Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-24

lar better that every tenth man should b
led to Slaughter. Had then our commerce
been exposed to outrage, to AVIATION, I,
licsnce, to capture, and cobisca,ioD, a
the will oflawless powers, the government
would have been compelled IL have resort
ed to war.
| Such is the Political view of this questi.
Ion.. 1t ought TO be sufficient 10 satisfy e.
very mind that we owe our exemption
from war 10 the embargo. But we pro
coed TO take what we have denominaIeo
the hecuniary view of the subject.
In taking this view, all notice ofnation
al character and national rights will b,
waved 1t will, for the sake OF argument
and tor that only, be assumed as poBsibl,
that under a certain state OF things, indI-
Vidal interest ought to be permitted un-
m estediy 10 pursue its own cou ST, how.
eve invasive such pursuit may be of nat.
onai charaC er aud national rights. Eve
In tais view, IL will be seen that but TO
he embargo, war would have been inevi.
table.
II is admitted, that the effect of the
British orders would be to selze and con
EscaIe every vessel bound to any o,het
than AN English European port, and ihr
effect of those Of the French 10 seize and
confiscate ali vessels, carrying Englist
fabrics, or bound 10 an English port. Be.
tween the two descriptions oforders, there.
lore. the whole American trade, excep
that conducted directly with the West In
da islands belonging TO France and he
allies, is intetd'c.ed, under penalty of con
i,cation OF the fury with which thes,
orders would have been enforced we hav,
some specimens, notwi hst anding the pre-
caution adopted by the embargo. Tn,
French seize and burn our ships. bccaus,
unabie to conduct Them safely into lhei
ports; and the English seize and condeml
them. The effect, in both Instances, j
precisely the same; except, that in tn
former our loss does not add to the abso
lutte gain OF France, as il does, in the lat
Ter, to that of England.
Had then our merchants pursued the
trade through IFS ordinary channels, al
that sent To countries, other thaa Englant
and the West Indies, would have bee
subj CT to capture, and would, nine tenth
of II, have actually been captured an,
condemned. This would have been alb
!. '2icte, unqualified war. War is The vlo
lation, by force, of the interests of ano
Their nation and Engla d would ia hi
way have committed This violation i'm tn
most Hagltlous manner. She wosid, how
ever, have committed it, in that respec
which was bes fitted 20 promote her CIV,
interests by i'jGring ours. Having no
thing to gain by INVASION the only ration
al ground fjr war left her is on the ocesn
and this she would have waged with tn
most unrelenIing Jury had our trade go,
90 IN IT'S usual course. France, on tn
other hand, would not have failed to iDiur
US to the extent of her power; and If sh
found herself able TO obtain OH the oce
an an indemnity for the aggresslons c
her enemy, she would have sought it els
where (; she would have excited the Spa
lards on our frontiers TO acts of hos ihiy
Under such circumstances she would hav
had no Inducements of interest (and as {
the obligations Of justice The less that i
said OF them the better) to have RENAME
on friendly terms with us. Flushed wit
the irresistible power Of her arms, sh
would, 1t is but too likely, have dreame
OF limiting our growing, if not of abrdgju
leu present power; not 81 much with Ii
view of InjuriDe us, as of striking throug
US blow at her enemy. 1t is not in II
nature OF Napolean to remain inactive M
der the pressure of injuries blow wou
- have been struck; aboruve, it is ADM
ted as to the result, but dreadful and sar
! culinary, probably, in its present effects.
~ But, say the opponents of the tmbarg
IS he power of France on the ocean is idl
III Our trade to England will pass secure
De over the ocean. Without contestlng III
= allegation, which is not by the bye so v
. ~ ndisputabIe, let US briefly look al 4
y effects OF state of things which would
? pen all the English ports 10 us, and SIN
VI all the rest.
nt In the first place, that portion Of o
Q importation from the West India Ian
d. winch exceeds our Own consumpd nc
you'd be in effect cut of; for It is a
." knowledged to be fact thai England II
& por more Of all these articles than )
Cn consumes, and the transportation Of I
g r sidue from England u France add
% ltes, is inhibited and can be more
u hut any naval 70 &c on the ocean.
Z" BY tn report ofihe secretary ofthe r,
- D. a. - ~