean but own. She would have
been an idle spectator If the accumulation
OF riches BY her enemy, and what would
nave touched her sensibilty infinitely more
she would have seen the United States her
old rival - enterprise, rising TO commercial
eminency.--In this situation Of affairs, the
majority OF H,e people OF the United States
became exasperated. They were at no loss
iortbe reasons which induced England to dis
regard thcii overture for peace and COM
mclce according to the Law OF Nations.
1hCy were ciamorous for war; war against
EnglaoG--and Navy to defend their COM
merce Torres Of seventy six, Federal
i'ts, and Friends Of Submission to "a Disgrace.
iul Peace, is his history OF events which led
TO war correct! Has any Republican Nd
mnlistration been partial TO France! Can
sou believe that England has not i'm pressed
our SeaHen that she has not led the way to
the violations Of the Laws OF Nations--dud
tfampied on cur fag And Republican fel-
low Citizens, can ycu be persuaded, that the
position IT our county with regard TO the
nations Of Europe, has resulted from mis-
e. rrl7cf tho mart If ono A