The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-06-17
sUBMISSION-oR-rnE EMBARGO.
No. ".
No. ".

coo, 900 the profits would have been reduced
almost to nothing: because
on the superstition, that orr EUR opEAN
TRADE would be conEaed to the mar
kets of greet Britain, the giut Of that
market would be SO great as to reduce
the prices of produce to a minimum. and
the profits of our merchants would ftilis
further be reduced by the capture of
their vessels.
And on the superstition, that some Of our
vessels would have ventured to the CONT
Ylent, that the glut of the market in En-
gland--and what is still more, the num-
Der of captures by both belligerents
would have been so great as almost to inn
pose upon our merchants the necessity of
voluntary embargo; thacveryspecies of
measure, which has been adopted by
our government.
We have also suggested the probability
Of G. Britain's crtsnG;ng these blockading
restrictions from our European trade 10 our
trade eBifH The Wsst- Il. .-This suSSes-
ZION gives rise to some general remarks,
which are of extreme Importance to us, e.
ven as merchants, setting DOM coolly to call
culate the frQft and loss of these systems.
Is it not of immense importance to consider
not only the immediate effects which may
arise from our Submission to the British Or
ders-6ut those roo which may .gro7v our Of
them hereo fter32
Men who would have US submit to
these usurpstions of GIeat-Britain, are as
ignorant of the consequences OF this submits
sion, as they are dead to the honor of their
country. When did sc submission set bounda-
ries to encroachment 80 When did en-
enactment boldly unmask her ultimate OBJ
jectsf When did she lay bare the whole mag
Eitude of her Intentions to the eye of her
prosecuted victims
degrees. If armed by the lightning ofheaven,
he is as rapid as the Eagles fight in pounc-
ing upon his defenceless prey. Buff his an
tagonist be strong and he himself little SUI
Perior in strength, he supplies by cunning,
wnat ne wants III strength. The SnaiPs pace
is not more cautious than the studied pru-
dence of his advances. Like the sly and san
culinary Tiger, he crouches before nc leaps.
1t Is not his policy to alarm the suspicious and
vigilance OF his adversailes, by the strength
and rapidly of his movements. He must
draw his resources from tine gradual accu-
mutation of his own strength, and the increa-
sing apathy and concessions of his victims.
He must not all at once strike boldly for eve
ry thing, that he wants: but he must gra-
dpally go on, making one eneroachmcnt a
precedent for another, until his prey is rea-
d. for the sacrifice. Then, when the vigilance
of virtue has been set asleep, when the no
nor of the cocntry has become theme of ri
dicule with dishonest demasogues, when
the mercenary spirit of interest has per-
~aded hoT Fusiie councils. tile work of u
surpation is accomplished. The usurper
obtains the brilliant prize of his ambition !;
while the cosntry, which submits to his pow
or, sinks into a slave -
Bonaparte did not at once declare him =
self a candidate for the Empire. First
he was only consul for ten years then a
consul for life and last of all, he has be-
come the Emperor of France and the Lord
OF Europe.
1t was under these impressions, that the
fathers of our revolution determined to re-
sist the early aggressions of the very same
nation, who now preSumes to assail our indie
pendence. The tax upon tea or even upon
stamps, would have fallen lightly upon these
gallant spirits. But they had the prudence
to look before them. In these minor usur-
pations they saw the specks of tremendous
cloud, which was charged with tempests and
6esolation. They determined to perish at
once rather than toaeknozokedge a principle,
which would have ultimately destroyed half
their revenue and all their liberty.
1t IS almost certain that Great Britain has
formed the gigantic plan of acquiring the
supremacy of the ocean. This system was
projected under the reign of Mr.. Pitt and
ministry of MIR. Canning. Accoi ding to this
nafarious system, G.. Britain is TO become the
mistress Of the ocean she is to enact what
ever laws she pieases for that wide clement ;
not vessel is to navigate it without f1nT-
chasing her permission her kingdom is to
become the universal emporium of the pro-
auctions of the universe, and every power
is tobecome tributary TO the supremacy of
her power. She is to appear in the same
light in every sea,1'4at Aisicrs has so often
done in the Mediterranean. Instead of the
oceans being highway, as nature intead-
cd ". free AND cpen 70 al The world, Great
Britain seems determined to monopolise it
as her own private domain and no vessel
is to enjoy its benefits, until it has paid the
price of a British licence, similar in its vr-
tues to the Med terranean pass or Aigerine
passport.
We have heard many eloquent declamati-
oJ1s OIL the ambition, the towering port and the
meditated entertainments Of France. We
have seen Bonaparte represented as the Sc
cret enemy and future invader ofthis country.
During all this time, Greet Britain has been
represented as the last asylum of civilized Eu-
rope, and the only remaining barrier between
ourselves and this mighty conqueror. Tile
compliment Is proud one, and perhaps in
some respects may be true.
But let the whole tfnth" be disclosed
IF Great~Rritain is a bulwark against usur-