Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-25

ard coasting trade, and 10 b. out no vessel
under French colors. The English crai-
zeTs may dompeer over the seas, and yet
they are unshlc n touch "A ION OF her trade.
She has millions floating On The yes.
ssls OF nsGral nations, which no enemy
can teach. Sue reaps the whole benefits
otconmercc and colonies, without The risk
or capture ar detention. She may fit out
no'hing bu; pryiaterrs or cruisers to at
tack our trade or distress our colonies,
while her oa.i are beyond the efforts. OF
our armed vessels. She unites the whole
benefits of war with al he security of
peace. The rule, it is commended, which
should guice US in his question, as the
iairest measure of justice TO all parties,
IS, that neutrals can only take part during
war, in such branches of commerce as the
domestic regulations oe,he bsliig=rent al
lowed them 10 pariake in during peace.
This doctsi1s was Recognized, we are
! told in .he war Of i756, and has never
since been disputed, though England has
trequehly Departed from is rigor by vo.
luntary concessions. It's policy is as OBJ
vious as It's justice, say the enc mics oflhe
neu,ra, claims. Were the present prin.
cple Of unlimited neutral trade 10 be re-
cognized. England nigh, give over every
| pretension In naval power, abandon the
hope OF cIrbing French commerce, and
despair at once of gaining any thing by a
continuance even OF the busiest war.
Should the support of our maritime rights
lead to a rupture with the neu(sals. which,
however, is said TO be most improbable,
we can lose little by such AN addition TO
the number otoar enemies, tn comparison
! ot the vast detrlmsnt which we now sus-
tain, from those neulrals tying uD our
hands against all the enemies we have to
contend with. Better, say they, have A
merica as we'll as France hostile, and ex
posed 10 our fair attacks, than France d.
peniy hostile, and America cover,ly pro.
tecsing Ter Iror: every effort of our enmi-
! ~. This will give as chance ofspcedi-
~ terminating the war, or at least secure
the opportunity of rendering i, both safe
and lucrative.
Such is The main body ofihe argument,
IN favor OF the justice as vel! as the poll
cy OF our reviymg the rule of the war i'm
l756. The chief poia;'at issue IS the APP
| pl'cstion of hat rule 10 the coIonia! trade
OF the enemy and, without at all enter
ing into the question of right, we shall
proceed to Cffsr few simple considera-
iions, which may lend TO shew that the
vitw OF the case, in point nf policy. taken
BE- the supporters Of the above doctrine,
Is by no means u correct on-, and that the
importance Of The Whole mater at Issue
in the dispute has been enormously exag.
yerated. The following observations pro-
coed upon the further admission, that the
facts stated by The advocates ofbeiIigerent
rights are accurately given, and also that
wherever a neuiJai Bsg is assumed as a
cover tot ship and cargo of beilige-
rent power, sotyIdsnt a fraud is excepted.
from the argument. The points to be
maintained are, that, whatever right En-
! gland may have to prevent the interior.
ence OF America in the French colonial
trade during war. no material advantage
could De gained from the enforcement OF
such prohibition that the real differ.
ence between the former and the present
method of carrying French colonial pro.
duce, and supplying the French colonies,
is extremely trifling in its ultimate conse.
.qusnces and that other reasons of a very
positive nature enjoin a departure from
such claims in the present situation of Of.
fairs.
I Toprevent supply of colonial produce
from reaching France, if not directly, at
least b. roundabout importation, ex.
cssds the power of the British navy. nu.
merous and Victorious as it is. Unless
we can surround every port of the French
coast with ships, and the land frontiers
also with troops; and unless we are still
further resolved 10 prohibi: neutral nations
rom trading with France in their own
merchandise, or in merchandise of our
colonies, the French people must contioue
TO be supplied with sugar and coffee, whe.
Their we are al war with them or not. /!
we prevent those articles from being car.
ried directly 10 France from her colonies,
small increase of the price viii enable
neutrals to import them into their own
countries, and then re. export them 10
France If we maintain that the mere
importation and transportation, though
accompanied with re.landing of cargoes
and payment OF duties, is still collusiye
transaction, and must be prohibited, as a
continuation of The original voyage then
further Increase of price enables the
same produce To reach Fnnce in differ
| ent vessels, while the vessels that import