The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-29

ity and peace. In weighing the nature and
the amount OF the aggression which had been
perpetrated, or which were threatened, If
there were any preponderance to determine
the balance, against one of the belligerent
powers, rather than the other, as the object
OF declaration of war, it was against Great
Britain, at least, upon the vital interest of
irnpressment, and the obvious superiority of
her naval means of annoyance. The French
DEGREES were, indeed, AS obnoxious in their
formation and design, as the British orders /;
but the government of France claimed and
exercised no right of improvement and the
maritime spoliations of France were compar-
atively restricted, not only by her own weak
ness on the ocean, but by the constant and
pervading vigilance of the fleets Of her enc
my. The difficulty of selection; the indis-
cretion OF encountering, at once, both of the
offending powers and, above all, the hope
OF an early return of Justice, under the dis
pensations OF the ancient public law, prevail
ed in the council s OF the American govern
ment; and 1t was resolved to attempt the
preservation its neutrality and of its peace,
OF Its citizens and ITS resources, by volunta-
ny suspension of the commerce and nayiga-
ton of the U. S. 1t is true, that for the mi
nor outrages, committed under the pretext
OF the rule ut war of 1756, the citizens of ev-
cry denomination had demanded from their
government, in the year 1906, protection &
redress; 1t is true, that for the unparalleled
enormities OF the year 1907, the citizens of
every denomination again demanded from
then government protection and redress but
II IS, also, a truth, conclusively established
by every manifestation of the sense Of the A.
msrican people, as well as their government,
that any honorable means of protection and
redress, were preferred to the last resort OF
arms. The American government might
honorably retire, for time, from a scene of
conflict and collision but it could no Ienger,
with honor, permit its flag to be insulted, its
CITIZENS to be ensiaved, and its property to
be plundered, on the highway of nations.
Under these impressions, the restrictive
system ofthe United States was introduced
In december, 1907, an embargo was imposed
UPON ali vessels g. MERCK ~
OH principles similar to those which Original
ted and regulated the embargo law, autRori-
,ed to be laid by the president of the United
States, In the year 1894 !; but soon after
wards, IN the genuine spirit of the policy
that prescribed the measure, it was declared
BY law. that in the event of such peace, or
suspension OF hostilities, between the bellise-
Serent powers of Europe, or such changes in
their measures affecting neutral commerce
asmght render that Of the United States safe,
in the Judgment of the president of the U.
states, he was authorised to suspend the en-
barge. in whole or in part" 81 The pres
ooiS VA SiiC CiiOdISO was tnOuSHt, however, so
severe upon every part of the community,
that the American government, notwthstan-
ding the neutral character of the measure
determined upon some relaxation {; and &C
cordIngly, the embargo being raised, as to all
other nations, system of non-intercourse &
non importation, was substituted in March.
1909, as to Great Britain and France, which
prohibited all voyages to the British OF French
dominions, and all trade in articles of British
or rfac ft,,-o De-
still adhering to the neutral and pacific poll
cy OF the government, it was declared, {" that
the president of the u. States should be au-
thorised, IN case either France or Great-Bri-
tain should so revoke or modify her edicts.
as that they should cease to violate the neu-
trail commerce of the u. States, to declare
the same by proclamation after which the
trade OF the United States might be renewed
with the nation SO doing" G) These ap-
peals to the justice and the interests of the
belligerent powers proving Intellectual and
the necessities. OF the country increasing, it
was finally resolved, by the American gov
eminent, to take the hazards of a war: to
revoke its restrictive system /; and to exclude
British and French armed vessels from the
harbors and waters of the u. States {; but. a.
gain, emphatiCally to announce, that in case
either Great-Britain or France should, be-
fore the Sd of March, 1911, so revoke or
modify her edicts, as that they should cease
TO violate the neutral commerce of the Uni
ted States and If the other nation should
rot, within three months thereafter, so revoke
or modify her ediCts, in like manner" the
provisions OF the non-intercourse and non-im-
portation law should, at the expiration of
threc months, be revived against the nation
refusing or neglecting, to revoke or modify
its edict. (8)
In the course, which the American gov
ernrnent had hitherto pursued, relative TO the
bel6gereat orders and DEGREES, the candid
foreigner as well as the patriotic citizen, NAV
perceive an extreme solictude for the preser-
walton of peace but in the publicity and im-
partially OF the overture, that was thus
spread before G.s belligerent powers, it is
impossible that any indication should be found.
NJ foreign influence or control. The over
ture awas urged upon both nations for ac-
reptance, at the same time and i'm the same
manner nor was an intimatioa withheld.
from either of them, that Z" it might be re-
garded by the belligerent first accepting it, as
promise TO itself, and warning to its en-
envy" (9) Each of the nations, from the
commencement Of the retaliatory system. ac-
knowledged, that its measures were viola
tons OF public law, and each pledged itself to
rctract them whenever the other should set
the example. (10) Although the American
government, therefore, persisted in its remon-
ssrances against the original transgressions,
without regard to the question Of their prior
ny, IT embraced, with eagerness, every hope