Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-31
NO, XIV,

lie law, as relates TO The doctrine of blockade
the authorities Of Great Britain, France, and
Russia, have been quoted in support of the prin-
ciple for which our Government has uniformly
contended, viz: That a blockade TO be laWtA, must
be supported by the actual presence Of an armed
force, adequate 10 maintain ii.
The right also of a neutral Nation, to pursue
Commerce with a belligerent power, has been
most fully established by the authority of the
most distinguished publicists.
The Berlin and Milan DEGREES, therefore, rest
upon no other foundation than the rufian prin-
ciple, that the law ofmight is the law of right
Admitting, however, alphabetically, that these
DEGREES were lawful, the proceedings of the
French tribunals, acting underthem, were Who'll
ly illegal. In many instances, the Courts pro-
nounced confscation, when the property was
actually captured, under some frivolous pretext,
before these DEGREES were issued. In other Ca
ses, the only testimony admitted, was that Of
the captors. Frequently the claimants knew
nothing of the trial of their property, until they
heard of its condemnation.
In fine, the whole proceeding Of the French
tribunals, acting under the authority of these
DEGREES, were but a judicial mockery.
The United States, therefore, have a just
right to demand reversal Of most Of these SEN
fences, if they were even 10 admit (what they
never will admit) the legality of these DEGREES.
However manifestly un JUST may have been the
proceedings Of the French tribunals, the con-
duct Of the present government of France is
still more so, in refusing to restore the Ameri-
can property, only sequestered, and upon which
there had been no judicial proceedings. Of
this nature is the property seized a, Antwerp,
St. Sebastian, and in Holland, and to which
may be added the ships and goods burnt upon
the high seas.
The amount of bona fde American claims Of
this description, is about four millions Of dol
lars. With the exception Of that burnt upon
the high seas, France has enjoyed the benefit Of
this property from fifteen 10 twenty years.
The money thus unlawfully seized, was en-
ploved to defray the public expenses of France,
and it is TO be presumed that these expenses
were not increased in consequence of the re-
ceipt Of this sum.
Mr.. Galla,in, therefore, very Justly remarks,
"That if these funds had not been appropriated
to public purposes, the debt of France would
have been increased, equivalent to the amount
thus detained from American citizens"
If a loan for this amount had been made al
that period, the interest itself would now have
amounted TO as much as the principal.
With what face, then, can the French Mi
nistry II fuse to restore the principal Of this debt,
after France has SO long enjoyed the benefit Of
it?
Let us therefore hope, that her Ministers may
still yield 10 a sense of shame, what they have
long refused to a sense Of justice.
NO. XVI.
When the allied powers occupied Paris in
1914, they demanded of France compensation
for various spoliations committed upon the pro-
perry of their subjects, as well as indemnity
due to them for supplies furnished her late go
eminent
The French Ministry admitted the Justice Of
these demands, and provision was made in the
treaties with each Of the European powers TO in
demnify their subjects.
Belgium, which was but Just incorporated
into Holland, was admitted to share this indem-
nifty.
Amongst the American property sequestered
at Antwerp (the principal sea port of Belgium
during the year 1907, there were ESQ bales of
cotton, part of the cargo of the ship Hiram Of
New-York, consigned to Messrs. David Parish
* Co.
AS the sequestration Of this property was on
ly considered temporary, Messrs. Parish & Co.
disposed of this cotton to a MIR, Fillietaz, a
Belgian subject, who paid them for the same
he taking the risque of its liberation. This cot.