Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-10-07
3seressaaoasu cas- tsam.
ERIDAy NIOHNINIc OCr too
Y MORNING. OCT. 7, 1895.

c"i'S were Foboco during lie desrotic sway of Bona
Parle under The Berlin, Milan aud Ranbouillet DEGREES
amounts tn $4,000 COO - Every rejecting man in
these United States must have viewed with mingled
emotions of the deepest segret Indignation and aston
hment, the eInporizng, If dastadly course our
Government has pursued, in relation these claims.
regret, because many of respectable and
ferprzing citizens, reduced with their families to
pcnnry and want would possess tie comforts and con-
vencnccs of life, if adequate repatriation for the wrongs
and injuries we have received from France had been
obtaned and Indignation ara establishment, that the
Government of the United State, which is bouGI hy
evcrr considerations or honor and duty "a protect the
.rs fights OF rs citizens, should for many years have
oser altogether neglected 10 demand Of France an in
demnitF for these spoations or should have taoy and
pass'Fey submitted TO her positive refusal to grant us
redress s c most arocious violation of the principles
OF justice, the most daring outrage upon the rights of
neutrals, ever recorded in history And in the few
remarks Which present to our readers we
succeed in cnlisting ahlc advocate in the caus.
oil our insuted country and in behalf of that class of
our citizens whose interests have been so long either
abandoned or disrcgarded,- we succeed in aruusng
and directing the attention of the public TO this mpor-
tant subject, Shall attain the only object we lave in
view.
AT the time all Europe coavused 10 its centre bv
The fierce, sanguinary and protIacted war between
france and Great Britain the United States exercised
one of its unquesonahle rights, by remaining neutral
We afforded aid to one of the belgerenis 10 The
prejudice of the otherwe rendered assistance TO
eiiher which the Laws of Nations did not authorize
and lostfySe extended the rights of hospitality, when
claimed or required, to bothmaking nvidiuus dis
function between them manesting the most perfect i'm
slartiay-in fine, instance be adduced in which
we IN the s test degree departed from that line uf
duct which it is the duty OF neutral power to pursue
in which dill lot observe the strctest neutrality
Under these circumstances and this relatively situated
had right expect that flag would be respect
ed By the conendug parties; that the property of
merchants Soud be held sacred, except in those cases
IN which ships were engaged in Transporting arti-
!es ooatrbond.of In ibis reasonable exnnctation
we were, however, sadly disappointed. For between
the British and the French, we were spoiled and plum
dered Of goods Of every descrption-our ships were
Sseized-and our property ceaiiscacd As we ininged
principle oinernational law, prosecuting the COM
erca intercourse with either of she belligerents which
had carried before the commencement of the war
the sezure, condemnation and conscatou of our pro-
perry evidently illegal and uniustiiable; and con-
stiuted either sufficient ofwar, gave us a right
TO demand PREPARATION fully equivalent to the losses and
injury our commerce sustained. Accordingly, against
of the beIlgerents, declared war. In relation
TO The other we reserved claim for decentralization
for future adjustment and negotiations As the confsca.
ton Of neutral property not contraband Of war, uni
vcrsally acknowledged be vioat;ve Of the Laws oe
Nations and the principles of justice, the French Go
ycrnment can deny redress only the ground that
tair Infringement of rights occurred during the adj
mnist7ation of an rsuTper; and this ground easily
he shewn 10 be untenablc That every nation is free
and independent and has right to establish any form of
Government it may deem best calculated to attain the
ends for which society originally instituted-the
general welfare, happiness and safety,-i5 position,
Supported notnhiy BY and common sense, bat BY
every approved treatise on International law In relation
70 the Fundamental laws which may be ordained for the
rrvecion and security Of The rights and liberties ofth
.aembegs of which the political body is composed, the
la5tect ia completely within tie control Of the people at
l1rre and no government frame Of civil poIiy can
roAtflly exs without their conseat and appreciation
rrle nation .en alone can prescribe SUCH limits 10 the
authority and powers delegated to those TO whom il en-
trusts lis welfare, webeing and interests IS may COZ
vc necessary effect the grand object social union;
and whether that authority be absolute restricted is
left entirely 10 lis discreon foreign powers have 10
eight to interfere in Of such vital interesin
n subject ofsuc!f dee? moment foreign powers have
gigh INFINITELY TO scruiinize the tile by whic ho ruler
Of another nation claims to exercise sovereign sway
The ic rrcsG1cd to be valid the people submit &c
his go@cr, nent. The individual in power must be sup
posed TO be the legal and rghtul representative Of the
naton. Bouaparte then, being IN possession Of The au
+aoriiy--hs mandates being implicitly obcyed--bc
fnah be considered as tie legitimate sovereign 0
Frapce-the rights which be acquired, were 'hc right
of tue French pcope-tbc obligations imposed on hin
by toe aTs Of nations, imposed on them, because
rs toeratBg Yielding submission to Isis government
they became responsible for his public acts The Kin!
or Emperor in fact, that is, in possession Of sovereign
power rel, lively 10 other nations, king or Erpero
Of right because this question alone he decided b.
the nation itself Foreign powers in negotiating an
concluding treaties must treat with him who admins