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

l
us TO the enemies Of Gr-at Il: iain, being convenient
| fupples-promfed to fecure to our ihips in their
ports welcome reception and hoiritable treatment
AS the drea returns for thsie exports were neon6-
derable,aad as TIE products were aln,o,t excluivey
RENTED to Great Britain, and thereby applied in
payment for manufactures purehafed on account,
we cOnidergd ourelves lure OF receivih; from the
at leaf that degree Of pro,etos, which recon-
ni-naed by regard to mutual intereitS.
1t is however with much iurpriie that we have re-
Gently diicovered, that the very eircuniiaices upon
which our hopes Of fecurity rer2fed, have been
urged arguments to uay an nvaiion OF our rights,
and that, having totally iupprelcd the exteraal
merce OF her enc mics, Great Sisain now council
led appropriate herr.l that Of her friends II it
be that exporters of certain articles to the ul-
innate markets, our intereis in colicn with hers
yet it Ought to be recolc9ed, that 1t is particular
and minor ,ntere only which fuffers, sad that the ii
adran,ageis rsce!iary coniequence OF her colonial
iytem: that the general rsults OF our eomn,crce
greatly in her favor tina, they invigora,e her manu-
featuring inereits, which the great bsis of her
wealth and that thefe ;tereRS never be pronot
cd by the empeverihment of hcr hyfl cuite,ners
Surely the fecurty ofnsu.rsl rghrs ought to d.
ninth, AZ their value is augmented urely mari
time Prerorerancy, which enables its poiIefIor
blockade any o! the ports Of its enemies, Conveys
jut title TO monopoly OF the commerce of the
world s.- 49,, -....-. .i-.a -.
enun,erate the hunilia.ing and opPreive conduct Of
aips Of war, in the vicinity of our COATS and har-
| bours. We reipecf the principle and emulate the
eondua OF Great Britain, in regard 20 jurif
diaion, aud we with merely to claim for ourlelv.s
the Ga,e mcclure Of utce which ile exaSs from o.
Tiers.
But while contend that we ought rot to he ex-
poicd to humiliatng inqu,ions in the verge of our
port, which by means os iecrct connexions with our
| city, may be rendered conclusive 10 the indulgence
OF Partially, faver malice, diiavow every win
to divett the belgeTent nations of their rights If
in particular inlances, the American Rag and the
char a6ier Of all American merchant have been prof
tituted to unworthy Pispcies. declare the indi-
vduals thus guilty, to BIZ enemies, and we with
not to fsreen them from the JUN conequences their
mfcondu4. We alfo ahert, that comprehensive
view Of commerce. affords concluGve> evidence
that of the properly circulated through this port the
proportion which politely belong to the enemies
of Great Britan, is Object unworthy the attention
of great power Especially, if in ] rigorous pur.
lut OF It's Aria rights it incurs tbs hazard Of for-
telsin.- the eiteem of its friends
Ii, therefore, the mode in which the American
commerce is rrofecuted is allowed by the law of ma
tons firrefragable evidence arif.s from our ftua-
ZION, wants, and neccary connections with the rci(
OF the world that 1t is al;noa excluivcly grounded
ON American capital if the fuggeltions that we are
the mere agents Of foreigners are ungenerous nul,s
coutrived rs apologies for injuries if frauds in rea-
on TO foreign trufs, more frequent in this
country than in Great Britain and if no government,
IS able wholly prevent them: then our conclulon
in the prelent, in all other cafes, ought TO be de-
duccd from general fats and not from particular ex
eep.ions. This concluaon is, that the American COM
:acrce is Of the great links which conu-t4 th.re
interefts of civilized nations which wars ought no,
To di:turb; that break this link will be 20 deftrov
all commerce; and therefore, thaea ferrous ifunder
InyxI, i.h Rr:ka
rloh important intereits of both countries.
This view OF the fGbj-se, while it excites our an
xiety, furnihes, alto refource for our hopes. We
with only for ju!tite: and believing that ceG,ner-
eiai nation which dregards juisiee, Thereby under
mines the citadel ofher power we rely on the eFe9
OF mutual intere!ts and wines i'll promoting cordial
explanation, and fair adjufmei,t of every cattle of
Misunderstanding in particular, we rely ON tho 90
vernrent OF our country, that oir rights will Rot be
abandoned, and that no argument i'll favour of an u
furpstion will b. derived from our aequelcen.e
If our perional inteffs and local attachments have
NOT CRAFTY ris-direaed opinions the defcncelsf
iituation of the Port of New-Yofk, ought 10 excite
the anxious folicude of every friend of his country
Gpr river is the Only commercial avenue to fertile
and populous country, which is rapidly rif;ng ino
impor, 1t IS here, that orbi-d Of the revenue
of the Union is collected and this proportion is un-
der!toOd TO be relatively incresfing. But while we
grateful for thefe diifinguled advantages of ma
ture, iatisfaton is dn;niihed, by rejecting o.,
their nieeurity for in prsporaa as the rsfources of
our Country accumulate to this point is the hazard
that thry nay prefent temptation TO rapacity and
become the prize of violence. Withou, recurring to
the experience of paa times fr proofs that no nation
can long maintain executive commerce, Svitiou,
well defended fe.-ports, and Efficient military ma
riue, weare adr.onihed by the new and por,entous
AfpeGt of Europe apd The alarming prevalence Of Pr
racy III the Weft-Indes that energetic nea!.fes of
defence have become intellectually necelaty.
WePrefune not TO express any opinion refpeaing
the degree of force, Of which the permanent navy
ought eonfff and being fenfibi that DELAYS mum
attend the contribution Of fulabe defenees f.r sur
port, we fhall ref fatsfed, when we perceive that
theie neaiures oommepceJin a manner, and upon
fcae, WHICH will allure to us an efficient compile
ton.
Such however. is the preent organized force Of TIE
United States, that ihoud conider It nconiiaeat
with the honor, interets, ecurty Of our country
to Parley with the pirates Of the Wea In6es whole
condu& being ineoGltcnt with any known rules of
lawful warfare cannot have been authorized by any
civilized nation towards another na;ien in Gate Of
peace. Our vefas, while purifying lawful trade,
have been practically f.ized, their csrgoes have been
fcrciby taken away and diribp,ed without even the
form Of trial thevelels many inftsnees funk &
denroyed, and the crews ripped of all their proper
ty all thefe outrages have been esersied upon in
r.