The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-10-07

be that providence has not connected The
permanent felicity or ration with its vir-
tue! The experiment. at least is reco.nmcn-
dca hy every sentiment which eno5les hu.
.nan nature. Alas IS it rendered impossi-
ole bv its vices!
The great rule OF conduct for us in regard
20 foreign nations, is in extending our COM
mercial relations to lave with them as little
foiticai connerions as possible. So far as
we have already formed engagements, let
them be fulfilled with perfect good faith
Here let us stop.
'' EuRopE has set of primary Interests.
which to Us have none or very remote re-
lation. Hence she must be engaged in fire.
quent controversies, the causes of which are
essentially foreign to our conCerns-Hen
therefore, it must be unwiSe i'm MS TO impli-
Gaze ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordi-
nary vicisstudcs OF her politics. or in the
ordinary combinations and collisions Of her
friendships or ennities.
:" Our detached & distant situation, invites
and enables Us to pursue different course.
live remain one people, under am efficient
government, the period is not far off. when
we may take such am attitude as will cause
the neutrality we NAV at any time resolve
upon to be scrupulcuslv respected; when
beiligerent nations under the irnpossibility
of making acquisitions upon US, will not light
ly hazard the giving us provocation when
we may choose peace or war as Our interest,
guided by Justice, shall counsel.
Why iorego the advantages OF so peculiar
a SITUATIONS Why quit our own to stand up
on foreign ground? Why by Interviewing
our destiny with that of any part of Europe
entangle ourpeace and prosperity in the tri-
ais of European ambition, rivalship, interest
humor or caprice?"
Such was the sage advice afforded by the
man, who has been distinguished by
the name of father bf his country, upon
the eve of his retiring forever from public
life.-NVe cannot doubt the sagacity of his
judgement, nor question the disinterested pu-
rity of his intentions Such also has been
the outline of the system pursued by oar re-
publican administration with undertaking
frmness and fidelity.
At the commencement of the war, which
with transient intermission, has so long
ravaged the finest countries of Europe, the
government of these United States, deter
mined to adopt and maintain a system of
rigid neutrality. AT an early period of the
contest, Great Britain calculating upon the
formidable strength of the coalition, openly a
vowed war of conquest ard determination
On the 9Th June, 1?9S, she issued her ceie-
DRAFTED orders in council, declaring among o.
Their infractions of the right of neutral com
merce, that it should be lawful to seize and
detain all vessels laden in whole or in part
with corn OF meal destined to any port in
France, or to any place occupied by he
French armies. Notwithstanding the iigor
and injustice of this interdict; ant, notwith-
standing the rapacity and spohations of all
the belligerents, captures during the first war
were comparatively legs frequent. Our diff
terences were submitted to negotiation and
settled by treaties. Commerce, though great
ly harrassee, continued to flourish and re-
NAMED source OF national revenue rs well
as iDdiTid,,,l cmolument
The peace # Amiens, which had promised
20 restore repose to the world was of but short
duration. In the year 1902, hostility became
renewed with equal asperity and vigor-
From that period until after 1905. American
commerce continued with but little variation
upon the footing of the former war. A
change in Che British ministry took place
Former ministers were considered to have
beeii too favorable to the United States. 4
spirit OF Jealousy was INDUCED against our
trade. We were accused, with having frau
duiently covered enemy's property, and Of
beng the mere carriers OF all encmy's COM
merce. system of severe commercial re-
strictoH was, under that pretext, meditated
and avowcd by the present cabinet.
While the Court and cabinet of Great Bril-
tain, regardless of every consideration of
national right, had thus determined 10 reg
ram the commerce. ofthc United Sfatcs, the
decisive victory ut Austerlitz, conferred up
Oh their warlil-e rival, the absolute domini-
On OF the Continent. On the 21st November
1906 at Berlin, the Conquered capitol of Pims-
la, an imperial decree was passed. declaring
the British islands i'll state of blockade, and
prohibiting commerce and correspondence
with them This decree however was a
subject CT explanation, and remained for
considerable period, uneXecuted, or but par
tally enforced against the United States
On the 7th of Januarv, 1907; the cabinet of
England Issued rctaliating orders and OH
the 18th Of November following proclaim
cd those decisive ard arbitrary orders Of her
pfivy council, by which all trade diysrffg
from America to every port and country of
Europe, at war with Great Britain, or from
which the British flag * excluded, is totally
prohibited. The prohibitions included every
part of the continent of Europe, with the
single and precarious exception Of II the bar
rem kingdom of Sweden"
The United States were indeed permitted
TO export their own produce, directly to
Sweden alone but in every ojher case Our
cargocs were ordered to be first landed in
British port, British permission for re-
expectation to he obtained and British du-
ties paid. Those new orders, by the con
fessiou Of IN English writer, were of dos.
Criptinu to produce revolution in the whole