The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-16
lle eEnqntrer.
RICHMOND. OCTOBER is. 1910.
SJJPPOSES

SnRrose, that France has tcken rs at oar
.oord and Offers so TO revoke or modify
her Ed,cts, as that they shall cease to VIC
late the neutral commerce of the u S :"
SuhfioSe, that the President shall issue his
Proclamation Svtenever these DEGREES shall
cease be IN fOrce {:
u These Suppositions are not at all i'm
proDAbe, as the one is founded OF facts pref
t. well authenticated, and the other on pos
tive iGw:
SuthoSe, that G Britain should refuse to
repeal al her Orders; or, that she re-
peals them and then revives them in some
new shape and IN the very teeth of nation
a. law and neutral rights, she proclaims ports
or coasts under blockade, by single dash Of
her pen
" These ouppcsitiGns are supported. as
well by the uniform tenor of her history. as
~ the opinions Of those, who are from the
verS verge of her Court :.
SUPPOSE then, that France no longer in
terd'cts our trade with England, but that
the lattei for6ds us 70 go to France, wha,
then Is the resource ofthe u. S
Al Embargo is now out of the question
because we shall have pledged ourselves to
France TO continue our trade with herself,
whilst We ia erdict 1t 10 her enemy
SUPPOSE, then, that g. b. sliil proclsims.
through her O"ders, that We shall not carry
on TINS lucrative commerce with France and
the continent that she will seize all our
vessels bound thiher; and that she actually
does seize them. thus engaged in a fair and
lawful trade What then shall we do?
We must either permit our merchan, men
to protect themselves--or we must protect
them, BY the national force-They must ei~
Their arm themselves or we must grant
them convoy In either case a conflict with
the arrogantnaval power ef G.. B. is to be
expected.--lf they are privileged to arm :;
though some Of them may find it cheaper to
ounder British license han under arms
yet there arc others who will flv from this
ignominous resource and these will run
every risk OF a rencOntre with British ships.
III we resort to convoy. IT is not very
likely that we shall adopt such code of
regulations, as will be acceptable to British
naval supremacy that case, our ma.
tional flag may once more be Chesaheaked.
Let us look hen fairly and resolutey at
our situation. crisis may probably be at
hand which is calculated TO cali forth the
resources and energy Of the nation Our
navy mast be equipt, not only 10 execute
our non intercourse law. bot to meet a more
hostile extremity. If money be wanting
these are not such times as when an 8 per cent.
loan was obtained--.or the crisis now is
tar worse than that---such times as these
have scarcely ever been witnessed by civil
zed nahons--so little regard for rights. so
strong rage for power and plumber But
the u States have not only to struggle a.
gainst the times themselves but also the con.
sequences of their own imbeclitv Our cha
racter is sunk in the eyes of Europe
many exertlons are necessary TO restore il to
its ele gatinn-We shall still Continue to
be maltreated by G q. until we convipce
her that there is point of sufTerance be
yond which we will no. pass-Sne calcu-
Iates too upon the British party in this
country but that party must ne awed in
to Silence, by the voice of the nation.
TRIM.