The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-01-11 00:00:00

FOR THE 1.1)1TOR.

(Although we do not altueether eniineAe with oar Corr"-
spozoteut relative to the eifeets of a Nott-intereotose
soli anti plenum we give piddicity to liis CSIUMISSieIabOS,
sad abed thank *Sala so earoioue his" astral 119aitas.")
According to the Iteport of the Committee,
to whom was referred so touch of the President's
message as respects our relations with foreign
powers," we are very ctiticully situated. Tito Go-
verunietit of the United States, it appears, has
sustained unsullied our neutral character as a na-
no:' ; but in order to preserve our neutrality,
great sacrifice has been made—tne supensims of
commerce; and in order to maintain our neutral
character, in the upiniou of the Committee, it
will he necessary to make a still greater, sacrifice—
tort is. to suspend all intercourse whatever with
foreign nations.
It no doubt accords with the interest and happi-
ness of the people of the United states to remain la
pe•ice, to forbear taking a part in a quarrel that
clues not concern them. But, at the sume time, it
is much to be desired. that we should continue our
commercial intercourse with nations not at war with
us. However, it appears that the enmity and jea-
lousy of the Belligerents are such, as to turbid our
intercourse with either, unless we run the risk of
sacrilieing both our re-fatality and interest. The
truth. I suplase, is th 6, that England wishes us to
shit? with her, and so does France. Our interest
and happiness require us to remain neutral; but if
our neutrality caul be 1,11.5 t-eyed only by a total sue-
pensiois ill intercourse, wc shall perhaps injure Our-
selves almost its much as if we were to take a part
its the prou nt oontest. Moonier and interest are
frequently incompatible ; honour ought not to be
sacritieed to 'tamest. We might, perhaps, to we
are now situated, ptottiote our interest most by
opening a free intercourse aids Englatitl, her allies,
moil colonies; but Ow we should sacrifice both
our neutrality and lisnour.
A partial repeal of our enthargo laws, say the
Committee, most, from the situation of Europe, ne-
cessarily be actual submission to one of the aggres-
sors, and war with tire other. A general repent.
without urfuiog, would be submission to both
nations.
A general repeal and arming of our merrhant
wentele would be war with both, and war of the
worst kiud. suffering the enemies to plunder us
without retaliation upon them.
To coutimie, or rather to resume, one intercourse
with the present belligerent nations and the world,
without saeritieing nor honour, our independence.
and nentrality, s. ems to be the riesi,/erateine.
Nlielat we not, by opening our ports to the belli-
gerents, and the wliole world, and permitting the
different powers to Orion( us such merchandise as
we needs a..il by suffering them to .ake away such
*dicks as we. eats spare, preserve one neutrality,
Our hot...sr. arid our independence ? In so doing,
we ,411. %%% i # ceriaiuly give sip a. much of our interest
as h..' heteinfore accessed Erma freightsure, &c. hot
we simulil...prrserre our interest partially, sad our
%townie and •tpeteoetokare wholly.
Oft, c!tor,ta laws hitherto have been inefficient
in p.. ciao. owing votively to the recent
• chin .• .' • •', us Europe; 'reel the Cott-intercourse
, bass, wilt, perhaps. be coercive: in-
ebh t` son it is dewitglielli as a coercive
• Ivt t pfttletee
• 1. ,' • • : sail urutralitc, which it will
• • • noel. And were it not that we