The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-07-01

don, from prei-gans,, which il enjoys, e,nno. fail
to atrsct great number of men from our merchant
veiels during war. But how can this poliibly be
preventedl No regulation OF the government can
alter the manners Of America, make our mer-
chants rafe their wages, in order to retain fubiee,
tor the impress ferviee. Nor do we feem willing to
abol,ih tina, mode Of fup2lyirg our navy, which
would probably, coupled with rife of wages, have
the delired etfe9
IL is faid however, that we may iniift upon a
right OF fearehing all American veels at fea ard
preiiing the Britih feansn found in them. Do we
mean, then, denyt faors alone of all clafes
ct people, right to leave the country, and eek EN-
ploymens in the territories Of friendly powers tits
hurfu to the of the country, that artitans
thoud 60 to America and Runia, and we have v4ri-
nus laws on our hasute hook the frui.s of mitaken
policy, framed with view OF preventing fuch an
emigration. But can propofe, at the prefent
day, to extend fuch prohibitions, and Gill les was it
ever in contemplation to reclaim the artiian. who
had actually gone away aud fe,ted in foreign cou-
tries. "A failor working in an American lhip. is on
iy IN the predieament Of farmer cultivating an "a
meriean plantation and the fearch OF sae fip foe
tie Purpoe of fezng the failor, would be an aa Of
as violent aggreon the feareh of the country for
the ieizure of the farmer. The only difference be-
tween the cafes is, that we happen have the pow
er In the former, and not in the latter.
But by going to war with America, may pre-
vent the further emigration of feamen, acquire
right TO reclaim thoe who already gone. BY
turning all our veels into armed eruizers too, and
engaging in an universal piracy, we might fill fur
Their enrich ourlelves We have the firh navy and
bravetf people in the world. We may take the fea,
as France has feizcd upon the land; and thus find
our profit in prefering with the whole world,
to peace with ling lie nation, which has rights and
advantages repugnant to our fuppofei intereN. At
ter all, however, laying uice ont Of the suction, is
1t our real intereh to quarrel with the only power
which remains unhurt by French influence, tn ofe
our intercourse with the nation bet calculated for
commercial relations. At this moment, France and
America feem Of themfelves diipo!ed TO a rupture ;
and poiby, before this time, is declared by the
United States aganit Spain. Ought we not to think
We'll both OF the consequences Of the contea and of
the value of the matter in dipute, before we abau
don 10 fair an opportunity Of adding America tn the
number of our allies, and of efablifhing our inHu-
ence there, upon the only durable foundation of al
iiances mutual lacrifees, and mutual benefits! The
trivial Importance of all that could he gained by exeu
ding the neutral traders from the enemys commerce
has already been Ihewn. No words are required TO
prove that the blanks occaionei by fome ailors lea
wing our fervice will fpeeiily he filled up; that the
number OF Britiih eanen the end Of given peri-
cd will be greater, in confeguenee of our breeding
Tor the American navy, JUN as the number of our
people Is on the whole augmented by the demand for
men, which our colonies create. We may feel fonle
inconvenience in the mean time, from the prorrefs
OF the enemy's commerce, and the deiertisn of our
iean,en to neutral powers. But our general policy
can never be modelled according to fuch temporary
eonilderations. The evils difiicultesir queftiop,
are the nseeiiary consequences of the long war in
winch we have been engaged. They are part of tha.
ueeeihon which the new administration have fallen
heirs to; fuceeion made up of allthe dangers and
difficulties, which long courre of mifinanaee.
nent and misfortune has accumulated upon the coun-
try.