Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

French Decrees. Under this head our readers will find an article worthy of serious consideration, which we have copied from the United States' Gazette. It will serve as an answer to the report of the committee on foreign relations, published in our last. The subject is so fully discussed in the article which we have selected, that there is little to be said in addition. We earnestly invite the more particular attention of our readers to the manner in which the first relaxation of the French decrees was obtained, for revoked they are not to this day, they are "fundamental laws of the French Empire," as the emperor has declared upon divers, and upon some recent occasions.

The first relaxation of the French government in its unjust conduct (for the decrees of Berlin and Milan were not our only causes of complaint) towards this country, is to be found in the restoration of vessels and cargoes, which had voluntarily entered the ports of France, and, as Mr. Russell says, had not committed or permitted any act that could subject them to the penalties of those decrees. This part of the subject demands particular attention.

Our good President issued his proclamation in November 1810, announcing the revocation of the French decrees. Away went our vessels, and the moment they arrived in France, they were put in sequestration, and held so, until the French emperor should receive some solid proof of our adopting the continental system against England. These vessels were released, but upon what terms? That the proceeds of their cargoes should be exported in French merchandise, of which two thirds should be silks!

Now let us suppose a case.--At that time there were fifty American vessels in the ports of Great Britain, for one that was in France. Suppose that Great Britain had sequestered them all, and held them so, until our government had done some acceptable act, and when that act had been performed, restored them--subjecting their cargoes to new and heavy duties imposed while they were under sequestration--and when they were restored, compelled the amount of their cargoes to be exported in colonial produce, which was as unsaleable in England as silks were in France, and as Napoleon relieved his half starved manufacturers at our expense, so England would have relieved her West India planters! If this course had been pursued by England, would the President have considered it as a municipal regulation in his communication to Congress? Would the committee on foreign relations have forgotten to notice such a monstrous act of injustice? Would the stump orators and pot-house politicians have been silent?

Never was indignity and injustice so tamely submitted to.--But we are done.--We refer our readers to the article which has at this time produced these remarks.