The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-16

uT3Rine ttac IL Couiu ever be unfricnuiy TO thai
which constituted, by its own choice, its entire
| support
Again, It ought to be observed, that, instead,
ofevincing hostility to commerce, it has exert
ed guardian vigilance, and parental solictude to
brotect is. Had the commercial rights been adams
donei, and its solid and perpetual interests sa-
critced, catch the pitifal fragments which were
suffered to fall from the capricious bounty of bel
ligerents, then indeed, there would have existed
reason to complain, On the contrary, after the
incessant syolations and injuries we have expert
enced, our government determined to tate a stand
and has, therefotc cvnlced itself a juaie;ous and
riSiIant protector OF commerce.
In examining the present subject, and per-
ceiving the general system of the administration
to have been 6isint crested, patriotic and obvious.
ly CORE ct. it is astonishing to that the misre-
presentations OF its opponents should have ever
produced the smallest impression for it is plain,
that any other course Of conduct would have i'm
mediately involved us as parties in war. connect.
ing our fate with one Of the great be,igerents or
the other, or subjected the whole of our CONNER
cisl capital to the merciless grasp Of both, and
after we had been plundered and despoiled to
the utmost extremity ofrapacity, we should have
been aespised and insultcd, and finally driven
into the contest when the principal means of
supporting it had been seized into THE hands ofthe
enemy.
lnbriefy yind;cating the conduc. ofo,.- re-.
P"""S~' 6''SthihSh's VIC i'opOSC VI SuCN, In3t
Its measures in relation to the belligerent pow
ers, were, in the FIRST place, iusiiiabe secondly,
strictly impartial; and, thirdly, the most b.ne!i.
cial that could have been adopted.
+ Upon the FIRST point but few observations arc
necessary. Since the commencement OF the n,
tai contest, which still dcsolates Europe, not.
withstan6ing the pacific disposition which nor
vaded the councils, and guided the system Of this
country, we have experienced an iscessant Sc.
ries ofrigor, cruelty, and injustice. II was wise
~ determined on our part, at an carly period of
the conflict, to take neutral Position. to pre-.
serve peace to our country, and not unite its fate
with that of either of the hostile nations.
In becoming parties in n distant war. mott
velying our immediate interests, we should have
infalhbly destroyed our own prosperity W.
should hare become entauEled in the intripuer
and contests OF Europe, and have enlisted a
pernicious example, which upon every future
occasion, must have endangered our security and
rePose
We had established an extensive and NITRATE
commercial intercourse with both of the principal
belligerents an intercourse valuable to us, bat
more necessary to them.
The strict neutrality of the u s. was announc.
ed by public declaration proceeding from gen.
Washington himself
The world at large was requested 10 under.
stand that America, DESTROYS only TO promote
the happiness OF her own citizens, and to main
tain their rights, had resolved to act with honest
impartiaiity, and remain in peace
Natural justice, and the established law
OF nations, constituted her only rule, her only
guide.
Accordingly, uniformly acting with This eoni
table and determined impartatity, she never
granted to one beligerent privilege that was re-
fused to the other; did she ever refuse to one
beihgerent privilege that was conferred upon
IFS enemy.
Adhering, justly, to the valid and reasonable
law OF nations, 1T never sanctioned or even cosn-
tenaced single contraband voyage.
Our commerce was impartial, our ports were
open, and our hospitality extendedto the world
notwithstanding tie justice and Iiberali,v Of
our country, the system OF depredstons com.nen-
ced at an early period of the war, and has cont.
ued with increased violence.
England and France have mutually violated our
rights If the amount Of actual injury received
Fl ON the latter has been Inferior it has been be-
cause her means OF maritime injustice have also
been inferior.
Our mariHsrs have been impressed and wrong
fully detained in foreign service
Our vessels and csrgOes captured and con-
demned upon groundless and Illegal pretences.
By repeated arbitrary and unla wsul extensions
OF the rule of blockade, our rightful commerce
intercepted and cut off from a considers hle
portion of the world
Our own seaPorts were watched, and our mer-
chantmen captured at the first moment of their
departure from our harbors
Our territorial jurisdiction hiss been repeated
'y AMI shameiully violated. and our fellow cit;.
zens inhumanly murdered within the limits of
their native shore.
finally, our country and our government have
been insuted by the attack of a national frie-ate,
unsuspicious of, and therefore unprepared for. n
conflict and our public flag repeatedly treated
with the utmost indignity, even within our own
waters.
Under these strong circumstances, and num-
bcrless others, which it cannot be necessary to
detail, no doubt exist but that the conduct of
our government has been perfectly iustifable and
defensive, and that 1T ms furnished just cause
OF complaint to any other nation.
We shall now proceed TO the second point. end
suceinctly shew, that the measures of the Re.
publican administration have been equitable and
strictly impartial.
Those by ''hom the Charge Of partially was
made, ought TO have supported il by some suffi-
cient, or at least plausible evidence instead of
having exhibited any proof, they have not even
shewn a byobabie 7lotive which could have caus-
ed prediction towards any foreign power
1t cannot be Lightly imagined that 3 majority Of
the Senate and ifouse If Representatives could
have been improperly partial for they could
possess no interest and no nduceneHt to oetray
the independent rights ofther country Neither
could Mr. Madison, when Secretary Of State,
nave expected to derive any imaginable benefit
from Partially. Indeed, the whole tenor Of ms
correspondence and conduct, establishes the re
verse. And with respect 10 Mr. Jefferson, we
may farther observe, that 20 plausible reason can
DC assigned which can subject him even TO sus-
pcion Ills situation rendered him superior to
corruption. He contemplated to retire from the
government, and could not therefore have been
actuated by any political view or ambitious pro-
Ject. His past conduct, his solid reputalion--bis
a q asWN-