The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-18

is now taken up it will be purfued with zeal
AID ardor, until relief is extended to this I'M
happy clafs of fufferers, and itcnrity obtained
asanit iimilar aggreiions on their perions IN flu
ture, by fuch arrangements rs ought to be
deemed satisfactory.
In relation to the capture and condemnation
of our veiIels, contrary tn what we conhder,
and to what verify believe to he the law of ma
tions, ihall not detan the committee with
mlny obfervations. have no iHtention ut en-
,crins into ,iifcuflion of the abftra9 quellon,
whether trade isiutifable in war, which is not
open in time of peace? ! will Only obferve,
chat on the principles Of reaton and juftice, and
from fiich authors a. have had an opportunity
of confulting, the right for which we contend
docs appear to me to be clearly etabi'ihed. In
iome late publications thisqueition has received
avery luminous and ample difcufion, and the
right Unified on by MS has been placed on fuch
ground, and fupported by reafoning 70 clear,
20 cogent, and 10 conclusive, that G. Britain
with all her boafted talents will find it extreme
~ tiifficultt TO find anfwers for them.
But even admitting the Britifh doctrine to be
correct, what, would ak, has been the con-
duSt Of that government under it |? Has it been
that Of nation ae1uated by motives of liberai-
~ and fr;endIhip? Has it been that of a civil.
lied and poliihed nation? Has it been fuch as
jaftiee and the fair and honorable conduit of
our governments has given US right to expect
No perfcn, think, is prepared to anfwer in the
affirmative. 1t does not appear that the princi-
Pile w.s prattifed on during the lat, nor for
iome time after the commencement of the pre-
fent war. I will not undertake absolutely to
fay, that they relinquifhed it, but the trade
which II now prohibits was permitted to be car
ried on to great extent without any Interrupt
tion from their cruizers. Numbers alured by
the profpe6 of gain, were induced to engage in
the profitable bufnefs, and fnppoGng themfeves
fife under the protection of law, had their vef.
fes and effects feiZed to a large amount. The
capture and condemnation of their property
was to them the firlt PRONUNCIATION of the law.
Ignorance of what it was impoiiible for them to
know, was imputed TO them az crime, and an
honorable dependence on the Juice of govern
mc:;t projecting to be friendly, was profecuted
with penalty and forfeiture. I'D.
But even independent of our iuft caufe of
complaint a-ifng from this principle, apparent
iy new, thus unjuftIy brought into operation,
now has that government conducted in relation
To captures, IN which after the mott minute in
vcftigaton, all the ingenuity of her courts have
not been able to difcoyer any principle to war
rant the condemnation. The perplcxing diff
culties, the vcxatious delays, and the enormous
expence attending the proiecution of claim
through every ftage Of its progrefs, place an al
mof infurmountable barrier in the way of OBJ.
tanning juftice. In fact, all her commercial max
inns, and the whole fyfem of her conduit, diff.
cover a manifef ntention,a fixed determination
to confummate the ruin of the commerce of this
Country.
j am aware, Mr.. Chairman, that many of the
captures and cosdcmnations, of which we have
heard fnch loud complaints. are ftrttiy war
ranted by The law of nations. An immoderate
delire of gain very frequently leads the mer-
chants TO engage in trade, which the univerfal
content of all nations has declared to beunlawful.
This ohfcrvation will, however, perhaps, apply
with ,tlore propriety to foreigners, who have
liked their reldence amOng lis, 10 enjoy the
advantage of trading under our neutral rights,
than to the rea! American merchant. This def.
cription OF men, under no influence of patriot
Nm, and too generally unrefrained by any prin.
cples of juitice, purdue their Object, wholly re-
sardleis Of the interet of the country, or of any
Injurious consequences to which it might be
eftbjeGted through their n,ifcondutf. have no
Flea al irivolving my country in any difficulty
ON account ofthcfe people or their trade. As
they are citizens ofthe world, equally attached
IN every country, would always willingly fur
render them to be punilhed according to the
laws Of whatever country they might be found
tranigreffng. But in Withholding protection
from thefe lawiefs adventurers, let us not with
draw it from the real American merchant. Ad.
ing from motives Of patriotifm as well as of
gain, he combines his own interelt with that of
bis country. While he is accumulating wealth
TO himfeif, he is adding to the revenue and rich
cs of his country, and while he is fearching
market for the productions of the farmers, he
is discovering fomething that they may contri
butte to their convenience and comfort. He is
necefary link in the chain of our fociety.
There is mutual dependence betwixt him and
the farmer. The intereft of the one is promot-
ed blythe facets of the other. This being the
cafe, thrfe two ciaiies fhouId be extremely eau
,ious how they fuffer that kind of iealoufy to
grow up betwixt them, that might eventually
prove fource Of dittreis and calamity to them
both.
hope it will not be inferred from any thing
that have faid, that am going TO be an adj
vocate for the protection, even Of American
merchants, in that wild, extravagant Carving
trade, to which fome ofthem appear to extend
their views. ] ihall never agree to rik the
peace and fafety of the nation in fuch caufe.
Rven in doubtful cafes, or where the law was
not perfectly clear, If they would embark their
property, let he it at their own hazard. But
in carrying on the direct trade Of our country,
and even in the carrying trade, while they con-
fine themfelyes within the acknowledged law
Of nations, ] think they are entitled to protec.
tion. And in affording this protection take