The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-11-11
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, MoHENBER II, 1908.
THE. TIMES

fhc affairs of this country have now ap-
preached a crisis which requires all the tai
lents, and all the virtues OF the assembled
council ofthe nation.
+. The world have never vet beheld so COM
plete prostration of all those laws which
nave oeen usually respected by civilized ma
tlons, History. cannot furnish an instance,
III winch ,belligerent powers of equal infiu-
! ence have manifested so extravagant a de-
sire 70 destroy the resources of each other,
or so little regard for the rights of neutrals
hese encroachments have fallen with Pc
cnIiar weight upon the people of the u 5.
aithongh they have scrupuously, observed all
those duties of neutrality, winch are pre-
scrioed by the laws of nations. They have
imposed an embargo to avoid these encroach-
ihcnts. with the same spirit of impartial
ity' which had uniformly guided all thsir ac-
lions, they have offered the same propositi-
ons to both nations. They have proposed to-
exempt either nation from the operation Of
their embargo, which should exempt them
from the pressure of its iniqutous edicts.-
Zine has refused. The other has treated our,
falr proposition with silent neglect Til lie uucs-
tlpn nowls, what is the best Course, which can
De pursued by the Congress of tie u. States?
( mere are only three great expedients pre-
sented to our choice:-We NAV snbmit-wc
may resist byforce-or we may retire from
the atrocious entertainments of the powers
OF Europe.
| Which shall we choose
7: some persons have indeed proposed an in
ter!nediate expedient-but there is every
reason to apprehend. that this scheme would
quickly resolve itself into one of the three o.,
thers.-Ihese politicians would permit our
/ merchant Vessels to assume arms i'll their
own defence
r. The most serious difficulties, however, &C
cur IN the consequences ofthis scheme.-The
d r.IhHHCP reQuISite IN AZ ~, hon
SCI is considerable. This project requires
arms, ammunition, and an additional num-
Der. OF seamen. IT is net every branch of
trade, whose frofts would be sufficient to
Justify this expence And the net profits of
the trade of the u. S. would only be equal
TO the difference between its gross profits and
the.expence ofthese equipments
ne great objection however, consists in
the almost inevitable risk of provoking war.
ne power of arming our Merchantmen is
certainly different from the possession of let
ters M mnr9ur and refyIsdi. Our vessels
would have no Other authority than to act on
! the defensive-and to resist the encroach
ibehts OF anv vessel that should attempt to in
! terrupt their lawful vovages--But, would our
merchantmen confne themselves to this OBJ
lect alone Is there no danger that they would
sometimes employ those resources, gwen to
I them TOT their own protection, for the pur-
poses OF ofrrsive attack Are there not some
lie" among them. whom the spirit of cupdi-
w would urge beyond the boundaries of their
own hefence, to prohigate attack upon the
iunnHencing merchantmen Of other nationst
hnt even IF our vessels were anxious to
cont1ne themselves to the very purposes Of
thelr commission would II be always posi-
ble tor them TO comply with this requisitiont
captain unjustly attacked on the high seas,
cannot always be expected to limit the guam
TIM, of his exertions to the mere purposes of
resistance. The spirit of revenge, whenever
/ once excited by an unjust assault, would not
always permit him to arrest his arm, when.
!, the period Of danger would be over Like.
an individual, who begins by acting OH the
defensive, he would frequently be hurried by
his resentments infict the most desperate
vengeance upon his assailants.--But tho our
captains were disposed to respect the in
structions NJ their country, without display
ing the violence of the passions, their very
IeXertionso of resistance would sometimes in
vo've their assailants in ruin and destruction
ihcir assailaDts themselves animated by the
spirit ut revenge, would not always cease the
combat, until the American captains would
be compelled to put forth all their resources
to the utter destruction of their snemies
/ these transactions would IN many cases
convert the ocean into scene of warfare
carnage and destruction Such scenes would
excite the resentment and vengeance Of the
countries, to- whom the contending vessels
respectively belonged. The citizens Of the
United States would not calmly behold their
vessels and property DESTROYED, and their
seamen murdered in the prosecution Of n lust
and hofora0le trade. The arrogant govern,