Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-27

~ II
maintained for her own exclusive beneflt I;
vet, will we tax her with unfriendly, with tn
ostile conduct towards us, because she VIII
not throw open these colonies to our con-
merce, and suffer Us to appropriate to CUT
use. a great proportion Of disadvantages to
be derived from them? To my mind, no
demand can appear less founded on reason
or Justice and to me consequently, our
complaints and accusations on this head,
against Great Britain, are unioundcd and
unjust, and seem to proceed from deter
mination to make every thing en- object OF
accusation against her.
But. in this respect, what has been the
conduct Of other nations! liz their treaties
of commerce have claims OF trading to the
colonies of the contracting parties been Set
up rif so, have such claims been adj
mittcd? No such claim, if made, has, |
believe, ever been admitted. England, IN
deed, did once force Spain to permit her to
carry a few slaves to her colonies IN Ameri-
ca. This, however, forms no exception to
the general rule or rather it is sach an ex-
ception, as shows the force and generality
Of the principle of exclusion.
Notwithstanding the supposed, or real
influence of Great Britain over the councils
of Portugal the absolute dependence of
Portuguese settlements on British supplies,
die the British, in any Of their numerous
commercial treaties with that country, ever
obtain right Of trading directly with her
colonies Never. Portugal desired Gas
Britain ard every other country must de-
sire) to make her colonies as exclusively
useful to herself as her situation would per-
nit ard never dreamed, | dare say, that
any nation would, on this account, accuse
her Ct ir;ustice, or tax her with the deni-
al Of reasonable claim. IN that treaty CT
!" Commerce and navigation between his
British majesty and tt!e most Christian king,
signed at Versailles, the 26th Of Septenber,
1885, did either of the contracting parties
grant pelnission to the other to trade TO the
colonies? nc. BY the first article Of tbat
treaty lie reciprocity Of commerce is conhn
ed to tie Kingdoms, states, provinces and
territories, SUBJECT to them naies;ies III Eu-
rope" and each is left in tie fell and cxclu-
siye enjoyment, as heretofore, q her Co
loniai uade. What has been done ii this
respect BY Russia and Great Britain !. Rus
STA, like rs, sold to Great Britain, vast
quantity Of the ncst necessary raw nlateri-
ais. Great britain sold 70 Russia a sill
Greater Quantity Of manufactured goods
Ike advantage was i'll this commerce, as
much perhaps III favor Of Great Frita,n, SIS
in that she carried CT with us ; yet, ii Rus
sia ever demanded did she obtain tie liberty
Of trading with British colonies? Certainly
she did rot. She most probably ntyer made
the demand, ether because she lnew Ii
must beer that burden SO heavy TO a lefty
spirit; the spirit OF obligation.
Have we any Better right dian Russia had
to put in such claim ]? If We have, |
should like to see it clearly made cut. This
suspect cannot be done. We have genel-
ally contented ourselves with asserting cur
right, and accusing Great Britain Of
wrong. The .ubiecl is to us almost new.
Indeed am inclined to think, that it is one
ofthose which we dc not cbuse to discuss.
1t answers well enough as a subject of de-
clama:;cn and invectiye; but it is too ter
der 10 endure The ruu,ness of strict invest
sation.
In tie law chicks Ct nations with regard
TO each other, krow that arv MODE ct
gain is considered just; that it is regarded
IS lustifying even injustice. Iet US not,
howevor, give to things improper names
Let us not give that the name OF right,
which we know to be wrong. Let us not
pretend to den: and what we in truth, solicit,
or, when we would extort a conit ssion, let
Us not say that we urge claim.
But this viii not be done. The spirit Of
hatred against England must be kept up
Charge unon Charge; accusation upon &C |