The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-01
FROM BELLS wELLY MESSENGER.
THE CRISIS
BETWEEN ENGLAND & AMERICA
november sc

|
ty, 1t is not easy to fix attention upon mat
tiers of more distant interest. In the con
Germs OF states. as in those of individuals,
the hrst lesson of prudence, is to enquire
what Is going on at home. The more i'm
mediate pressure of calamity is felt in that
situation in which our lot and duty are cast.
II was wise saying of the Lacedsmonean
Phiios ophe to hi pun I, hartans nactus
es, harc eLorna
| PROCLAMATION of the President f the
American States, has lately been received,
which has excited no ordinary solicitude
mas much as 1t SEEM to constitute crisis in
the relations OF America and this Country.
and f1xes the wavering and uncertainty of
tbnse endless negotiations ia which The two
soverr' mrnts have been engaged.
The Proclamation OF the American Pre-
sident announces in substance-that the
diets of Franc, which violated the neutral
comm rec Of the Uni'ed States, have been
revoked and cease to exis' IS an O q ucti-
on 10 the trade of Amerca. By virtue of
this revocation. he recalls all restrictions
upon The French commerce, and declares,
that Fra zee is now entitled TO the friendship
and courtesy due to neutral stae
The FIR nch government, by rescindine
its edicts, has doubtless restored to Ameri
ca those rights of which she was most uniust
iy deprived; but halt of the grievance. we
may say indeed the whole, is left N 1t, or pi-
nal weigh an! pre- sure whilst the British
orders OF council con nue. The MILAN and
+ in DEGREES Were IN fact mere brut NJ
f"fmen. They were hunde rbolts. 20
sooner hurled, than ext ngu shed in On at ele-
nent which they arroga tIy fined 20 con-
'r9i 1t was, on the part Of the French g,-
We nment, peevsh assumption of power
with most contemplate imbecility. Not
nrClPrQ Mt
crees poin ed our cannon and charged hem
with terrible effect. They carried terror
ana dIsmay TO all neutral Commerce and
swept II. as with Bosom clean from he
sea Biockades were described by circles
OF longitude and lat tude, and fictitious
decentralization, by opening sort of ma
rine trench, was assumed t. be levied along
the shores OF the continent, from the Sound
to the Streights of Gibraltar.
ms, we said, was to retaliate upon the
enemy the injury and mischief of his own
wrong 1t was indeed a retaliation Ar
tailation, IN which the whole commercial
interests of America were squeezed aud
crushed in our hands, for the purpose of be-
ing thrown at the head of our enemy. Such
was our retaliation, which had as little wi,
dom as justice; and the event has Sue n
us, that II this system has produced some
slight benefits in introducing our commerce
upon the continent, with all the risoue. the
cunning, and, We must be permitted to say,
the ammoralar.fceS Of smuggling, the grea-
ter part u has served but to kndie the fune
raj pile OF what remained, and to become a
KIND OF lighthouse, or blazing beacon, t.
warn our merchants from approaching such
dangerous shores in future.
10 return to our subjet.
With respect to France, America hasnov
settled her account of injury and insult. and
though she has certainly suffered much loss
and Contumely from that country, whether
she will avenge herself or no, is the Concern
OF America and not OF England.
circular letter of the Secretary of the
Treasury IN America d'scloses The next sien
which will be taken. 1t declares the state
OF things which will three months hence az
ist with respect tn G. Britain, in case she
snail n"t nave revoked and modified in like
manner her ed'cts. violating he neutral
commerce of the u. States" If England
shall not revoke or modify her orders I'm
council 1t Is the purpose of America TO re
cur t. the act of Congress. VINO prohibits
both the entrance of British vessels of every
description into the hdrbors and waters. of
inc W. >. and the impur alton into Americ4
OF any articles the growth. produce & nan
ulacture OF the dominions, colonies and de-
Tendencies OF G.. b.
This conduct of America, we must sav.
IS strictly impartial and il now onlv re
mans to be considered, whether or not En-
gland will recall or modify ner commercial
prohibitions. II - no. to be doubted but
that America must be considered ae the ON.
" power OF any great importance To us in a
political considcratOn--a he ONLY power
whom, from ne relationship Of a common
origin ana language, and che force Of old