Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-14

| III
extend his hands and stand still. he
gets out of the way as dext -rously as
ne can, wisely resoriing to caution
where all his force would be unavail-
ing. Commerce is thing founded
I'm the amicable relations of differsps
countries 1t cannot be encouraged
by war, because war DESTROYS corn.
merce; and to talk of protecting COM
Emerce against those with whom COM
merce Is TO be carried on, is most
Idespicable paradox. The Essex Jun.
TO wish to defend and promote com
merce by such preparations as the
Experience of ages demonstrates TO be
alone safe and efectual;' - by which, L
suppose, we are to understand a navy.
tor they say a naval force is highly
impo' tant for the defence of this coun-
try" Now, we all know Great Bri-
tain has naval force superior TO that
OF all the world; yet she cannot sen
Single bale of her manufactures the
mere for 1t to the people of Europe
she cannot by her navy dispose of her
sugar and her coffee for better price.
Human nature will not be beaten into
lgoodfellowship at least some portion
OF 1t; for the conduct the Essex
unto seems to require in this partic-
ular an exception in their favor.---
Those gentlemen Judging BY their own
disposition, appear to think Europe is
like stubborn child, who, refusing To
Eat its cake can be logged INFO COM
Ipliancc. If it were only fchtinc for
passage ACROSS the ocean in order to
come at good ma k,t, the liking would
nc different: but the misfortune is.
that the greatest danger exists in the
,orts OF foreign powers. Go to Bril-
;ish port and they tax or de;ain YOU;
70 TO French one and they seize and
I4equester you. All the fighting we
could do would not prevent this. See
Ing, therefore, thaJ force can-effect NO
hing, Is 1t not wiser, is itnot the only
way TO gain projection, to Withdraw
rom the ocean till the contrncinq par
res are weary of combating each other,
and reserve our means for more aus
picioIs SEASONS? The good sense of
the people must weigh this reasoning
and decide agreeabIy to their own cor
rect impressions.
but why do the Essex Junto tell US
|of an embargo of unlimited dura.
tion?" Do they intend to keep up
the farcical notion of its eternal con-
|tinuance Congress have limited its
duration precisely. When trade can
be pursued With safety; when France
and Great Britain shall acknowledge
and observe the legitimate laws of ma
tons, the embargo win be at an end.
The cause of the disease is at London
and at Paris; in the heart and head
Of George the third and of Bonaparte.
These madmen of Massachusetts cx-
claim against the Physician instead of
the disorder.
But they have begged The question.
They tell us"a temporary. embargo
may be on some occasions expedient
as measure of precaution, and the
right 10 impose it. may be admitted as
incident to the powers of the national
government to regulate commerce."
Whence, then, their cavil? The ex-
isting embargo is temporary, It's ter.
mination is marked as legibly as it can
be. When Europe shall return to
sense Of justice, when our trade can
traverse the ocean and enter the ports
OF foreign powers free of danger and
exempt from taxation, is the limit pre-.
scribed. If, therefore, a temporary
embargo be allowable, surely the one
in operation is admissible. IF an en-
barge can be laid for one day it can be
laid for one hundred; il for ten DAYS
for ten thousand. The authority is
the same in both cases. The regula-
ton of commerce consists in whole
some restraints and ifit be threaten.
ed with total annlhilation an EMBARGO
is as justihable as an lmpost and ton
Mage duty in ordinary times.
{" The moss grievcus restraints and
embarrassments imposed upon the in
tercourse between different states, and
even between different parts of the
same state" is another igem of Essex
Junto complaint. A. little while ago
the cry of arsia.ity was ,hc rally:ne
point now it seems, the EN- argo
presses alike on all parts Of the TJnion-