The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-08
CV oLuME 2.


Between the nations not engaged in the war,
it is evident that the commerce canno, be sff,et
ed at all by a ~ar between o,hets.
AS nation not engaged in the war remains
IN the lame relations of amitv and of commercial
pur'uits, with each Of the beligerrnt nations.
rs exiitrd prior to the war, it would feem that
the war Gould not afett the intercourfe between
the neutral and ether ofths belligererit nations
and that the neutral nation might treat and
trade with either, or both the bliige,ent natl
ons, with. the fame freedom as if no war bad
ar'ien oetweea shrni. This, as the general rule
4 u f.'shcfsfitiy ei,abtiffsd.''
here is a Faint enieavnr to ensbliG tie prin
| cipie that free ffips make free goods. Tiut thc
writer, as II dfpairing of his ability TO affect il,
goes on TO fay" But ii as much as the trad.
OF a neutral nation with beligerent nation
might IN certain fPecial cafes affect the fafety of
us antagonitt, uiage founded on the principle or
hscefiity has admitted few exceptions to th..
general rule ufage" founded on what
| keaion Right mo fir, on that law which
admits nothing TO control it," Neceifity'' that
cannot toop to argument. Ifonce you admit
that necety ought, can, or does eftablin, ex.
eePt'ohs to this broad rule, do you not admit
an tnat the briti!h dotsrne requires! But, Cir.
| 1t will be faid that the fole legitimate proof of
this nccefity s.yaee. But ufage mufs have had
beginning, and the fmall protection which this
argument affords is thrown away by the fub-
1squent admilion, that a change i'm circum
RANGES {" in the eouyJc of commerce" for in.
itance) will iuttify departure from e(tabliG,ed
ma%ims, will warrant the commencement of a
new image. AS if all the articles contraband of
war were infinitely fpecifefi-and by change
| III the max'ms and implements of war, new and
more terrible nftruments of ANNOYANCE fhouli
be fabricated ;----wouid they not fall under the
mead or contraband And is it not demon
hraole that direct trade to France in gun
powder or any other article contrahand of war.
would be lefs beneficial to her and lefs in;uriou,
| 10 her enemy, than the colonial trade now in
dnPute-and is not (accordns to this writer's
ackhowieagement) the leiler principle involved
IN the greater? Am therefore the apoopif Of
England /? icorn to boat of my patriotif,n =
IT is indigenous. And when i am reduced 70
low as TO plead tothc charge OF want of love To
my country, OF natural Heeion to nv birth
place, my pride will tell me to bid you farewell.
to go home and hide my name Am the A.
polosilt OF Britain, becaule your caure has been
weakly defended, or treacherouay BETRAYED
No, ir, this " Examiner is her aoolor6.
nave not infinitely diffsctcd the wotk-There
was no location for it. 1t is fomethinc like
the editlce We inhabt. IT'S hardly worth while
to be examining frezes and cornicss, and archi-
,raVes and ftucco-work, wheH Won know the
foundation 70 be rotten, Whit the build;ny,is
tpnb'lng aboat our ears, and we are Obliged to
ieeS refuge in another. 1t is not, indeed, FIR.
worth While to confult the orders of architec-
ture in mferahle card-houfe of an argument.
which the 6rf puff of wind mutt demoIiGb.
Sir, the admffion, that change of circur,.
itances will tuitify departure from the eRab
H'ned maXims anongft nations, was an unne
ceiiary and fatal conceffion not called for bv
the nature of the cafe.-What is the courfe of
| commerce." now? Totally changed in few
mort years. The marine of France, Spain and
Holland, whether for the purpofes of trade or
war, is no more. They have no longer nayiea.
ton, or navy Again, amoneit a load of quo
| tations from Grotus, and Puffendo,f and the
Lord knows who, we are told it is the duty of
the neutral to obferve the ftrictet impaftaIity.
TO behave hinlelf alike to both the beIligcrent
PARTIES" Bat is it TO behave alike to both par
| ties to carry for him who cannot carry for him
ieif, to throw the Egis of neutrality over
commerce which he can no longer protect to
lave MN all the danger, expence and riilS of
convoy and war ininrance This is hollow,
Delphic reciprocity: reciprocity to the ear. hut
| not to the ienfe. If you carry contraband, or
| attempt to enter blockaded port, Won are La
BILE to capture. Why? Becaufe fulfilled by
neceility. AS to the motives of the neutral
| merchant, they arc out of the quefion. His
o!gect, no doubt, like that Of every other trader
under the fun, is gain. He fir, is too often the
mere ePhemeron, the butterfly of the day, who
1 49, 'Nt >"'N NhN id'iHilU NICtDST YOU are at
war with this or that nation, with England or
with France, provi3ed he can get good returns.
His buinels is to pot his books and balance the
| ledger, & whether he deals with the fibiects of
| white emperor or black one, of Bonaparte
or DehalineG, 'ts all one to him. No doubt,
FIR, it is the right of the neutral TO purfue, and
he viii, he ought to purfue his own ntereR.
But it IS the right of belIigerent (as conceded
by this writer 10 enquire how far luch purfuit
| comes into collion with his interens and his
! fafetY. The motive of the neutral NAV not be
hoftiiity to either party engaged in war, but his
own benefit. This however will not influence
the beIliserent nation, who takes up the ouer-
ton foley with view TO its effect on itfsIf.
! What will G. B. fay THAT the exsency en-
iIts-it has occurred, .Ragr0nie Jel1o, that the
neceiiity admits of delay, that you YOUR
felves have abandoned the queftion in difpute,
and even if you have not, that ilie cannot con-
fent to fit down quietly, and be extirpated from
the face Of nations, ont of compliance TO Gro
titus or BynEerihoek, or in Difference to the nm.
known author Of this pamphlet, although he
lhould exceed Bacon in genius, or Newton in
inteDhty of thought. J nua defend myfelf,
the knife is at my throat, have no more time
[ for 10 &c 81