Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-10-01

4 's'u iuConsiSteEt with our neutral r;RHls
nd national Independence, the ricipeoca
ton OF which would subiec, our u.licers tn
damages and punishment. They attempt
| TO prescribe laws for us upon the free o.
cean, fhc h;gh4rdy Of nations, at the ex-
press pleasure ofthsir own executive az
thority, de struy'ng al qrX our whole com
merce with eremies' colonies, enrrsi;es'
home comi'iiors and neural ports: rivers,
and states though they violate those laws
IN their own conduct. prnelama,ion", and
tcea'es touching the same, or Ike places,
IN re time ofwar. For these evils. and for
several others Of like nature, 9or-de-
moralizing, i,npions. frantic, and expen-
| sive war---is said to he The regular cure.
but It is Ear worse than the disease, and
the I. ). are happily a = are, that, besides
war, there i ano her ard d better rene
cy-the cultivation OF the arts OF peace,
under The direction of The rational legs
't.nre. Sincerely disclaiming all cnrniiy
10 the beiIlgcrent powers of Europe, we
are h'mly bent on fair neutrality and ho-
norable peace. IL is our earnest desire
that our situation and views should be
thoroughly understood. and well consider
4
crisis. Thnse who apprehend from the
y. s. intentional injustice to themselves
viii we trust, be agreeablY disappointed
and those who expect from US an scqn-
eSceuce IN rea' i'yaafice from any foreign
country TO oursetuss, viii certainly be mis-.
taken. Our poic,, though uncommon in
Europe, is clear and sou,.tl. as we believe
our SITUATION should compel the reluc-
tant expenditure of twelve precious extra
millions, Tor example, let them not be u.
wisely laV'shed in the prosecution of
naval war, by which We may not gath. but
LEI that immense sum be levied, by the
calm operation OF statute law or the hro.
dnce and manufactures Of our shoGato,,S,
and applied, upder the direction of our
government, 10 tie iHdsmfifc lfion Of our
n'ercanf'fe and marine sufferers, and 20 lhe
eordi0f Suhfort ofoar manufacturing indus
Try. Even in our unwilling but nccesss-
I ry resort to such me asures, we shall not
be all influenced by the desire of doing
20 the tore'gD nation any harm, but by
fair anu right disposition 10 do good TO
ourselves. We refrain from hostii.ies
and, as already mentioned, we restrict.
prohib't, and duty their naviga,ron and
uade much less than they restrict aod
da'y ours. We of course observe the
most amicable conduct. immediately be-
lore Divine Providence ordained the Sc
paration between Great Britain aud A..
mefica. The laws and system of the EN-.
pre- we're the common pro erty of both
countries. The u. States did not incline
az me Beginning, % MAINTAIN "the n. p,ea
non acf aud the CONNIE, G. al & mauuf,c
turing regulations win that striSt adber.
ence 10 their monopollzing spirit, which
seemed most advisable to- the British king.
doms' Yet we did not consider even ,helr
! pecui' ar ana unaltered rigcr as war by
'hem upon us, nor can reasonable and lust
men now perceive the sembiance of war
against q. Britain in our latter an,, calm
recurrence To the commercial rec me, of
on ancient ard common em.te We
accept Inc system as the precede nted
h'sahs OF posPerlly, and as peaceful
/ measure OF subsistence and defence 1t
! is possible that We may no, even now an
prove oil all the regulations TO encourage
our navigation, manufactures, and com
! H'erce which existed in our joint Anglo
American system before I776, but if we
adopt the whole, add thus return to them
even an The regulations and prohibi,ions
they have long melted To us, we should mo-,
thereby aei With any hostility 10 them. nor
I even more partially to our interests than
ihey have constantly aeled Gavorabiy 10
'nelr own. Let them remove their res.
'fic''ons' * carry reason under The law of
nations, and we will remove Our restric.
\ tons with cordial satisfaction. We ear
nestiy desire peace and good will with all
nauoDs, and with none more sincerely
'han with them but they ought to re.
member, and we shall doubtless consider.
that We are not commanded to love even
our "ortbiest neighbors better than our.
selves.
Though il was intended, in this publi.
cation, merely to treat Of the dangers.
oDsiacles' expenses ofgreat naval pow.
en- and TO show that there are safer and
Cheaper means of protecting commerc,.
yet 1t Hsy be proper and useful brieeo IN
notice some connected subjects. Il is n
matter OF just and great as,onisbment.
that an ardent English pamphIeteer a.
sa'hsi our commercial rightsf has ventur.
cd to justify all the measures aaains,
neutral trade, which England has taken. S.
almost all she may yet adopt, by The swee.
ping and unwarranied assertion, thai tts