Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-10-26


Constitution have :hs UDife6 S;a;es hssn .rvol
Ell IN so desperate "a situation as the preseu
1wo nations, respectable for riches and po,ye
nave undertaken 20 insult us An open ru,s,u,
isihrea;ened with Spain and black clouds han
over our political prosperity with Grcat.Bri,su
} IN The latter case, however, afairs are not 5
matpred rs TO preclude the advantages of mega
citation, nor are ihey so uniniportant as not q
csmand immediate redress No ,rli is mo-,
obvious than thai Interest is the ol,y bond +,
winch nations are held, TO conform to the ae
fs"dnoe OF principle or argument for the ted
fiT OF either II were absurd 10 EXPECT i'm any e
vent OF national prosperity or degradation Du,
IN the iais decisions in the English Admiralty
Courts, even the serblance of principle is utter.
" ehaeed, and justice entirely disreg
serestis swallowed up in infamy. Sir William
! scott has been forced 10 declare himself ne
remptori'y bound by 'ihe opinion of the Court
OF Appeals which opinion is diarnetricalIy re-
fugnant 10 the doctrine Of Sir William himself
established by previous decisions. The high
Tone which the English government has lsiely
assumed, as beligerent nation, with respect 70
neutral commerce, is the last degree dishonor
able AID unjust sefs
II was presumed an understandable stretch Of
power. in she beginning CT the present contest.
that beliigerents shouid declare thar traffic unIav
ini which should bs prosecuted by neutrals. in
thsir eva vessels. from the colonies to the M,
ther country OF an enemy even though i, ,houl,i,
be clear that neutral properly only was engaged
IN ft--However wrong this declaration was in
the main, America was scquie scent--and II on
" remained to be established, what should CON
siitnte dired commerce, on rather wha, .ho,,la
be considered lawful commerce. with an enemy
At length this distneion was estsb,ished nv ga
rIous solemn decisions, that WHEN yesseis shon,d
have unloaded and paid duties on their carsoes
IN American ports, (though those caygoes vyerc
from an eneny's colcny) the continuity Of the
voyage was broken; and though lhe same goods
should be re shipped in the same vessel TO ihe
mother country, and for account OF the same
owners, the voyage was sobe considered 4 new
and Of course lawful one This doctrine was
confirmed an consequence Of the representations
OF Mr. King, on she snbjed, TO the English go.
vernment. The Solicitor 10 the king was de
eidsdiy in favor of 1t; and Sir william Scott
coniormsd his sentiments. in Court, 70 tbe spirit
of this dcStrine. ~
such assurance as the most solemn decisions
IN Ccnrt of Admiralty held in ENGLAND, could
ahord, We derived; ard under such i,npIe ssions,
pursued our plans Of trade. and calculations OF
profit. In the height however, Of tle oDera,ion
OF TINS principle, our commerce is checked in It's
progress by The trcachcry Of the British govern
ment Our vessels are seized npon unexpected-
~. and condemned, by the enforcement of detri.
mental restrictions on cur trade, By the adding
OF new periidy 10 the cd injustice. contained in
the doctrine itself, and by more widely extending
the sphere OF its operation
j, is ncv5 declared, in az the confidence of ar
bitrary power, that more necessary than was
forme riy,tc constitute Lawful traffic If vessel
enters neural port, unloads her cargo, paws du-
ties, ard then sails for the u,o,h-r country of the
colony from whence her cargo was originally
bTeught-she sh..i. be considered in an iia!aSofsl
sraihe.t Having entered ard paid duties, does
nor HoU break ihe continuity oe the voyape nor
neuiraiise the properly. Rot to mention the m
consistency III which such opposing doSlyine in
wolves the British government, us turpifude is
Obvious. The Americans are seize6 on, and con-
demned for pursuing commerce ,ghica had he.
fore been CONSIDERED and admitted to he lawful
by The ye-y nation rhich now condemns them
II issuihciSHt ter England, that Arnegica ends
II tor her interest TO trade with her eIisTri.s 70
insult and 10 iajure her. Sire thought the clors
before hung On their commence would have be IN
suihcent 10 deter neuiIs.s FROM pursuing IL. But
finding her mistake, without argument or de.
eeney, she grasps 1t cur unoAendIng reScsabIe
taiilc, and aims mortal blow
Because France enioyed the ADVANTAGES of he,
colonial prosperity and produce, ,hrarrh thr me-
dun OF American ccnaeTce, no trade shall. lie
directly Carried on from the French colonies &c
old FRANCE This is silently obeysd--Dut sne-..
and coffee 10 impaired into America and thence
is carried 20 France; that country naediately de
nving the same aovan,ages as before, but 81 >
greater expense; therefore saS the English, IL is
Unlawful for Americans TO proceed to France
with s-gar and coffee. see no reason, on rhe
same ground. why neutrsls should be alicwsd
ny scrt Of commerce with France and Holland.
Let Great Britain anniiiiate it at once il win
only be an extension Of the same pernicious prin.
ciplss.--Bosi. Democrat.