Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-02-27

to render every neutral vessel hoWeVSr
fair her papers might appear an object st
suspicion to the beiiigerents aud conse'
queutly of capture and detention. Before
the close Of the last war, scarcely an Anne
risan vessel was stopped by belligetent
which was not detained and carried Into
port for adjudication and the number OF
Instances in which eneml's property was
found upon investigation TO be fraudulent.
ly covered, and in winch the cargoes were
consequently forfeited to the -captors, was
50 great as to rsuder it the interest OF the
crulzers to prac.lse in this manner. we
need not enlarge upon the evils and losses
To which the fair trader IS necessarily sub.
i:eted by such practice nor nee.! we at.
rmrt to prove that the great body ct cur
merchants, who ase coniesseoly as. falr and
UPRIGHT in their transactions as any in the
world, sustain damage by such vexatlouS
'etentions and trials, which is vastly more
han equivalent to the paliry and fraudulent
rams OF those few who succeed in carrying
On an Illicit commerce by escaping cap
IRE.
If our citizens choose to risk the expor-
alton Of arms, ammunieica aud other arti.
chs contr.band Of war, TO the ports OF one
O: the belligerents, or to become the car
rrrs of beliigerent's property let the ma
tire of the cargo and It's destination be
GlIv and honestly exhibited in the ships
p,pers. If she escape capture it is well:
b,, If she fall into the hands oi a cruizer ii
Will be Instantly seen that she is fair and
lawful prize, and ont of the protection OF
The Us.
No doubt, therefore, can be entertain
ell that policy, as well as morality demands
an interference Of the government upon
tais subject. Such law as we coaiem'
plate would etcetually remove the evil by
convincing the b9lligeren,s Of the correct
ness and purity of our custom.house pa
pers, which, when found SO would be duly
respected by the cruisers of belligerent No.
tons; our trade would flourish our in.ur-
aEce would be r"odera;e our neutrality
would BE safe from violation and our cha.
racter for honesty and fair dealing would
become respectable and respected. Go.
vernment would then have it in their pow.
er to say to all nations, s. We will cordially
Join hands with you in preventing our citi.
zens from taking advantage ofyour con'en.
tiens, to carry on an irregular and unlaw-
full commerce. For this purpose, every
cargo to or from our ports is strictly eka.
mined under eur authority, and if fraud be
discovered the propersyis seized, and con.
6scated for our benefit. You are therefore
bound to respect our custom-house papers,
and If you find them clear, to let the vessel
pursue her voyage without molestation;
for they carry with them the sanction of
government, as to the truth of the state
ments VII. they contain, and the power
of government will be exerted if necessary,
to corapel you to respec, them. We snow
from our own Investigation, that the COM
meree which our citizens are carrying on
is fair and lawful and we therefore deter
mine to protect them in the prosecution OF
it a. ali hazards"
Such an atitude would be honorable to
the government, and would command the
respect of those nations who now insul!
us, and-spit upon us with IMMUNITY in our
very harbours. II government could be
prevailed upon at once to AXE this broad
ground ofh0ntsty, which according to tbs
maxim OF the old scaool, is Away il the end
the best policy, congress need not trouble
their heads any longer with that clearance
bill, which appears TO have given them SO
much vexation, and which is at best hut
merely Topping of an uncomfortable branch
Of the great evil, while the trunk and roots
are left untouched;n all their strength and
vigor.