Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-01-04
POLITICAL sPECULAT1oNs.

Bells Weekly Messenger of Nov stb(says
the Boston Repertory) contains specuIa'
ton at some length on the supposed object
of Mr.. Roses embassy to the U. States.
We are pretty well satisfied that the writer
is mistaken ss 10 that point, but as his OBJ
scrvalions relate TO subject which excites
no little feeling 10 EnGfand and her colonies
we shall make some extracts.
The writer proceeds to s,a,e what has
been the effec. Of war on the commerce Of
Europe. The arms of Grea, Britain have
completely driven the proper na.iGation
of her enemies from The ocean. Thar ma.
viga,ion has been supplied by neusrals 10
such . manner that The intercourse be.
tween France and her colonies was kept
up a, cheaper rate than I hat between q.
Britain aud hers with all her raval pewes.
IS The war has heen of so long continue
apce says this writer, and the marine If
The enemy SO completely annih'la'ed that
she had no, even the means ,c keep up lha,
intercourse with the colonies, which vas
NECESSARY TO their municipal government,
much less to protect her merchants in
trading with them-Insuranee was 100
dangerous; neither the merchant nor the
insurers were wil!ing,o run the risk-ln
THE situation i, became the policy ofFrsnce
to carry on by the help of other hands a
commerce which was worse han useless in
her owe; and hence large portion ct her
colonial trade, and much even OF her coast
ing trade. has fallen into the hands Of neu-
nal nations, and particularly Of the Ame.
ricsns, who have the greaseeI facility Of
msra,ime carriage, and the mos. rising
commercial system in the world.
The principal branch Of this commerce
carried on bv the Americans, is thar with
the French West Indian colonies ADD as
this trade during peace, was eubiecs 20 the
strict rules of the navigation Laws, (Which
are common to all Europe q peculiar 3D.
lection has been tskento it's being suddenly
laid open by the enemy to ueItrals, during
war for the evidert purpose OF acre eoing II
from our Jus, hostility ,his inter
ference ofthe Americans to assis, lhcecheme
OF The enemy, hssSbeen deemee incousis,.
ent with those relations Of neutrality which
thai country hss always protested ~ eaain.
ne RE .nen proceeds to give several reascns
urged 10 favour and against the justice and
expediepae of interdicting The commerce
between the enemies country aud colonies
,hr ovgh neu,rals, and concludes with dis
senting 10 some degree from both. and gis
rag the following as1he best system 20 De
pursued.
1t would be unjust, we think. TO &c
,psive America Of the means of employing
great portion Of her capital. The reye.
MUGS of America are the produce OF her
carving trade. The very source Of her
existence and independence is he traffic
which she carries on for other na:ious
Have we righs 10 shacsIe This industry
Certainly no'. But when America lays
herself ouetor a species Of eommerce de
rived from her relation as a neuual TO TWO
belligerent powers, which commerce is so
sosqually beoefcisl 10 The belliserentsf
that it nourishes and supports the one, and
cripples, aud defeats ,hef just objects OF
the hostility OF the o,her-when . com
e.erce. we conttnd, Of this na,ure is in
sis,ed~upon 10y America, If We have not
right to in,erdic, il, we have at least a
right TO limit or direct i. to an end, as ad
yantageous,s 90 ourselves IS iv:,as been~!or a
hong SINE 10 the o,her beltigerent.
We acknowledge The RICH. of Aa'etica.
but We have right ef our own; and when
the two obligations clash, itis jos, tina. both
should coucede a little, and melt iste a
compremise.
The obiec,, then Of Mr.Ross's mission
is to propose this eompromisr. LIS purpose
ia, as We arc given to understand fronsu
Accent authority, so propose 70 Americana
comnenss,iou for resisninr the c6loaiai