Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-14
WASHINGTON CITY, April 6.


! at the same time that the latter is suffer-
ed to so into rigorous operation, and will
necessarily bear with more severity upon
us than any other neutral nation and al
though Britain has the power to carry her
order into eftece to great extent, while
France possesses but little power to enforce
her decree. We can only account for this
| supincness from the extreme sensibility
with which our merchants receive injuries
from one nation, and the habtual indffaf-
ence with which they bear the injuries OF
another. Feeling, with equal indignation,
| the on;ragcs of both nations, we shall be
| the apo'ogist of neither. We might have
bchc the imperial decree without emoti-
on, were it, rs it purports to be, mere
| measure liberalization on Great Britain. IF
its effects were confined to her alone, we
| might have viewed it as proper retribu-
ton for her declaring all France in a state
| OF blockade. and thus endcavoring, by star
| wing, to drive her into terms Of submission
| But bearing upon innocent neutrals, who
| nave rights as important rs belligercnts,
rights more worthy of maintenance because
conducting to peace and happiness, a regard
| to our own interest ard even security for
| bid Indifference. While the feelings of an
American should be thu excited even by
| tho Imperial Decree, is it possible for him
to he otherwise than deeply affected at the
\ order Of Britain. which, in its effects on us,
aud on neutrals in general, will be infinite
| ly more extensive? We have understood
that it is the opinion of one of the most in
tellIgent merchants in the United States,
that the British order strikes at nearly two
thirds of our whole Of our commerce. If
so, I'VE have indeed grounds for the most
serious alarm; we have reason to fear that
this vauntcd measure Of retaliation is but
nomInal.y what it purports to be, and that
It is IN TACT intended rs part OF the new
financial system, which we have been re-
Gently told is to Supercede all further re-
sort to new taxes If, indeed, it is the
! rishtful prerogative of this IN stress Of the
! ocean, on every state eEfergcucy, To sweep
1t OF two thirds of the neutral property III a
, state OF honest transportation, and to divide
the rich prize between her general trcasu-
rv and the pockets other numerous instru-
| ments OF depreciation, she NAV well dis
| pcHsc with new taxes. She viii have csta-
| b,ishcd Il new mode of waging war against
her enemies vastly superior to that pursu-
ed by her rival, who cb!iScs the vanquish-
| ed to support her arlnies, and thus relieves
herself from oppression. For this a long,
however unjust, prescription may be plea
| ded: but where shall we look even for
preteNt Tor heaping upon peaceful and I'M
offending neutrals the burthen of supporting
wars in which they have not the most re-
mote participation Against the usurpati-
ons Of such practice, it becomes us with
one voice to protest. 1t is not the least sin
gular circumstance attending this order,
that 1t was issued Immediately after the
signing the American Treaty. Does not
this circumstance Justify the suspicion, that
it was put forth as a manifesto TO us, to warn
us that unless we complied with the prof
fered terms, we must expect British VEN
geance?
The serious effects of this order will ap-
pear from attending to the terms in which
it is couched, and the nature, extent and
direction of our trade.
ono vessel shall be permitted to trade
from one port to another, both which ports
: shall belong to or be in the possession of
, France on her allies, or shall be so far un-
der their control as that British vessels
NAV not freely trade thereat"
II they transgress this rule they, together
with their cargoes, "shall be condemned
as lawful prize"
BY an official statement Of the secretary
OF the treasury it appears that the whole
exports of the United States amounted, for
the last year, to 1Ot millions OF dollars of
= which IL millions consisted of articles OF
hOihCSNiC pAOuuCtlOn. ana on ulllllOnS OF ar
. ticles Of foreign production.
1t would, perhaps, be impracticable to
form an accurate estimate Cf The POI ton OF
this trade, and of that consisting of impor-
ted goods, which is direct, and that porti-
on which is circuitous. The direct trade
D is not affected by the order it applies on
i ly TO that which is circuiyous.--Butw her
we consider the comparatively small con.
sumption of this description of our exports
. by Great Britain, and their great consump.
: ton by France, or countries connected will
- her, and the destitution of the latter of ship.
ping necessary for the transportation of good,
:, from one place to another, we shall per
q ceive to how great an extent this measure
. will operate. The ports, at present pos
sessed by France or her allies, have beer
long the great depots Of our trade, from
which, according to the markets afforded
by the several nations Of Europe, tho good
=, of our merchants have been distributed a
!, moUg them The greater part of this trade
is by this order annitilated. Further, tn
direct trade to France or her allies is no
forbidden; but the transportation Of ar
ticies from one Of their ports to another, j
forbidden whether these articles consis
altogether of our own native productions
k. or consist Of foreign goods, or of both ant
whether OF their being carried, in the hrs