The law was not the product of government. I can't imagine these merchants imposing an aggressive blockade on peaceful people. They'd have found other ways to dispute a tax on trade. Maybe someone should send George Lucas a copy of Law and Revolution. I don't wish to single out Lucas.
Trade is often misunderstood.
While merchants were accused of being pacifists with no loyalty to their nations, they were also suspected of pursuing base and dishonest work. Zero-sum thinking has led people to believe that if a merchant makes a profit, the buyer must lose. Sometimes the image of trade is ridiculous. If you've ever been to the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., you may have noticed two statues each depicting a man struggling to hold back a wild horse. You won't be surprised to learn that they were the winning entry in a sculpting contest during the New Deal.