The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-22

Sue exclusive enDOyfDent OF It's COLONIAL COM
mcrce still Great Britain cannot be author
lied to deduce the rule of the war of 1855, by
implication, from such treaties and such or
dinances, while it is not true, that the rule
forms part of the law Of nations nor that
nhas been adopted by any other govern
ment nor that even Great Britain herself
has uniformly practsed upon the rule since
ats application was unknown from the war of
1855, until the French war of 1892, including
the entire period of the American war. Let
Il be, argNrlentatively, allowed, however,
,aat Grest Britain possessed the right, as
well as the power, TO revive and enforce the
rule /; yet, the time ana the manner of eXer-
cising the power, would afford ample cause
for reproach. The citizens of the u. States
had openly engaged in extensive trade
with the French Islands in the West-Indics,
ignorant OF the aiiedgcd existence Of the rule
OF the war Ct ,7S6, or unapprised of any in
tent,on to call 1t into action, when the order
of the 9th OK November, 1895. was silently
circulated amcng the British cruizers, con-
signing to legal adjudication, g. all vessels
loaded with goods, the produce of any colo
ny OF Freuce, or Carrying provisions or sup
pies, tor the use of any such colony" (ns)
A great portion of the commerce of the Uni
.ed States was thus annihilated at blow
the arsionele dispositions of the government
were again disrcgarted'and condemned the
sensibility of the nation was excited to q high
degree of resentment. by the apparent trea-
cherry OF the British order and a recourse
to reprisals, or to war, for indemnity and re-
dress, scemed to be unavoidable. But the
love Of justice had established the law of
neutrality /; and the love of peace taught
lesson Of forbnaranCe. The American
government, therefore, rising superior to the
proTocstiors and the passions of the days
instituted & special mission, to represent
at the court of London, the injuries and in
dignities which it had suffered Ito vindicate
its rights til firrnness, and 10 cult vate peace
with sincerity" (n) The Immediate result
of this mission, was a treaty of amity, com
merce, and navigation betwe the United
States and Great britain, which was signed
fny tire IIegocaturs the 18TH OF November,
1894, and, fiEally ratified, with the consent of
the Senate, in the year l795 But both the
mission and is result, serve, also, TO display
che independence and the imPartialty of the
American government, in asserting its rights
400 performing its Il les equally unawedanci
unbiased by the instruments of belligerent
power or persuasion.
On the foundation of this treaty the United
States, in pure spirit of good faith and con-
&dence, raised the hope and the expectation,
that the Inaratiine usurpatiors OF Great Bri-
Rain " uid cease. to annoy them /; that all
doubtful claims IT jurisdiction would be sus-
pended and that even the exercise of an in
contestible right wond be 20 modified az 70
present neither insult, no. outrage. nor neon
Yenente, to their flag, or to their Commerce.
But the hope and the expectation of the Unit
ed States nave been fatally disappointed
Some relaxation In the rgor, without any al
Seration 10 the principle, OF the order III
council of the 9th of November, 1898, was
10 -rnsiucs- ny the subsequent orders of the
9th oES January, l794, ard the 18TH OF January,
1913 but from the ratification of the treaty
of 1894. until the short respite afforded by
che tres ty of Amiens, in 1902, the commerce
of the United States Continued TO be the prev
Of British cruzers and pTivateers, under the
sdjudicating patronage o. the British trbu-
mails Another grievance, however, assumed
at this epoch form and magnitude, which
cast a shade over the social happiness, as
well as the political Independence Of the natl
on. Tue merchant vessels OF the United
States were arrested on the high seas, while
IN the prosecution of distant voyages; consi-
,!erable numbers of theIr crews were impress
ed into the naval service of Great Britain
che commercial adventures of the owners
were often, consequently, defeated and the
loss OF property, the embarrassJoents of trade
and navigation, and the scene of domeltic at
FiCtion, became intoterable. This grievance
(Which constitutes an Important surviving
GAUGE of the American declaration of War)iwas
early, and has been necessarily, urged upon
she attention ct the British government.--E-
ven in the year 1892, theY were told of 50 the
Irritation that it had excited and of the
difficulty of avoiding to make immediate re-
J1risals or their seamen in the u. States, (o)
They were told "that so many instances of
the kind had happened, that it was quite ne
cessary that they should explain themselves
on the subject. and be led to disavow and pu-
nish such violence, which had never been ex-
perienced from any other nation" (t) And
they were told " of the inconvenience OF such
conduct. and of the impoSsibility of letting it
80 on, SO that the British ministry should be
made sensible of the necessity Of Furnishing
the past, and preventing the future" w.
but after the treaty OF anity, Commerce and
navigation, had been ratified, the nature and
extent Of the grievance became still more
manifest and il y'a5tlesrIy and firE,ly pre-
aented to TIE view ofthe' British government,
AS leading unavoidably 70 diseoTd ana
war between the two nations. They were
told, that unless thcy would come 10 some
accommodation which might ensure the A.
merican sea,ueh against this oppression, mea-
surss would be taken to cause the incoBycui-
eace to be equally felt on both sides '(r)1'hey
were told, that the inpressrnent Of Arneri-
car citizens, TO serve oil board 81 8ritish arm
ed vessels, was not only an injury to tn. IN
fortunate individuals, but i naturally ezcited
certain emotions in the breasts IL tie nation