Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-14


wc1'd be imposed an NJ utral commerce.
without adequate motives and the most
ample notice; presnming especially, that
commercial enterprises, commenced I'M
der,lre sanction OF established principles,
would on no account be affected by
change Of system ; your mcmorialists
have employed a vast capital in import
ing various colonial PRODUCTIONS, the sur
plus Of which, exceeding The demands of
this country, they have been accustomed
to export freely TO The different markets
Of Europe. .,a ~
Alter this commerce had been prose.
cuted without restriction for several years,
and had attracted a great proportion of
their wealth; after their ipsuress had as
sumed immense responsibilities, ground
ed on an opinion, that this trade was
strictly regular; having never received
the siightes, in!iination, that it could De
, deemed Incompatible with the rights Ola
bellgerent nation, they have been sud.
denly COMPOUNDED, by unexpected intelli
grpce orthe arresta,ion on the high seas,
OF large portion of their property, which
had been embarked with the most unsus-
pectipE confidence.
The feelings ofyour memoriahsts are
moi only excited, by the losses whica they
have aetnolly sustained, in consequence
OF, measure unsuscep,ible of previous
calculation, but also from the state ofun.
certainty in which they are placed, with
respsS To future commercial operations.
Your Inemoralists have heretofore be
Eeved, that commerce between the Unit.
ed'S,ates and colonies subject 10 the enc
mics Of Great Bri.nin, when bono fde pro-
secuted on their own account, would be
reyfS6llv safe from interruption They
have also believed, that all articles. which
might be securely imtorted into the Unit
ell States, might be as securely erhorfed !;
wiih the exceptions well understood, both
in respect To the impact and export trade,
of commerce with places blockaded, or in
articles contraband at war.
In recent Interpretation. of what is
considered by The tribunals of Great Bii.
tain as direct trade, between the colo.
MES and the parent countries Of their e.
nemies, your memorialists perceive with
Concern, the develnpement of principle,
which, If conceded on the part ct the u.
States, mus; prove. fatal 10 their CONNER
oal Importance.
II is understood TO have been decided,
that, N henever it appears TO be the inten-
ton ofS.he Importer Of colonial produce,
10 export the same - Europe: or, when-
ever il is so exported by The orr gina. inn
potter, such intention or expectation,
shall 5e evidence of direct trq9e, and
sukjeGl lie properly, though neutral, to
confisca,ion. :.
Your mewcr;al;sts ccrsider it their
bounden duty tn themselves and their
country, TO express their most decided
opposition 10 This decision.
AS ia the evidence arising from the
supposed intention Of an importer, they
reality admit, that The great quantities OF
oo.s:aial produce, which are acquired by
means Of the American commerce, ex,
ceediug the demand for consumption in
the United States, will fairly Justify ge.
nerai trss umcti6n that the surplus is ul,i-
Ina,ely destined for European markets.
They assert, however, that The intention
ola merchant, in respeG TO the future des.
Gnaoon of his PROPERTY, must, f,om the
natureIof things, be inconc.usive. All
plans OF business, formed by individuals
are liable 10 be affected by circumstances
not 40 be foreseen or controlled :--ihese
pans are therefore necessarily -revokable
by those who form them and an INTENT
on which has rot been erecnted, proves no.
S,ing more than might Justly be inferred
from agenera, presumption, arising from,
the course CT our commerce. To apply
such an Intention, in particular case, to
the prejudice Of an individual; topresume
THAI lie has Voluntarily incurred an i'm.
Tnense risk, which consistently with the
x success Of his main objeSt, he might have
fairly avoided, and to involve him in ruin
FOR prosecuting trade, which, if under
taken with Indifferent motive. would have
been declared lawful would be, in the
opinion OF your me morialisis, to confound
and reveise the best established principles
OF reason, equity and law.
Your insmorialisis contend for no inno-
ratiOns on the law Of nations and, ex-
cspt where special treaties have prescrib.
ed different rule, they admit that they
may lawfully be restrained from trans
porting the property of the parties en-
gagged IN var. In the recent decision
which prohibits an importer from export.
ing Il TO Europe, they however perceive
with concern, either nugatory and yex.