Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-11-16
FROM THE AURORA,
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF TIE SEAS.


We hear his exprtssion frequently made use
Of IN cenyeTsalion-- and such is the force of ma
Ss, that we rarely stay 10 examine the import of
Phtascs which form part of the uactinery of
management, Of enquiry, of controversy, ard even
lot history, aud which very often aFeSls tic peace
land happiness OF nations. What is meant by
the soVeeiynty Of fse seas !? Is il OF the same na
'u'e az othsr suvsreis"siss, Does il depend on
the principles Of natural riglle--ay,<sn,sn nj
comp.a or prescription Ills il a sovereignty M
re d;OAio or founded on the ius grEnn.l Con
cerring foveIeignty on land we have distinct
IDEAS, though ,heie are VARIOUS descriptions Of
sove eignty IL some countries where the soye-
reisuty OF the people was once the received and
rational principle, thar sovereignty is now tramp
led npon. Even in America, where By the con.
sliiunon and laws of the land. the principle Of
sovere gpty in the people is recognized and in
constant practical use, It is Frequently derided ;
because one of the modes by which depravity
prepares Cor the destruction of what it hates, IS
to find an excuse in its derision for It's medta-
Ted crime
That great and good man Sir Wri- Jones in
his memorable dialogue, has given distina idea
vt the meaning which he attached to sovereign
L in society. His biographer, lord T eignmouih,
las repeated the same idea in few words.
| Z" On the people depend the welfare, the secu-
riy and permaneuee OF every legal government ;
inthc people must reside al substantial power !;
! ard to the people must all those 10 whose know.
Icoge and ability, We sometimes wisely. often
! imiradently. conhde, be always accountable for
! thee.ercise of that power with which they are
intnsted
| Even where governments are established with.
ont egard 10 the people, we can obtain dis
inei knowledge OF the import OF sovereignty. by
rcsoring to the particular principle of us social
power, whether 1t IS vested in an sIistecracy
such as existed in Venice, IN an oligarchy such
az formerly existed in Befne. and such as now
exists but under different name and organiza-
ticn in Britain or under despoiism such as
Prussj;, Spain. or Russia. The governing and
confronting and legisating power, is here sove-
reign aud their ia eiihes supposed or an &C
,ua submission OF the governed TO IRE sovereign,
wheiber that sovereign be the few or he one.
We can trace the foundations even of these
various principles of social soveTeignty--in the
institutions of ancient nations lin the intelec.
tual acutensss sturdsy independence of the
Greek ard Roman republics, we find in various
ages The people supreme either in their assem-.
biies OF By their delegates In various changes
we can trace theeprii of asistocracy, spsineing
from the lust of rover ard oil monopoly, occasi.
-onally strengthened by superstition and the re.
nerai ignorance which prevailed IN nations where
constant wars 0. the absence Of commercial en-
ierpize, literary curiosity and other inciteuents.
preclude The great mass from the cultivation Of
leuefs, or the Improvement of tho mind
In the feudal ages, and those dark ages which
succeeded the fall OF thc Roman empire, we can
trace the foundation OF individual despotsm in
the inevitable principle Of military rule--pronot
cd by similar means with those by which the rn-
in Of popular sovereignty was accomplished in
ancient Rome
In every case we eandiscoveT some cause and
in many inuanees las IN Denmafk) some rea.
sona which appear to Justify The substitution Of
one species of sovereignty tor anosher But be
tween these various principles and the phrase,
The sovereignty Of the seas, we find no analogy,
no reasonable simiitnde, no principle which can
sanction or pallia'c The Doustfous tyranny which
luyks beneath the terms of which it is compos-
Cd.
The idea of Locke on the importance ofright
y undefsiardiag terms, can never be TOO much
luended TO, white language Is 50 Imperfect as &c
cave room in fhe cleaIess definitions for the e
sasons Of seghisiey and the versions OF fraud,
The import Of tbs ptrase was sugycNed 70 our
present enquiry BY course ef reflections on the
aie decisions N the BRUSH admiralty court. in
he case Of the ship Enoch, captain Doan, and
ome others. fi
We arc taught 81 legal anlhoriiies, to consid. J
y Tie law o. nations, Is one gn.fs r5i, rational
I'D eoos'stsntsy q prinsples, or llist Ike J