The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-01

compromiie between the rights of reu,ra,s to
carry on their commerce and the right Of a bel
ligerent TO cripple the exertons of their ersrnv
that " landing the goods aud paying the duties
IN the neutral country, breaks the conti uitv OF
the voyage, and is fuch an Importation as legal.
les the trade, although the goods be re-fhippeti
IN the fame vthel, and on account of the fame
neutral proprietor and forwarded for fale TO the
mother country" And this TOO has been the
doctrine, generally purified by the Britiih conrts,
and even expressly laid down in the advocate
generals report of March Is 1901, encofed bv
Lord Hawkefbury in his letter to MIR. King.
The fpirit of the late order of the court of Lon
don however is in complete oppoiifion to this
doctrine; for according to the late judgement in
the cafe Of the Eflex, part of the colonial
prod Ice Of France, even though it he
the bona tide prote-ty Of an american eifisea,
can be fate from conifcation, u5let, it has
been re-fhipocd on board of Gi9eyrnt veifel.
This is deemed by them the only fstisfa1orv
proof that the co'ona! produce thus exported
and defined 10 An enemv's port, is not boua-
hde the property of that enemy. Inconiifent
as thefe decifiops ofthe Britih Admiralty have
been with their previous decilions, it is not a
matter OF aftoni!hment that they fflould be in
confident with the rights of neutral nations
But this principle injurious as it would prove
to our commerce, will be rendered ftiu more.
fatal by the iniquities, which will be praetifed
under colour OF its provi(ions. 1t would be
difficult to place any bounds to the numberIefs
denredations, which Britifh CRITTERS, and Brit
'fh Courts, in the Wet Indies, will be encou-
ragged to commit. A barrel of nails found ON
board of an American veilel has been known to
contamnate whole cargo, in the decilion of
court, and expofe it TO confifcation, as iii
was entirely competed of contraband articles
Inc fame deciiion has frequently been known
to involve the UeNa as well as the cargo in the
fame illegal confifcation. What right have we
to expect that Britiih crufers or courts will be
lnipired by a greater regard for our rights now.
than thete decifions have provedthcm topof1efs )
What right have we to hope that pipe of wine
from Bourdeaux may not be ufed as a cover for
contltcating whole cargo, and even the vetitl
lttelt: Such a. leaf is fiid to have been the
fate of the Ef1ex and her Cargo.
But it is not from the Brit n ayentsa'one. that
these depredations are to be dreaded; for we
may foon expect to hear of iimilar order he
ing iRued by the French gov rnment. "I is
All eiiential character of neutrality to furniih
no aids mot ffipulated by treaty. to one party,
which we are not equally ready to fur1Iiih TO
the other. IF we permit corn to be feat To
Great-Britain and her friends, we are equally
bound to permit it to France. To reftrau it,
would he aPartality which might lead to war
WIN FRANCE; ana between reitraiN;rg ii our
fe'ves, and permitting her enemiest eltrain it
unrshtfullv, is no difference" Mr.. J. ferfon's
letter tn Mr.. Pinckney Sept. 9TH 1898. The
lame doctrine will equally apply to re ri6tons
upon our trade in the colonial produce
We have thus attempted in very brief and
driultory nanne to lay open fome Of the ey''s,
which mutt retut from thelate cncroacbneDts of
the BrItith cabinet & Britiih courts upon the A.
merican trade. THefe evils W. mutt leave to
time itfelfto unro 3" in all the amplitude of their
detaIl. Let 1t not however be fnppoe1 tha'they
VIII atiiict our carrying trade alone becaufetha
trade which we carry on in colonial produce is
IN fact eiiential TO the PROPERTY of our dred
trade, and our agriculture: as that part OF the
produce, which, over II above our own con-
tumption, would be nothing elie than bur.
den upon our hands, if it were not fometmes
exported TO the mother country. 1t is probable
that thefe evils may be arrefted thro' the remon-
france of our minifter in London. But ihould
that remembrance be without effef, it will
then be the duty of the people to prefcribe the
remedy!