Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-23

-
the armed vessels of France ano Gre"
Britain and the fourth sectiep prenio''-
ed the imhortation ofany goods from
their aommions or dehendeneiess.
Thus was laid the foundation OF 'na'
system of Juggling, BY which eur mer.
chants were ensnared, the common, sense
of the people outraged, and the nation
insulted
By the act Of May I, 1910, before the
President could lawfully issue his nrst
proclamation, the edicts, ar deerees' q
one of the belHigrrents .rere TO DC dcfu-
ain revoked. The minister OF France,
in Paris (the duke de Cadore) on tho
5th Of August following, as promptly
after notice OF that act as ii the plan baa
been preconcerted, wrote letter to &C.
neral Armstrong, our minister there,
declaring the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
revoked, after the First of the ensuing
November but on certain conditions
to be previously performed, to Wit one
By Great Britain, which from ITS tenor
Mr.. Madison was morally certain woaid
NOT be perforned /; the s'her BY the y
States, but which the law required t" De
performed only subsesuentto the 0efuah
not contingent repeal OF the French de-
cree.. The Duse de Cadors's letter,
then furnished no lawful ground for
the presidents proclamation, that the
Frensh DEGREES were repealed. And
the decree of the emperor, bearing date
nearly ak months afterwards (APril 70,
though not published till May, 1922
declaring the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
to be then only definitely repealed, and
repealed too expressly on ths ground OF
the act of congress OF Msrch 3, 1871,
passed on the basis Of Mr. MsdIsob's
proclamation, that the French DEGREES
had been revoked on the lst OF NoVem.
Der preceding, save the lie to tho prcsi-
dents proclamation. If Mr.. Madison
was sensible of this rnonstrous insult,
he had not spirit enough to resent 1t.
Let Us now view the elects Of that I'M
founded proclamation. 10 three msnths
afterwards. the third and fourth sections
Of the ron intercourse l.w would revive
against Grea, misunderstanding on
pain Of forfeiture. any vessel, sailing un-
der the English flsg, to enter the haF-
bors Of the United States; and prshl-
biting the importation OF any goods
whatever from the British dsminions, on
tho like penalty of forfeiture The three
mcnths elapsed and the British orders
in council, as mas .foreseen, were not
revoked. Congress wss ia session and
to reader the presidents proclamation
thoroughly efficient, they passed iaT
calculated TO insure to the treasury oil
the United States rich harvest in 'hs
speils of the merchants, oMr fellow ~
z.ns, wbe bad thcir vessels and proF-f-
ty in sise British aerinicns, in the ertli
nary course Of their lawful srode. Had
the French DEGREES bean actually re-
pealed on November ], 1910, - the
prsEident and ministers asscrtsd, tia
British orders in cosncil WOULD have
been immediately revckS.s: Sstnotbsing
then revoked, aud tue presidents pro-
elcmat;on becoming knorn the vessels
aud property of our mere hants remain
cd in the British doninious, fo keen them
from falling trey 10 our oTn govern
ment!
In this forIorn situation, and when all
the proceedings ef congress announced
a speedy war against Great Britain, the
merchants humbly and earnestly peti.
toned congress to permit their vessels
with their cargoes Of British goods, their
sson froherty. to be brought hone-,s
save themselves from ruia-;o supply
the country with merchandise for tho
want of which it was suffering, and the
empty treasury with some millions Of
dollars, for the duties on the vessels aud
property so to be brought homo. But
congress were icexorsbie; all relief wa,
denied. Tais unacceuntabls and cruel
conduct produced universal astonish-
ment. Subsequent events explained the
mystery; while it displayed the iniqui'v
If this course of conduct. Congress
vere net then qaife rihe yfar doubling tie
d,tie, Oh the goods 10 be fnforfet. At
lessth tfsv passed law for that pur-
pose; so that where otherwise ii would
receive but fr- the treasury might tben ,
acece>tha rael chant., and eventually the
eonsuDeT Che greatest Of whom were
IL the n"sthc'n anG eastern states) of
ZEN wi,jiars - Gviia,s
But tnis asc"; FL. War had been
decisrcG; ard r3ore meme, was wanted.
Tic ezra r...oEs, ct which tic mer.
ants aid ihcir customers r1re 70 be
stripped by ia c'oubis duties, did BOT
satisfy ,hI ragac,!y Of ctr rulers: they
grssr:d 1t uiare-.- .l,;bt t, i:ast at all
tins rrsfss Of the merchants on thei.
sock 80 employed in trade with ,he Bri-
,ish dominiors And ioi this purpose,
the vast body OF merchants, engaged in
ia, commerce, were to Re left to the
mercy of the secretary Of he treasury!