Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-12
FOR THE ARGUS.
FREEDOM OF THE SEAS.

1T has heen the business of the tory prints
in this country to impress the public mind with
an opinion, that the doctrine of the freeagm Of
The seas, is a chimerical project, the offspring
OF Bona?arte's brain Tory writer's and tory
takers, are not altogether so ignorant and it
is not to be imagined that the true sons of A.
merica are to be duped with su.h bold-faced
and false assertions. The proposition for an
union of nations for the maintenance of mari
time rights was originally made by Cltharne
the Great, empress of Russia, TO the several
leading powers OF Europe, and was by them
acceded to, with the exception of Great Brit.
ain This occurred thirty years aso France"
Spain. Denmark, and Sweden were members
of the league, which has been long known bv
the name of the .4rule! Nestrality. The prin
ciples of this enlightened coalition were com.
priced by Catharine in the five following arti.
cles:
1. That all neutral ships may freely navigate
from port to port, and on the coasts of nat ons
a war.
Q That the effects belonging to the subjects
of warning powers, shalt BE- free in all neutral
vessels except contraband merchandise.
8. That as to what shall constitute contra.
band IN rchandize, the articles shall be regu-
lated and defined by treaty
blocked up port. it is only 30 be understood of
! one which is SO completely guarded by the
ships of the power that attacks it and which
are stationed there, that it is dangerous for any
vessel to enter it
! That these principles shall serve as a rule
for proceedings and judgments upon the lega-
| lily of prizes.
These doctrines were boldly asserted By the
members of the armed neut alitv in the wear
| 1870, period ut which the u States of Anne
| RIGA had not been fairly enrolled on the list of
nations' 1t cannot, therefore. be pretended
| that our government, when it has insisted up
on rights far less imposing than these has set
up pretensions to new fan led notions of
the law of nations In 1889, Great Britain was
| somewhat meeker than atprescrt she replied
! IN very respectful tone to the empress Ca
tharinc and far from claiming the absolute
dominion OF the seas, she gave the most pre- :
else orders respecting he flag of her imperi-
nj majesty and the commerce Other bjects,
agreeable to the law of nations,'' Den
mark, Sweden and Russia, at that time were
neutra and England had behaved to them
very much in the same manner that she has
since done to America This it was that indu
ced them to combine, and to arm for the pro :
lection of their neutral rights. Great Britain,
nor having yet DESTROYED the fleets of Holland.
France, aud Spain /; nor having then stolen the
fleet of the Danes became alarmed at this
maritime coalition, and was compelled to con
duct herself with the creates. address TO pre-
vent the total destruction of her piratical sys
tenn whilst yetin an infinite state Time was
what the cabinet of London wanted tn gain.
and time relieved it from the then pre- ssure of
the embarrassment. frederick the Great left
the theatre of life Catharine sunk into the
grave before her fsgorite proiect of the fee
dom ofthe seas was contaminated and after
her until The time of Napoleon Bonaparte,
Europe has been governed by race ofkings
whose imbeciiity has be ONE proyerbial who
We're the mere creatures OF English g,lineas,
and who have not hat virtue or energy enough
To save their thrones from being overturned
ny the valor and the enterprize OF one man.
Bonapmte, in fact. has done nothing more
than revive the maritime principles Of Ca
tharine I.--Principlcs which, as the EN-.
press Of Russia very foroibIy and Justly re-
marks in the declaration, " ave coincident with
the primitive rights of nations, to which ever,
Ipeople may appeal and which the beiliger
ent vers cannot iuvalidatc without violating
the laws Of neuirai v, and wi hout dsavowine
the maxms they have adopted in tn .T scyera
treaties and pubNc engagements" hf
AS Russia still strictly adheres, under the
reign Of the wise and benevolent Alexander
to tke maX,ms bf CathaiSae, and as all cont
mental EWop, may be SAID now 10 be compress
ny nationally anticipate the ap )roa II ofthe pc
ROD when the commerce Of nations will b.
restored to its pristine liberSy, By the intro
duction Of o code Of pabiic law consonant t
the basis Of the AIMED neutrality In thi
point of view, both Nr. Madison aud Mr. JET
ierson have eviuced very accurate know
ledge OF the true interests Of their country +
their resoiutc adherence to the policy of send
30 ing an apbassadJr TO St Petersburg In
national PQiat Of view. the cost is a mere cy
pher but the adyantagc-who can c2lculit
+ II ltby cu!tyatng the friendship OF the grea
European powers, who will naturally becom
The guarantees ior the freedom Of commerce
We are, on tho occurrence Of a general peace
To come IN for portion Of the commercial De
b, ! neiits thence resulting. it VIII secure TO IN
e u 5 advantages which they could not obtai
with the aid OF two hundred sail of the III
and ave hundred millions Of dollars. And ye
We mud tho tories willing TO sacrifice these va
acquisitions, By refusing to entertain friend
relations with Russia because Timothy pisi
erius happens to hate TIC late president !
da.ls aud las sou.
z ---------
Sec the answer from the court &c 6. b,
( tain 10 the declaration Of 'Hs cuor~es OF i{,t