Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-14

PROPERTY ofhrivutc hersonS, epen of RNE-
MES, rs q SHecieS OF defeSta6ie PIRACY,
7ohich ought 10 be ohhosed 6y every friend
u huhaaiiv, throughout The 7VoJ'Id.
1t is not of so much consequence surely,
TO neutral nations, that they may reclaim
their property when taken by one of the
beil,serent powers in the ship of another,
as that their own ships should pass unmo-
Tested, and enjoy that share ofcommerce in
which the ambition, madness, folly, and
cruelty OF the nation AZ war NAV have rem
dered 1t just and necessary. that they should
participate; For merchants OF a neutral pow
err ought TO avoid putting their goods in the
vessels OF one of the beiligcrents, because
they know that such vessels may be attacked
sunk, and because, giving freight to a bel
iiSerent vessel is encouraging the war, aud
may expose them to the charge of partiali-
tv: but, wien a nation becomes a beliige-
rent power, her subjects or citizens may
coniide her merchandise to neutral vessels,
and her enemies may use the same means
OF avoiding capture which practice as il
would ccntributc to diminis, the tcmptati.
ons to capture private vessels, thereby les
Sening the horrors OF war, and greatly en-
courAging the commerce of pacific nations,
and tneir disposition to persevere in an i'm
partial state at neutrality, must be sancti-
oned by the law OF nations. From hence,
may appear the propr;ety of the Uuted
states Insisting, that free 6otfoh1s shat
n'0kS free goods, and of President Eaqh-
inSfoH's instructing John Jay to make this
a SINE q"d non in his negotiations, which
instruction Jay through fear of war with
Britain violated
How truly Ike the sovereign of the seas,
and entitled To regulate the affairs of man
Kind on that wide domain, would Britain
appear, If she would treat all vessels not
armed in open declared hostility against
her, as her friends, offording them protec-
ton ard comfort, instead of chasing, firing
on, searching, plundcrng and dragging
them into her harbors, far from their in
tended ports, SO thai if not condemned they
are grievously harrassed. Great God -
Wit thoV much longer suffer such n cruel
abuse OF that great power, with which thou
mast been pleased 20 invest that ungratctul
nation! How might she have blessed the
nations If the earth, had she opened the
seas MS an high road to them all, encourage
ing the fre-st intercourse among them
and preserving peace amongst them.
instead of spreading wars and slaugh
ter throughout Europe and America, desc
ltti"n through large districts in Asia, and
mwrdcr and raPine in many parts Of Afri-
ca-scling their inhabitants, in far distant
countries, and consignng them 10 m;sera-
bic toll and endless slavery; whilst in c.
ther parts of that wretched quarter of the
globe, she encourages piracy, and the en-
siavemcnt OF the subjects or citizens OF eve
Try nation which attempts to enjoy aily share
with her, ofthc commerce of the Meditsr-
ranean sea. Britain, instead of being be-
loved and rcvcreEced in America, as a pa
p1 III, 70 -uif
tlon by all the powers of Furope as the i'm
partial arbitrator of all their differences.
and as the PacihcatOr of the world, is most
justly eXecrated by the former as barba-
rcus, pertdious enemy in war, and n treach-
erous friend in peace; and is despised and
mated by the latter, as the detestable au-
thor OF the present war, and the instipator
OF almost all the wars with which they have
ever been afflicted. Had she any idea Of
Justice and humanity, she might have held
for ages the present United States of Anne
llca. rs part of her empire, in bonds
ot fiial affection and mutual interest,"
And had she the least magnanimity or
even common, policy, having once ac-
, knowicdged our independence, she would
haze pressed us To- her bosom as her brave
and virtupus brethren, as genuine Britons,
I ana true wings, practising through the fol-
! ~ ana CTuci,y or their KING, the doctrine
and precepts which Britons taught, for
which they have prolusely bled, and to sun
! port which, that very kings family was
seated on the throne, on which he now 50
! proudly Sit'-ycs that very king should have
Acknowledged his errors, applauded our
I virtue, declaring that our resistance was
Z becoming the sons of Britons, and that he
should be as proud now of our friendship
| as lie could have been OF our former ale
| giance. That as he had acknowledged
our Independence, he would guarantee II "a
us as long as he lived and that having
lost the right to control and regulate our
| commerce, he would eBdeavor TO make il
our interest, To regulate it ourselves so as
to give his merchants and manufacturer,
their iu!l proportion, and a sufficient share
OF it.
And surely frantic malicious desire OF
revenge alone could have induced him, tC
diminish the trade of his West India MGR.
chants, whose wealth centres in Britain
and to hall starve the inhabitants and cul.
uvators OF those rich islands without which
her much boosted maritime power wout,
DC almost annihilatcd. His hireline scrjb
lers tell us, thar we arc now aliens ant
fore gners, md no longer entitled to shar,
in the trade 10 their West India islands
han as any other 70 eign nation, & that We
ought not TO be permitted by Britain an,
more than we are by France and Spain Il
injure the trade ofthe mother country will
! &C FHsalm -