Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-08-23

y drama, they insist upon other principl,
o which they pretend, apperlains TO the.
= iD their belligerent character.
The doctrine upon which these Isla.
ders 'nsist, and by virtue of which the
Il disturb the peace, intercourse and CON
niece OF the world, may be fully iIiu.
rated by Supposed incident in privat
HE. A and b are nsighbors for
mer wants the coat, or the horse, or soma
thing else, which belongs to the latter
out beng upon friendly footing, he wi,
not take it by force. He therefore pick
quarrel, Commits treSpass, or render.
! IN INJURY to u which he is either obliged
10 oppose, or which will excite his resent
ment SO as 10 produce a ru2ture--A ther
asai!a himself of the quarrel, of which he
was the sole author, and not only makes
depredations and commits other Injuries
upon B--out acts in hostility with all O.
Tiers who attempt TO render 3 the small
iest assistance or kindness. So it is with
GTeat britain, the rulers of that nation
wanted, or thought they wanted The Is.
rand OF Hialia, tho it belonged to another
power. They happened to he in posses.
'ion' and Notwithstanding the faith of a
solemn treaty, rs we'll Qs th. dictates OF
justice, they refused tVDnrrentier it, and
hayn gone to war in support OF their con
doc':--nof content win this, they quar-
rel WITH and disturb the peacable inhabi
tanis OF all other countries in their inter-
course with the nations, with which they
have chosen 10 60 TO war.
AZ The case Is considered in this way.
and IN The abstract, the British Cabinet
VIII bear al! The blams, OF the war, and OF
course all the blame Of every mischief
which grows out of it. In order there.
lore 20 determine upon the merits of these
oel'Sefent claims, We should examine the
merits oil the war itself, and as the cauee
or pretended cause is of very modern dc,c.
IL VIII be easier TO ae;,lc q hnal question
upon The merits and dement's of their
conduct, m making oc provoking the war,
Than 6y settling the Indefinite and nom
descnpt brilig-rent right, which is claim
Cd because the nation is in state of war.
In coming 10 this Conclusion, it is not
necessary to distrus, any oil The authors
VINO nave taken SO much pains to illustrate
question, which has varied as often as
tnefe was new war. In.tead of refer
ring TO Grotius, Pufiehlorf, sSc. il is more
proper 10 examine the treaty of Amieus
And IT we find that the Cabinet of Lon.
don has violated It's own solemn Promise,
and has gone 10 war for that only reason,
then surely their beliigercni prstensions
VIII be nc better than The violation of The
trea'y-and 1t the violation OF the treaty
was dishonest, all that flaws froui il, mus,
partake oilts parental iniquiiy.
risnce indeed, might urge great deal !
IN favor other beii,gerent rights, because |
France has been forced into war-and is !
always ready 10 restore peace, when her
adversary will perform her agreements
ana II there was any where disinterest.
cd tribunal which could settle and enforce,
what might appear To be lust and reason.
aoie between these nations, that tribunal
would surely decree, that France might
ooSlruci all the trade and commerce OF,
neutra!s, with Gieat Brltain--ard thai
Great Britain ought not 10 impede or 90.
strucl any lhing gong 10, OIL coming from
france, until justice was rendered by the
offending nalion- But there is no such
authority, no such tribunai--and even i'll
$3.50 ~ ''iSubSt VIC same temper
which led TO the violation Of the treaty of
Amens, would disregard The DEGREES of
reason and justice.
liths mode of decision should b. adopt.
ed, since there is 10 positive law Of natl.
ons, either written or not written, future
enquiries would go only TO The merits of
The quartet, or cause Of the war, and if,
as in This case, all nations with one con-
sent should cry aloud and say, that the
nation which complains most, is tile az.
igressor, then it would be right for all ma.
tons 10 say TO the cabinet Of London you
" have violated the faith of treaty--you
shave not performed your contract as
= nation--and you have no rights except
"those OF the sword" II Europe was G.
naDcipated from ancient rulers and petty
preJudlces, such language would be Ut.
tered by every tongue coalitions and
considerations would be formed, tits true,
but their object, meaning aud intent,
would be to enforce obedience to SOLEMN
engagements, and to surrender all which
was unjusily obtained or forcbly with.
held.
These enquiries and considerations,
bring to our recollection tic confederate.
or Of European states. This is a ques,i.