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

No. ".
(coNTINUED.)
me uncertainty in tie authorities called m
A"'os @ Vatican, confr0s!cd suith the in
'enae0 federation Of continental Eurohe
Ihe politicians Of Great Britain ana
america have greatly puzzled them
selves OF late, TO ascertain and establish
! upon reasonable rules or fixed principles
Tue Rights ofbelligeren., as we'll as those
tot neutral nations. And altho' every wri.
'er' and every custom, from the reno.
,est antiquity 10 the present time, have
oeen appealed 10, and relied upon alter.
"a'eiy yet these important questions
I are still undetermined, and the neutral
nations, aliho' they claim certain priv.
ieges which they call rights, loudly com.
pam against the beiligeren;s. anedging
mat they are Intercepted and disturbed
~ their lair trade, and in those privileges
which are allowed by The laws of natl
ons.
AS this is the present state Of things,
IL shews that there are no fixed principles
oY winch the laws or rights OF nations
nave ever been clearly regulated and
hrmiy settled. And altho' the different
opinions are persisted in with equal per.
.inaci'y, 1t is rot pretended that there
mas ever been, convention or assem-
biage OF deputies or agents, from the diff.
ierent nations, with delegated powers by
which they were authorised TO prescribe,
hxed Observation-Disclosures
Privi!eges--So far from it, all admit
that 1.-THE laws Of nations, SO called, as thsy
are laid down by the most renowned and
distinguished writer's are no more than
the emaGa,ions Of their own minds and
the arguments which they have though,
nj TO use in support Of the data or axioIns
which they chose to espouse; * al,ho' ma
ny learned men at different periods have
devoted their time and talents 10 illustrate
theseimrorant matters, yet not one has
ever pretended thar he had ever derived
any aid from such authority as that which
we have Jnst alluded to. Il is true they
have endeavored 10 add 10 the respeGtabi.
hty OF their doctrines by referring 10 o
ther writer's OF more ancient dale. Blu,
when these arc critically excrnined it will
be bound that they are not better suppor.
From all this it appears, that the preten.
ded authorities, which constitute the laws
OF nations, so called, are but little better
Than lumber, and al,ho', when Europe
was cut to pieces and parcclled out into
ncmocrless governments, from large EN-.
pres down TO feeble and petty towns.
there might be some reason with all.
q much policy with the feeble states lode.
lend themselves, or 10 insist upon rights
and privileges by the authority of books,
which had no original authority in them.
selves ; yet, now II must be very evident,
that this plan will not be tolerated. En-.
rope now exhibits very different chart g.
picture The changes have been vary
great; and they will continue. in The
same KIND OF course until very little, if a.
| nv thug OF the ancient regime remains.
Instead oil about two hundred powers
claiming independent rights--it is likely.
that there will not be more than ten or
twelve because all the smaller and fee
bic states will be merged and conso!ida-
ted and viii assist in forming others Of
greater SIZE and more strength.
AS far as things have gore this is We.
~ evident, and it requires no depth of
foresight, 10 Perceive that the wor. will
so on, until there will be no more occa-
son, for the opinions o! juris,s and civil
ilans to shew villa; are The rights and pri
viseges OF states which do not exist, and
indeed which ought never TO have exist
ed.
Good policy requires that Europe
should receive a new AID permanent ar.
TondfSsemtHt that each state should be
so extensive and popuious as to claim and
support permanent and respectable
station, so that the means of (u,ure in
lrlgues and coalitions for wars might be
as much as possible prevented. All
! therefore who, foresee that some such
destiny awai's the people of Europe, will
not disturb themselves to investiwa,e the
merits OF questions, when the Causes or
occasions Tor such Questions will exis, no
more.
Let the politicians then who wish 10
render service to mankind, examine the
ground upon which the new arrange.
ments will be made, and endeavor 10 in.
culcate proper notions for the happires.
AID general justice Of The future empires
and prineipalties, which are about to TAX,
the places of the old ones.
| Under these conatJ .r.t;ocs -. :. 4