The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-15
[VoLuME 2.


dearto them: and fhal we make no ex.rtions
to protect our own citizens from the WORE kind
othavery. IT the planters of s. CAROLYN, or any
o'her tafe, where navcs are employed, ihould
forcibly take any OF Our fons frola the plough or
other lawful and necefiary occupation, and fec
them to work with other faves, in raiiog cot
ton or rice, the outrage would be horrii Indeed,
but not equal to the inlpreiImept of oar ci,i-
zens The flave 10 the planter n,uf labnr but
he is not obliged to Kill thole who ha,. given
him no provoca,'on, or TO be killed him Elf, and
he may be found & redeemed. Money redecm-
ed our captives from the Barbary coat, and we
felt for them and advanced the prize.
There is, fir, another point Of view prriensed
IN the impeachment OF our fear,en, which ought
to addreis our a:tcntoH-itis admitted that fe-
veral thoufand OF our imprefied citizens are EN-
proved aboard the Britifl ulcn of war fiShrihg
againt France tiiefe, it is Believed ARE nfiri-
ent to man five Clips of the line. IF Nv ON. f.
ience we connive at this, or by our wifi! Veg
iect OF the ute of f,ich peaceabe means as ares
within our power 70 prevent it, may not this be
charged as breach of neutrality, may it not be
Juitly called war in difruife; but j forbear.
Commercial aggreiiions, fuch as capturing
our merchant l,ips laden with cargoes of co.
loniai produce purchafed in return for the pro-
duce or OUR own country and the property IF
our own citizens, ard condemniug' contrary 10
the laws and ufiges Of nations as approved and
practiied even by the Britins courts ntii Aneuft
lat, and openly in her decifons ubRituing the
initruchons OF the court in place Of the law Of
nations, contrary TO her own former pra1ice,
by which If is acknowledged by the ORD rSfers of.
the rsioiution, tlie Britifh courts have already
condemned at leaf fix million dollars oftie
properly OF our citiZens on new principles,
which not being known to the owners, it vas
impefnb'e to provide aeaint the events. Tho
sheie aggrellions have hitherto been principally
committed on cargoes of colonial produce,
where only we can find market for the pro-
duce otthe middle and eafern ftstes vet the
principles are equally applicable to much Of our
EAT India trade, aud to the trade with France,
Spain and Holland, from which we derive moit
OF the favorable balance of trade, which ena-
h'es us TO dncharge the unfavorable bala3ce OF .
the trade with Britain, and ffle can 70 apply
them without giving notice of her irten' ION at
time when fhe knows we have the greateff -
mount OF property on the ocean. We cam
admit the plea Of neCefiity as fuggened in we'll
known Britifr pamphlet, and advocated viii =
out referve by the gentleman from VIRGINIA To
admit this would iuftify every pofTible aeereffi-
on OF the power at war againf neutral nations
ne make 10 zvGr IN Giiymits againR Britain we
tavor her as much as in our neutral hation and
commercial ftuation can do. Wehearyyith
aggref'ions from her that wonia ,-Re,t hs e,eer,a
nor borne with from any other nation 7 be
profits accruirg from favorable conmerci;l
balance with other nations is cheerfully thrown
into lap, & if we do not continue to do 70.
1t isher own fault.-Juftice and policy rrouire
that The fhould do 70. Britain pretends no
cat'fe OF complaint againft u.s. We have readi-
yremoved tuch as iie ever had. BY pleading
neceiity, the aggrefIion on her part Teens 10 b..
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS her remove the cauc,.
This queQion therefore naturally aries ar.
thefe things wrong; do they not only afee our
'ntereft but our national independence L, was
Confidently expected that to this enquiry every
member would aufwer in the affirmative One
member however has gone far TO advocate all
the aggreiiions complained of; no doubt howe
yer great majority of the members are conyiac-
ed that the impeachment, and the orher arereGi
ons require remedy, the Object Of the rrefrnt
deliberation is to difcover fuch mcafures 10 will
he mott expedleDt not only ia correcl the evil.
but to procure reaiorahIe reGrefs without war
Mr. f. added, that it was reafoDabIe 70 ex
peel Tome diyerfity of opinion, thai flch y di.
verify does exit is evident from the number
and variety of the refolu.ions referred to this
committee. OF thefc fome are fubititu,es for
the refolution which is now the hubieH of de-
pate, they have the fame obied IN view, hut w.
ry in the means propofed. Others NAV be very
properly puriued in concurrence with, and IN
aid OF the refolution under debate for forne of
theie, with proper notifications, he faid he
would probably vote. There is certainty Va.
r'ety OF methods in our power of app wing an
etFectua and at the fame time peaceabIc and
permanent corrective OF our grounds of corr.
plant. The method propofed in the refoIuti-
on on the table he thought wen calculated 70
produce the effect ; that the difcuRion Of il
would at leaf bring The whole flniett into
view, and prepare their minds for other refolu-
tiors.
Mr. F. faid he would perhaps be tolj that II
is a"ar r'eainre, and fich ought to be avoid
cd. We have been told 10 already by gentle
man from Virginia, (Mr. j. Randoph) who waa
up yeHerdav. Mr.. +. faid his colleague who
introduced the refoIution, declared ne did not
conider 1t asa war meafDrt,, and that he him.
ie'f was absolutely oppofed to wa. equally with
his colleague.
This refolufion provihonsliy propoCss terrs
which it is juf and reafonable that Britain
ihould comply with, and which Is fnllv in her
power, TO prevent the importation Of goods the
proauoe and manufactures of the f,riti1, domi-
MONS, until rcafonabIe Accommodations ia
made BY negotiation. Ii does not 90 10 prevent
expectation.
Bet II may he fsid, and il is no doubt the mi.
Mon OF Tome members, that the G,l.;ea CT,