The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-06-28
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, JUNE So, 1908.

RICHMOND, JUNE 2S, 1908.
LET there be LIGHT 1.-THE article CO.
pied from The London Courier presents
a subject OF the deepest interest and consi-
Iteration to the american reader" Does it
not strongly confirm the ideas which have
been lately thrown out in this paper, respect
ing the ultimate designs of Great-Britain /?
The Courier is a print decidedly devoted
to the interests of the ministry y; and on the
present occasion it may be presumed to
speak the sentiments oe Mr.. Secretary CAM
MING. The suggestions now recommended
are, that it is the interest and the duty of c.
Britain to g tramhie" down all the laws Of
nations; that she should erect her empire
50 other- right than that OF no7uer ~
that in word, she should continue to as
sert her maritime suhremacv,' as she
has already practically" done by her Or
dcrs of Council and that without any fur
Their scruple, q" the king of England should
declare himself Emperor of the Ocean"
! The basis upon which the suggestion it
self is made, will not stand the touch of en-
quiry. Nothing is more comtemptibly So
Observation-Disclosures has as much right
to the empire of the Seas, as Bonaparte has
TO the empire of Eurohe; that is, the right
OF conquest This is really the law of re-
S~idSAoii with O. rive 10Y
and tooth for TOOTH 1t is more 1t is like
AS taking an eye from Il because has
been savage enough to gouge X But what
has l.. to do with the quarrels of A and B ;
or with the savage inhumamity displayed by
towards X Even the Jewish law itself
recognizes no such extension of the right of
retaliation. This is so far from the case.
that even this doctrine would have complete,
ly violated the primo a,le, On which the He
6re7v legislator has erected his anti-rhr;st;n,,
practice. 1t an injured man has the privi-
lege OF retaliating like wrong upon his ag-
gressor, for no other reason than that he is the
aSgressor'; i@hs surely his duty for the same
reason to RESPECT the rights of the innocent
and uno6cnding neutral
what has the government of the United
States to do with the quarrels of France and
England, or with the usurpations of France
on the continent? Let those usurpations be e.
ven as great, as they have been represented I:
the administration Of this country NAV re-
greet, but they are not bound to avenCe them;
hese usurpations, by the very terms of the
superstition, have been confined to the con-
tinent." They have not disturbed the rights
OF the United States either on land or on
the waters. Whence then does Britain de-
rive the right ofinficting the same aggressi-
ons upon us, as her enemy has inflicted on
the continent Not from the law of retalia-
ton, but from a most fragrant abuse of her
maritime power. From that moment when
she should dare to act on this Dretensiop
and " already she has practically asserted
her supremacy, she would become the H.
niversal pirate of the seas. From that mo-
ment, she would deserve to be hunted down
by every civilized nation.
These bold rFetensons evidently deserve
the most severe reprobation of every friend
OF this country. But mark the soft and con-
ciiiatory terms, in which these daring preten-
sions have been treated By The exclusive
6 friends of order" and virtue--the Federal
lists. The following hifhy structures are
from the BosToM CAzETTE-a federal
PRINT OF the very "first water"
81 An article under the Miscellaneous head
entt'ed Ov future CordHCt," should be read
with attention. 1t advances bold doctrine in
political ethics and without duly CONSIDERING the
alarming and critical state in which England is
now placed, by the per6dy OF its former allies.
ana ambitious strides Of its most powerful and
ranoorous enemy, may be vie wed as reuounc;n,,
ne accustomed tencts Gifts faith and practire:-o
but when candidiy viewed, can it Be matter of
surprise tnat nation, which has acquired its
wealth, ITS freedom and its renown, bv a lono,
course of industry, enterprise, and keroisrD
'norid resort to any means, however violent. in
attempting To preserve them Tie first kszp nj
uat.ye is sef d fence
These sentiments are not TO be mistaken.
lhey viii shcw TO the people of this country.
with What cheerful alacrity these exclusive
9 friends of order" are ready to surrender
their best rights tothe worst encroachments
OF t'feat- Britain. Yet these are tile cham
pioDs, who abuse the administration These
arc the men, who curse the EMBARGO -
hese are the men, who presume to talk A.
bout the extent ofthe French influence in the
counc's OF the nation These arc the men.
VINO ere prepared to justify "any means.
however VIOLENT which G.. Britain would
employ for her own benefit.
Had Mr.. Fox employed the aSsassin's vii
lainy to take off the life Of Bonaparte, in
Stead OF having Indignantly rejected the pro
position 1t would have been righf--f3eeausc
" lhe hrst law Of nature rs self defence