The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-18

the eGabiifhnens OF rule, which, when once under
Rood will become nugatory. and ceaie to produce any
commercial or political cffeet. II on the other hand
this evidence is to be deemed concu'e, we pro-
fe ourfelves be utterly at lofs dicover, what
proofs of ownerhip, and neutrality Of property, can
with fafety be relisd on. rs
| But thefe enbarraiments, though perplexing and
vcxa,ious, no, thoe which principally occalior
| our iolicitude We are compelled to coniider the
late decions Of the Britih tribunals, preliminary
'eps towards y0em for controlling the Importation
and expectations OF coonia productions, and thereby
annhilating the moh lucrative branches Of our To-
reign commerce.
1--we owed this trade foley to the favour Of Great
Britain; itill might ak, what urgent motive
what impcrious neceility, required that the favour
thould be returned, at period when commerce
was ipread over the ocean, and when change 10
eiiential might dearoy its fecurty, and fubea
/ ircalcuiabe lofesi
We deny. however, that the rights Of commerce,
rs clln,sd by US, TO he aeemcd faveurs; Oh the
contrary, If the law uf nations is other than tempo
rary rule, freeribed by arbitrary will and enforc-
ed BY power, then appeal its mO univerfal and
! inviolabe principle, in defence. This principle
is Dat tie Gscds s Neutral, eonffing ST article, not
eSsfya6anas svar, in neutral Vlti, employed in d.
-e f'aA btsreen neutral euHnf'ies sad porfs 6s
ge,cuf country inv-1ei 6ioeiade are protected
In the controversies which have exiited different
times, for extending the privileges Of neutrA veels,
and limiting the grounds of capture, take Fart
! we appeal to the old law " neutral rights be
reducted within more confined limits than this law
preiorbes, we perceive not how, amiih the colons
OF NATIONAL nterefs, any neutral exi,
| even ia our native productions.
Hit be intnated, that neutrals fould be confined
to commerce with fach places and in fuch article,
only as were allowed in peace, by the municipal re-
guations OF the countries engaged in war; the doc
trne raay be repelied by tho notorious fact, that no
iuch principle has governed the conduct Of nations,
during any wars in which they have been engaged
all were free TO vary, and in fact all have varied,
their commercial fyRems: whatever theoretical OPT
mons may therefore have been advanced, there has
exsed no ueh practical rule, and fet up uch rule,
under the unparalleled circumstances of the prsient
war mua infably dsllroy the commerce of this coun-
| try
1t is we'll known fac, that the people Of he u
ited States export foreign countries greater pro-
portion OF the aggregate asual value of the products
OF their indutry, than any other people of the globe
they coniequenty n,oft deeply interefed in the
fccurity and freedom of their trade in ors, being
almoft exclusively an agricultural and connercial
people thoie parts of our country, which, from, re-
cent fettlenlent, from other circumstances, are
wholly agricultural, inme diatey interefted
than any ether they in greater degree depen-
dent on foreign fuPples, and coniequentlY mott liable
to be affected byany vibrations of the commercial fyi
tenn.
AS our manufactures do not fourth in proportion
to the progrefs Of population, wealth, and luxury
the neceity Of extending commerce is couaan,ly
increafing.
The bats of all trade is the aggregate value Of
our native efons, exceeding what are confirmed
IN the United States: there are exported 10 various
countries. from which receive fuppies for domef
tic uie, or other articles for expectation. A very
great proportion of all the refuts of cur commerce
with the world in the doirions of Great Bri-
tam, and we receive almoa exeuvey from that coun-
try, our coathng, and other neceary nianufa Cures
by the events of the late and preient war, many
countries with which pro(ecuted an increainr
trade, have been either diverted from manufacturing
Purluits, have been greatly impoverished or con-
quered and fpbjeasd the colonial yieul Of Great
Britain
With thefe preliminary faSts in view, wa reeueh
Permiiiion to detail fon,e OF the moi important con-
eiuences of the afumed rule, that nufrai my be ref
trained, in time Of 4ar, 10 their aeegSxez .rqs in siuf
Of paaes The njufice Of fuoh rule, in relation 10
the United States will be manifelt: the indi-
viduas employed in commerce, would not alone be
afiected: all the internal relations of our country
would be dilturbsd the interefis Of thoie tifricfs
which are mot remote from our principal ports,
"ould, in proportion to their dependence on foreign
iupplies be mott ieverely depreifed.
The effects of war cannot be confined TO the coun-
tries engaged in war. The value of money; rhe
price OF labour the rates of f.eght and infurance
are by war enhanced throughout the world ali arr
eles OF merchandise, both of export and import are
variouly Affected in their Quantities and value, by
new wants by TIE relnquih rent offorrer purfnits
and by the new direction which is thereby given to
the indultry Of differ nstons-Othcr coueepeDces
reful, from the effects of war; as the ipoycrhnent
OF fone, and the aggrandizensn. Of other countries
allo from the acknowledged right of belligerent nai-
ons TO intSrdct commerce contraband articles and
10 inititute bockadss This lai right is highly iniu
rous to neutrals asi; frequently rerains them fro.,
proceeding 10 the beit markets. tits obviouily i'm
poible, therefore, to conins the United States in
time of war, andf all thsfe changes and diiadvanta-
ges, to their aceultomed trade of prsee with
out deitroying all trade.
If, in coniequence of the war certain articles ufu-
ally exported from the United States TO countries from
which we received peeeaTy fuppies ceale TO be de-
rianded Ill thoie countries, may not export ether
articles, and thereby obtain the fupplies we need
If articles uiualy imported into the United States
in tune OF peace, ceae to be demanded By us in time
of war in coniequenee of ability to obtain fub-
ititstes when prefer fhall we be required to re-
nounce export trade, by being forbid to import
other articles for coniumpon or for commerce or
fha we be eonPeedto receive in exchange, articles
which we do not require
IT, in coniequepce Of an increafed demand fer our
exports 20 partsuar countries, sbtan in exchange
al.