Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-04

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we perceive the power TO regulate com
merce vested in Congress. Will any
man pretend to say that the power o
establishing navy can be exercised in
dependent Of Commerce I Every mar
OF common sense knows That a navy can
not even cxis. wIthou, il.
Having sufficiently established the
right OF commerce TO protection unde,
the constitution, I come now to consider
the resolution under consideration. We
find cur rights invaded by foreign nations,
and an attack made by one nation on our
carrying trade, which IN my opinion eau
| not be warranted by the law Of nations.
l shall not condesCend to argue This point
! believe it 10 be a lawful trade, let who,
ever may deny it. have taken some
pains to make myself acquainted with
the subject, by reading several ,reatises
! upon IL; aud Notwithstanding the con-
, tempt with which certain book was yes
terdsy treated by the gentleman from
Virginia, i will venture TO predict, that
when the mortal part of that gentleman
and myself shall be in ashes, the author
OF that work viii be considered a great
man. Nor do Judge in this case eRclu-
siyeiy irnm my own opinion, hut from The
opinions OF men of distinguished talents,
from different and distant parts Of the
nio1, VINO all concur 10 saying that the
writer has conclusiyeiy established tile
principle he contends for. Indeed /
could not have believed, had rot heard
1t, thai representative Of the American
people, IN the face ef the legislature,
would have reiirqMshed SD precious a
prircipIe! Blu: there was a CURIOUS fea.
ture "a all the luminous discoveries yes
lerday disclosed TO us by The sentlema an
tFom Virginia, in which he strictly ob.
served the rule OF the rhetorlcian, where
point could not be justified, to act over
u as well a. he could. On The Impress
ment OF our seamen he SAID nothing.
he knew that the American ies;ings
would not bear it. When | think afwhat
IS called the carrying trade. consider it
! a small evil compared to this. 1t has
been compared 10 Aigerine slavery, bur IL
~ worse What ~ this imprsssment :
| Your Citizens are seized by the haad Of
yialence, and if lney refuse 10 figh. the
hs.les OF those " no thus lay violent hands
upon them, you see them hanging at the
yard arm, in The 6rst place, they are
! Obliged to expose their persoBs to mur-
der, IN lighting The battles OF nation to
which they owe no allegiance. They
! are obliged to commit murder, for il Is
murder to take away the life OF man
| who has given us no offence, al the Same
sime ihai they expose their Own persons
10 the commission Of murder. This is
he true point of light in which have al
| ways considered this horrid aud ba. ba.
rous act, Tor which, indeed, canno, find
Language sufficiently strong, to express
the indignation | feel. This is the situa.
ton of our country. Our commerce de.
predated upon in every sea, our citizens
dragged from their homes, and despoi,ed
! OF al thcy hold dea,. We are told we
are cot TO miad these things, tina, the ma
tion who Commits the ouirages is pow.
eriui nation. But really as an Ameri-
can- cannot feel the force Of this obser.
va,IoD.
ne gentleman from Virginia yes;er.
Gay assumed 1t as a principle, and the
/ whole OF ms argument turned on it, that
TINS ~ war iDeasa e, ard that lis fiieutl,
are Tor gong 10 war. Were | satisfied
OF the ruth of this remark, should
change my mind wnh regard 10 the reso.
! Io''o1. bu. rs :, a war measure I be.
iIsYe the same duties and Obligations ex
lat between nations es between indiyidu.
| ais Ia a state Of nature. II ny neirhbor
treats me with injustice, have RICH, To-
decline ali intercourse with him, y,thou,
glving hun RICH, to knock me down.
II w deem 1t our interest not to trade
with particular nation, have We not a
right to say so! a nation with whom we
nave no commercial treaty, and towards
whom, therefore, in regard To trade, we
have right to act as we please. If n
commercial treaty existed between us, il
would be our duty to observe il but
! without one, we have an nodul5ted r;o-,t
20 say whether we have or have not a Sse
tor her productions li, then, this BE- a
peace measure, why treat i, asawar ,nea
s"rei But II is said HAT it will lead tn
war Britain is said 10 be a great nation.
high spirited and proud, and therefore
We must Hot take this step for fear of the
consequences. Trace this argument,
see where Il leads us. |, leads us 10 th,s.
/ lhai with powerful nation we must on
| 90 dCCnuut q bafavsr f,u..,.I IL