Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-09-01

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ton, would probably be pronounced q caluiil-
niator, from whose imputations It would be
rescued BY its friends. Yet | shall mention
some other transactions, OF a still more serl-
Gus nature than those already stated, witch
appear to sori ginate in, and seem designed
to promote, that spirit Of prejudice which
leads to war.
The measure to which shall first advert,
i. the act of Congress commonly denomlna-
ted the non-iatercourse law.
This act is direct attack upon the corr
Inercc and manufacturers Of Great Britain.
Itcuts off a very important part OF her trade
with this country, and prohibits the lmpof-
|. tation from her donlinions of great num-
Der Of articles in high demand, the introduce
ton of which, from her enemies, is allowed.
It has been said, that this is a CONNER
cial regulation, and that we have right, as
an independents nation, to regulate our own
commerce.
mean not to deny the right. Neither
can it be denied, that we have right to
make war. do not refer to this measure,
as one in which the government has trans
cended its power, but as one in which It has
exercised its acknowledged rights in man
ner extremely hostile to one OF the belllge-
rents, and as favorable to the views OF the
other. 1t is not to be doubted, that conf
mercial regulations may be 50 framed pend
ing a war, as to deprive the nation framing
them, of its neutral character. A nation hes
certainly Alright to refuse all communications
with one neighbor, and TO preserve tree
trade with anothSr bat the exercise OF this
right, especially In the midst of a furious ex.
tesmina ing war, could scarcely ial to be
da.ncd an act Of hostility.
In explaining the principle of this rnea-
sure, / shall not depart from that brtvlty
which have prescribed for myself, further
han is necessary to be Ineligible.
The states Of Europe have concurr2d in
the exclusion of all Others from participating
with the mother country in the trade OF hel
colonies. TINS commercial monopoly has
become part of their law Of nations. The
carriage Of colonial produce ,:setl4e coastine
trade, is confined to the vessels Of the conn-
try. Without examining the abstract JUS
tice CT tbs rule, content myself With CD,
serving, that it is a rule which has received
the ass 1T Of tie commercial world.
During the last and the present war, Eng
land has acquired such q superiority at sea
as sllpost to Danish the flag Of our enemy
fromthe ocean. On the advantage esalt:ne
from this circumstance, she founds her pin
cipai hope OF obtaining a secure peace anc
is, Of course, peculiarly alive TO any meas,ire
! which may diminish the effects OF that ad.
vantage.
Disabled by the pressure Of maritime
war, from crr1ying On her accustomed CON.
| nerce, France has relaxed those restrictions
which in common with the other nations OF
Europe, she has imposed Oh her colonial
! trade; and has called in the aid of neutrals,
to watt to The mother country that produce.
which, in time oipeace, had been carried
exclusively in her own vessels.
This state OF things produced contest
betwcen Great Rluain and the neutral pow
ers. The former contsaded, that III point
Of strict right, she misht lcgitimateiy pre-
vent the interference OF neutrals to diminish
the effect Of her arms. The Latter insisted
on the right % carry on any commerce, not
co.n-abano, TO which the government Of the
nation with which it was carried on would
admit them. Without reccding from these
opposite pretesaslons, the parties seemed, in
practice, = kind OF t;,cit agreement, to
meet Ola middle ground. Great Britain
permitted the circulrous and interrupted the
direct trade between France and her colo
MES.
For atime, landing the goods i'll the u.
States, ard reshipplng them, was consider
ed in the british courts Of admiralty, as
evidence of the circuitous trade, bot ii was
soon discovered or alledged, that under this