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

(thro' the medium of forgeries, perjuriss, &
licenses) from which she had interdicted un-
offending neutrals. The pride OF naval SUI
periority, and the cravings of commercial
monopoly; gave, after all, the inpuis- and
direction to the councils of the British cabi-
net /; while the vast, although the visionary,
projects OF France, furnished occasions and
pretexts, for accomplishing the objects Of those
councils.
The British minister, resident at Washing
ton, IN the year 1904. having distinctly recos
nized, III the name Of his sovereign, the lc-
gitmate principles of blockade, the Aneri-
can government received, with some surprise
and solicitude, the successive notifications of
the 9th ef August, 1904 the S.h Of April,
1906, and, more particularly, of the 16th OF
May, 1906, announcing, by the last notiica-
tons" blockade of the coast, rivers. and
ports, from the river Eibe TO the port of
Brest. both inclusive" % In none of the ne
tiied instances ct blockade, were the princi-
pies, that had been recognis 4 in 18U4, a
pted and pursued, and it will be recolleCtcd
by all Europe, that neither at the time OF the
notification OF the 10th Of May, 1906; nor at
the time OF excepting the EIbe and Ems,
from the operation of that notification a.
nor 1T any time, during the continuance of the
French war, was there AN adequate naval
force, actr .ly applied by Great Britain, for
the rurpc OF maintaining blockade from
the river Ebe, to the port of Hrest. II was,
then in the language of the dar, Ga mere
paper blockade ;" manifest infraction Of the
law OF nations; and sn act of peculiar njus.
tice TO the United States, rs the only neutral
power. against which il would practically o.
pe'ate. Kat whatever may nave beer the
sense ofthe American government on The Of
Custom and whstever might De. the cIisposi-
ton, 10 avoid making this tine ground Of an
open rupture with Great Britain the case as
sumed character Of the hiEhest interest,
when, independent of It's own injurious conse-
quences. France in the Berlin decree OF the
2lst OF November, 1906, reCited, as a chief
cause for placing the British islands in q state
of b ockade, "th2i Great Britain declares
biockaded, places before which sAe has not
single vessel cf war; and even places
which her united forces would be incapable
ut biockading such as the entire COSTS &
whole empire an unequalied ahuse OF the
right OF blockade, that had no oth:r object,
than to interrupt the communications of diff
terent nations: and To extend the ca!n!ns.ce
and industry of Enc land, upon the ruin of
those nations" (u) The American govern
ment aims not, and never hao aimed, at the
justification, either of Great Britain, or of
France, in their career of elimination and re-
elimination : but it is of soma Importance to,
observe, that f'the blockade of May, 1906,
was ali unlawful blockade, and if the rieht OF
retaliation arose with the first unlawful at
tack, made BY a belligerent power upon neu-
trail rights, Great Britain has vet to answer
to mankind, according to the rule of her own
acknowledgment, tor all the calamities ofthe
retaEatory wal fare. France, whether risht
or wrong, made the British system of block
ade, the foundation ofithe Berlin decree land
France had an equal right with Great Bri-
tam, to demand from the United States, an
opposition to every cnCrOachmeDt upon the
privileges OF the neutral chara cter. 1t is G.
nough, however, on the present occasion. for
the American government, to observe. that
II possessed nc power to prevent the franz
ing OF the Berlin decree, and to disclam any
appreciation OF its principles, or acquiescence
IN its operations {: for, it neither belonged to
Great Britain, moi TO France, to prescribe To
the American government, the time, or the
mode, or the degree, Of resistance, to the in
diSnitIes, and the outrageS, with which each
nt those nations, in It's turn, assailed the u.
States.
But Il has been shewn, that after the Rr;-
tish government possessed KNOWLEDGE Of tine
existence OK the Berlin decree, it autborized
the conclusion Of the treaty with the United
States. which was signed 1T London on the
31St OF Dec 1906, reserVing to iteen a power
of annulling the treaty, if France did not re-
woke, or if the United States, as a neutral
power did not resist the obnoxious measure
1t has also been slIewn, that before Greet
Britain could possibly ascertain the determi-
ration Of the United States, in relation to the
Berlin decree, the orders in council OF the 9TH
of January, 1907, were issued, processing to be
retaliation against France, &C. at thine when
the fleets ct France and her allies were
& emselyes confined within their own ports
by the superior valor and discipline of the
British navy" ~ but operating in fact. a.
gatnst the United States, as neutral power.
to prohibit their trade from one port to an
1t er, both which ports should belong &C.. or
be in the possession of, France or her allies
or should DC so fer uEder their contronI. as
that British vessels might not trade. freely
thereat." (qS) II remains, however, to be
stated, that L was not until the 18th Of March.
1907, that the British minister, then resit,iue-
at Washington, communicated 70 the Ameri
can government, in the name Of MS SOVEREIGN.
the orders in Council of January, 1907, with
an intimation, that stronger measures would
be pursued, unless the United States shorjI
resist the operat oDs IF the Berlin decree. RS
AT the moment the British government WIS
minded, that within the period e those
great events, whi-h continued to agitate En-
rope, instances had occurred, in which the
commetce otncutrsl nations, more especial
~ See he esdnc Of tb.8e fac.s re0orte6 TO con
gtss' IN Nov. 1876. ~
See the documents specting captain Lore. NJ
q Driver; capt. N,Gtby, Of the egnder. sud an,