Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-01-17

1 that il 10 intended merely TO regulate tht
I slkarasts Of armed. merehapt vessels. j
in effect prohibits the commanders o
them from defending themselves in ah,
cas-. whatever; for how are t,ey to ascsr
aain their rights to do so, unlE their YES
sels are bearded, and the opportunity O
defence lost. The firing single quo "a
gainst q vessel authorized by the lawc
nations 10 examine them, viii be taakine
! an up.swiui use Of their arms, md wi:
/ occasion the forfeiture of a sum equal te
dcil!Je. the value of their VESSELS ana
! the Tag OF one Of the beliigerent power:
viii Gcter them from visiting tie -yrsse
bearlag it, although they may discover
when it is TOO late, that it was used ss!er.'
ly+as a-drcsp,ion. aud that they kaTs De-
come an easy prize to an unlicenced prI'
! SSteer.s, 49,.
The ossensib!e reason fcr, this preeesd'
ing is aremonstranee said TO knYe beer
made by she>French minister against the
citizens of the United States, furnishing
| suppliesto the inhabitants of st. Eon.in.
} &C., bat'additiipg that the trade te, that
Island WAS costrary to the law OF nations,
and ought to be prohibited, how is it ef.
| iecssd By the bill! in question I? Iswill, II
is arne, preyeas those supplies from being
as grea. as they have hitherto bseh, be-
csssE the risk Of capture being Increased,
many w'Iibe deferred from engaging 10 the
trace :. but il me French government have
! righ,Io dsnand a prohibition of il, viii
they be satisfied with this limitation OF 1t
only Or in order to effect this restriction
was it necessary to expose our hIS to H.
suits, and our com nsrce TO depred:ttsons
inevery part Of the globe The 'tason as,
slsned esnoss be- the ,true one, because the
end Of tas rsmonsirance is not answered I;
ualess we suppose the French government,
| In consideration Of its subjects ha, ing a
better opportunity afoded chem to plundcr
the property of our merchants, have eonse ut.
ed to a limited trade with St. Domingo.
Where then are we to sesrchfo the true
cause Ct the adoption Of this measure are
we to attribute i. to that invineiblc antipa-
thy which certain distinguished philoso-
'phsr has Ito those vile guns, but for which
he would himself have been a soldier" or
mus, we suppose that his example of relin-
gushing no, only his property, but the post
assigned him il the defence of his country
rather than incur the risk of shedding hu.
man blood by obstinatsly retaining them,
has been deemed 30 haerltorious, as 10 rem
der it proper to COMPEL Dur merchants to
follow it. II cannot have proceeded from
any complaints Of the misconduct. of the
commanders of armed merchant vessels, :
for no instance has been shewn in winch
they have made an improper use Of their,
arms no outrage has been hitherto com.
mitt:d BY them against either " the vessels,
.itlzeB,, subjects, or territories Of any natl.
On in aulity with the United States"
The true source from which IL origi.
mated ii. that inrA.siae~ ->.s"nty ~ t-:,, (.
merge which has so strongly marked TIE,
.c,s of the present Administration /; to the
rratifea.ion Of which, the national honor,
and (whst they, consider far more lmpor-
tant) lac national revenue, are willngiysa-
esiaeed, How violent must be tina. hatred
which 1riumphs over their fav ofits system,
oseeonomyi for THAI the revenue mus, be
reduced BY every measure which embar-
r,sses trade, the only source from which il
! !. drawn, must be apparent. TO the simplest
understanding. The desire Of injurins a
body Of men whom they consider their g.
nernie.. may, however, carry the:n too far
l'The me- hanic and the farmer will at last
perceive, that whatever lends to $shackle
Commerce, mus, finally affect their inter
ests also; they whatsoever their ihfa,ua,
ton in supporting lner, who deem the wei
fare If their coln,rya riaipg 'eensiderati.
Eoh when opposed 10 the gratihca,ioa 0:
their malignant passions; and they viii
degrade them from thar station tor which.
Mature never desisncdthem