Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-08-02

1
OF France; and America will submit to
this prohibition, as she has done TO other
injuries OK the same species, from the
same unprincipled power. On what con.
slstent pretencs ,hen could she complain,
! II We should forbid hsr carrying French
goods, whether colonial or European, to
Copenhagen or Lisbon How otherwise
are we 10 obtain equality, in respect Of
neutral commerce.
We may blockade, it is true, the ports
from which our goods are excluded |;
but this IS ofien an Intellectual resort, as
well as always an expensive one, and q
diyefsio1 OF our naval force from more
active service. Neither can i, be expeSt
ed, that we can spread our blockadcs over
every harbour or accessible coast, 10
which Bonaparta can extend his exciu,
sise system by land.
Besides 1t would be absurd to maintain
that He may lawfully blockade neutral
ports as rightful defence against this un
pfeceden,ed system Of war and yet have
no right 10 retaiia,e on the trade of the
enemies ports, lest neutral interests
should suffer.
he blockade too, however completely
enforced would be obviously inefIs ctual,
10 prevent the medRaiet Injury 10 our colo,
nfss and our commerce. Cur Sugars are
smut out from Hamburger, and We ex-
Guide French < Spanish sugars ia return
by our blockade. Whit thea? If we al.
low the latter 10 be carried 10 E,nbdea, to
antwerp. CT any other hlocl.adcd port,
The same continental markets are effeGlu
ally supplied by means OF interior nayiga-
ton, with the French or Spanish article,
which Hamburg before supplied With the
British.
II, By just and necessary retaliation,
We shoalp prevent The supply gr,erally
~ neutral bot,oms, The growing desrih of
| the article would soon Illustrate the hos
tile prohibition, or oblige the enemy 10
recall il; bat while French and Spa.
nish produces, can be plea,ifu!iy Obtained
from neishboring ports, this natural We
medT cannot operht= and our Blockade
rather tends in s, commercial VEN TO in
crease, than diminish the evil
Tac Partially therefore ia liz accuics.
ence and the resistance Of neutral states,
amounts not merely To passive justice,
bu' tn AZ active andPeruicious Cooperate
ON viii' the enemy IN his Efforts 10 des-
troy our commerce yet though ne tram
pies Tor that end of the most indisputa.
bic rights Of neutrals, their ex,rcme. alb.
ssrgce, and most doubtful tights, arc
strangely set up against US, 10 eTe6tuats
his luxurious purpose.
The main though preposterous defence
oi the Illustration Of our hcstiii,ies agains,
the Caemy's colonial trade, is his right 10
open his own ports but bas he right
TO shut ali neutral ports, Us well as to o.
pen his own! Here at least The land
right, will not bear out the sea wrong
Besides, America has now shrunk from
this iayorite principle CT hers, when she
mad 20 deal witha power that would moi
be quilted. She has ool suffered France
10 take her ships when trading % S.. Do.
n1ogo, but a. the ihpsrious mandate OF
ihat power has passed law to TO bid The
trade to her subects- Is il because Des-
Saiines has not as good title TO Hayti, as
Bonaparle 10 Naples should dsny the
foposilion--even as to Paris but a;
least Dessaines has as good right 10
make laws in Hayli, as Bonapar,e al Ham.
burg.
! II the nation which is called on to sub
mic to such injurious Inequality of treat.
ment, were feeble or inferior at SEA, the
too common disposition in the strong t.
cypress the weak, might account for The
unjust demand. Bot what in the present
case may we'll excite as,6nishmen., as
we'll as indignation, is, that this Injustice
IS offered 10 a nation, whose power 10 re-
sist II, is as Indispensable. ss her right 10 do
so--whose inYincible add magnificent ma
w rides triumphant On every sea; who,
to use the words of Mr.. Randolph, &" has
annibiIated the marine of her enemies 4"
and nigh! boldly defy tic combined hos.
tiiiY of ail the maritime nations OF the
globe, TO snatch the trident from her hand.
| That France, an exile frota tie ocean,
| Should under such circumstances, bayethe
assurance TO wage with US a war Of com.
nercisl exclusions, is singular enough.
But ifneutrals will psrseYcre in their prs.
sent conduet. & il England ,siuidly submi,
,oit, the plan is peyfecliy rational 8. oanno;
fail Of anal succcss.
| Behold then a nsw prodigy OF this ex.
iraoidlnary age, the utmost maritime
strength Is inpo!ent to protect CONNER.
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