The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-15
THE ME- ORIAL
THE MEMORIAL
OF TIr
MERCHANTS AND TRADERS
or THE
CITf OF BALTIMORE.
icon riNvED.l

This principle, therefore, cannot be found one.
1t uniformity and coniiitency; is partial, une-
quail ard delrive. 1t makes every thing bend to the
right ofwar while il alIeas to look back to, and re-
cogze the Gate Of things in peace, as the foundation
and the meafre of the rights OF neutrals Projecting
to reipea the eaabGicd and hab;tual trade Of the
tons al peace is affords ihadow Of eeurty for any
part Gift Protecting to be an equitable landard for
the alcerainncnt Of neutral rights, it deprives them
of all body ard fubaance, and leaves them only
plauhle ai,d unreal appearance OF magnitude and I'M
potrance II delivers them over, in word, to the
mercy of the itatcs IS objects OF legitimate
bo.pisaty and wren it feems define, does in fat
rx,ingu:ih them. Such is the faithful piaure Of the
theory and practical operation of this doctrine.
Bat, independent of the ocnideratons, thus arf-
ing of the immediate interference OF beltgerent
rights, ard h,ligerent condsa, with the freedom OF
neutral Grade; by which the faacy of the appeal, to
the preciie rate Of peace trade, as limiting the
aud extent of trade in war, is iuiicently
Tarifeited the. other contidsratious, which
fatsaSoriy prove the iuaiinilbiii tyof this princ
pie. .,.-.
1t is impo,ibe tina. among the primary powers
OF Europe, hoUd not in endlefs variety of hapes
materially affect the whole CIVILIZED world. Its ope-
ration upon the prices Of a5our and commodities,
.unon the value of money, upon exchange, upon the
rates oil and nlurnce is great and important.
But does much than all this. II impofes up
commerce, III the grols and in its Details new
gives 70 TX new direction and places
u'uron ainew Foundation. 1t aboliihes cals OF
demands, creates revves other and diminhes
auynents the ren--and while the wants Of man.
kind infinitely varied, by its powerful agency
10th III objecf aud degree; the modes aud fources
Ut tnpPly, and the means OF payment, infinitely
varied Ito.
To prcicrbe to neutral trade thus irre,iifiby in
fuenced and changed, and moulded by this in,pe-
rious gent, fixed aud unaterahie fation, would he
To-Day that thaii remain sne fame, when vary
Il inPnihbs; and to require, fnre change is una
workable, that il ial iublit the ruinous retrench-
nisilts and notifications, which war produces and
ye, refrain from iaden,nyng itfef by the fair adj
Stntagss, which offers it as an equivalent;
cannot De warranted by any rule OF reafon or equity
or by any law, which the great community OF ma
tons owes reipsct and obedience.
When examine the conduit of tie maritime
powers 81 Europe in al the in which they have
been engaged for upwards of century, find thar
each OF them has, occa!oualy deBar,ed fror, its
fchenles of colonial monopoly; relaxed its navigation
laws ard other~iie admitted nentras, for 4 longer
or Giprtcr fPace, crcuniiances required, msdes
of trade from which rhey were generally excluded
This uTiveria practice this conitant and inyariabe
ptage, fcra long ferries of years. would feeu have
e!taohe:, among the European Gates fort Of cuff
tonlary law upon the luhje6t OF IT, from which no
Jingle power could BE- liberty depart, in fearch
ut Questionable theory, variance with it. Great
Britain is known I, uipend in war; and on accourt
Is luPaoied to her maritime greateeG and which
the palladium Of her po,qer e holds involable in
peace and her colonies are frequently thrown open,
aad aeutrals iayited Gupply them, when lhe can
nor nppy them hc,felf. She makes treaties in the
nLlit OF war, (ihe made iuch treaty with usl
b. which neutrals received into participation
ot an exteuiive traffic, which before they had 10
title And r be fIffered object thas the fame
ac analogous a9s, unlawful in Der enemies or
that wien neutrais avail henieives of Gmiiar concel-
fiors made by her opponents, they guilty., IL
able 70 punhmemt, a. for criminal intruion into Al
irregular and prohibip commerce
The weight OF rIis confederation has been felt b.
the advocates OF this doctrine and it has, accor-
DINGHY, been ATTEMPTED eyade it by dl.tinttion
wtc. a'lmits the legality Of al iuch reaxations in
war, OF tie genGiI, commercial colonial fyasn,s
al 5le beieerent do arif- of the predofii-
nance of the e0enly's force, Of any neceity
reiuit;ng from il 1t is ppare,, however, that fuch
rslasatious, whether iitaied ny the actual acertal-
led prejo,nance oil the enenys force not, do arife
of the lae If war, and are alnof universally pro-
duced and compelled by THAI tlley intend
ed as reefs againa evils, which has brought j.
Ioie with it and that the oppofte beligerent has
jplt as much right to nGf that thele evils fall not
be removed by neutral aid interpoltion If they
were produced by the general pFePonderance of her
own power, upon tire Land, upon the fes, or By
the general uccefs OF her IN the one cafe as
completely in the other, the interference Of the
nputr, lgh,cns the prelTure of war; increafes the
capacity 10 bear its eal4ntes, the power TO inct
fhe,n and fuppIies the of comfort ard Of |
frength In both caics tbe practical effcGt is the
fame, and the legal confrquence hoUld be the fame
ao. Bur- whence are derive tbe corcluion /
ef flct, upon which this extraordinary dittinttion is
made tern! How determine, with pre- |
cion ard ccraiury, tilc exact cI,,ie which opens to
the ports ol na-inn var, ana,y vie the various
rircumaane's, Of, VII, perhaps, the courefon may
he the combined effeti and 10 aGiSu to each the
Jun portion OF influence, which il has a claim |,
Hog .afy it;sto deceive ourf-ves on fnf;ed of |
.Sj7is EirdC. Britain will herfef nfrua us by re- |
example. Her courts of prize have iniiited that
curing he var, which ended IN the peace of hmens
France compelled open the ports of her colo
rips, by receity created and nipoied by the ma
ya PoV ere her eneaaes g. get theie PORTS were
pei'sd 10 Fch''arY l7G9, whc;' France and her ma
ritine a,iyerar;fs hal ncs{red their nrenqth in
Gngle cN1f4 'vhes 10 naval enterprise had been !
undertaken bY he later, far les crowred with fuc-
ee'l /; "he5 ere li'ts were even entered, and |
when the lupcrority afterwards acquired by Great |
Britain IN particular yeas yet problem when the !
ipiyit al the French nation ard government was lift
ed to au uceyamr!ed height b. tie emhuiafn of
the 92Y, nd ~ the fpendd achievements by which
Seir armies had recently conquered SAVOY .he conn