The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-29
Coneluded.)

write, sir, with freedom I; for the times
are too perilous to allow those who are p,a-
ced IN high and responsible situations, to be
silent and reserved. The peace and safety
ct our country are suspended on, thread
lIe course we have seen pursued leads on
to war-to a war with Great Britain-a war
absolutely without necessity--a war, which
disasterous or successful, must bring misery
and ruin to the U. States misery by the
destruction of our navigation and commerce
(perhaps also of our fairest seaport towns
and cities} the loss of markets for our pro-
duce, the want OF foreign goods and manu-
features, and the other evils incident to a
state OF war; and ruin by the loss of our Ii
berty and independence. For, if with the
aid of our arms Great Britain were subdued
from that moment Though battered per-
haps with the name of Allies3 we should be-
come provinces Of France. This is d result
so obvious, that 1 must crave your pardon
rornoticIig 1t. Some advocates of executive
measures admit it. They acknowledge that
the navy; of G.. Britain is our shield against
the overwhelming power Of France. Why
then do they persist iii a course of Conduct
tending to a rupture with Great Britain !!
VIII it be believed that it is principally, or
solely toprocure inviolabilitvto the merchant
flag of the United StateSs' In other words,
to protect all seamcn, British subjects, as
well as cur citizens, on board our merchant
vessels? 1t is fact that this has been made
the greatest obstacle to an amieab1e settle
ment with G. Britain. Yet q repeat) it is
perfectly well knownthat she desires to OBJ
tain only her own subjects and that the A.
mcrican citizens impressed by mistake are
delivered up on duly authenticated proof
The evil we complain of arises from the inn
possibility of always distinguishing the per-
sons of two nations who a few wears since,
were one people, who exhibit the same
manners, speak the same language, and
possess similar features but seeing that we
seldom hear complaints in the great navigat-
| ing states, how happens there to be such eX-
treme sympathy for American seamen at
Washington, Especially in gentlemen from
the interior states, which have no seamen,
or tIom those Atlantic States, whose native
seamen bear a very small proportion to those
of New England! In fact, the causes of
complaint are much fewer than are pretend
ed. They rarely occur in the states whose
Seah1en are chiefly natives. The first mer-
Chant in the United States, in answering
my late Inquiry about British impressments,
says /" Since the Chesapeake affair, we have
had no cause of complaint. / cannot find one
single Instance where they have taken one
man out of q merchant vessel. I have had
more than twenty vessels arrived in that
time, without one instance of a man being
taken by them. Three Swedes were takeH
ont by French frigate i have made in
quiry OF all the masters that have arrived in
this vicinity, and Cannot find any complaints
against the British cruizefs."
J Can gentlemen of known hostiHty 70 To-
reign Commerce in our own vessels-who
are even willing TO annfhiiate it (and such
there are)-can these gentlemen plead cne
cause of our seamen, because they really wish
70 brofccf them Can those desire TO jirofert
our seamcn, VINO by laying an unnecessary
embargo expose them by thousands to sfurve
Or beg ?-One gentleman has said (and ]
believe he does not stand alene) that 500
ner than admit the principle, that Great Bri-
tain had right to take her o7cn subjects
from our merchants, he would abandon
commerce altogether 10 what viii every
man in NewEngland and Of the other ma
vigating States ascfibe such a sentiment -
A sentiment, %liich to prevent the Temporal
r. loss of FIVE men, by impress, wouid re-
duce fifty thousand 20 beggary But for
/ the embafgo, thousands depending on the
ordinary operations Of commerce, Sould
row be employed, Lfen under the rcs