Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-24
PRESIDENTS ANSWER,
10 the taha6itanss offhe Town Of .Nezy- Ha-

TO the irha6itanss offhe Touyn of .Vsz- Ha-
have received, Fellow Citizens. the peti-
ton which you have addressed to me, repre-
senting the inconvenience experienced from
the existing non-importation law, and solicit
Ing that the National Legislature may be
speedily convened.
1t is known TO all, that the Commerce OF
the United States has, for considerable
period, been greatly abridged and annoyed, BY
edicts OF the belligerent powers; each pro-
tossing retaliation only on the other !; but both
violating the clearest rights of the u. States
as neutral nation. In this extraordinary
state OF things, the Legislature. willing to a.
VOID resort to war, more especially during
the concurrent aggressions of two great pow
ers, themselves at war, the one with the o.
ther, and determined on the other hand a
galnst an unqualified acquiesccnce, have en-
deavored by successive and varied regulations
affecting the commerce of the parties, to
make 1t their interest to be just.
In the act of Congress out. of which the ex-
ising non-importation has grown. tile state
OF commerce was no otherwise qualified than
oy provision, that III case either OF the bel
hgerents should revoke its unlawful edicts.
and the uther should fail to do the same, our
ports should be shut 10 the vessels and mer-
chandize fthe latter. This PROVISION, which
like all our previous offers, repeiled the very
pretext set up by each, that its edicts against
our tr,sde with the ether, was required by an
acqz esssnee alike edicts of the other. was
eqElly Xceente$ to the attention of both. In
consequence ofthd communicate the French
govSnmeft declaA d tnlr it's dscrces were re-
vokeeA. As the itish Government had ex-
pressed relurrahce in issuing its orders, and
repeatedly signifed wish to find in the eS-
ample OF Its adversary, an occasion for put
ting an end to them, the expectation was the
more confident, that the occasion would be
promptly embraced. This was not done
and the period allowed for the purpose hav-
ing elapsed, our ports became shut to British
ships and merchandise. Whether the con-
duct OF the French government has been, and
Will be such as to satisfy the authorised ex-
pectations of the United States; or whether
the British government may have opened, or
VIII open the way, for the Executive remov-
al OF the restrictions on British commerce
with the United States, which it continues in
its power to do, by revoking its own unla wful
restrictions on our commerce, is to be ascer-
tanned by further information: which will be I,
received and employed by the executive, with
that strict impartiality, which has been in
variab,y maintained towards the two beliige-
rents.
Whatever may be the inconvenience re-:
suieng IN the mean time, from the non-irnpor-
tatioY act was not to have been supposed
that ghisGt fa4 Is within the necessary pow
er and .pfactice,of regulating our conlmerei-
al intercourse = it'll foreign countries. accor,i-
ing TO circumstances, the act would be re-
garded as not warranted by the constitution
OR that whilst it was partial restriction
only, and had for its object, an entire free
dom OF our commerce, by liberation of il
from foreign restrictions unlawfully imposed.
1t could be viewed as destroying commerce
and least OF all, that a likeness could be seen
between law enacted by the representatives
OF the country, with view to the interest of
the country; and acts of government in
which the Country was not represented, fra
med with view to the interest of another
country, at the expence Of this.
II appeals TO the justice OF the belligerents.
througifthelr interests, involve priyations on
our paE alo; itNIght to be recol!ected, that
TINS is u eject i&eparable from every re-
sort, oy$@Jl,ch cE nation can right itself a.
gainst thesini~sdce of Others
II sacrifices made for the sake Of the whole,
result mere to some than to other districts or
descriptions OF citizens, this also is an effect.
which though always to be regretted, can
never be entirely avoided. Whether the ap-
peal be to the sword, or to interruptions or
modliFations OF customary intercourse, an
equaEoperatlun on every part of the commu- d
nifty d4nfNger happen. Nor would an un
qualified asquiescence in beligerent restric
tons oSour commerce, if that could be re-
conciledwith What the nation owes TO itself
be less unequivocal in its eject OH different
local situations and interests.
In estimating the particular measure which
has been adopted by the National Councils. il
may be reasonably expected therefore, from
the candor of enlightened citizens, that with
the popularity of the public situation, they
viii be Impressed also, with difficult of Sc
lecting We course most satisfactory, and best
suited u deeish It's evils or shorten their
duratiofk th9AtheYkwill keep in mind, that a
resort to"Eaf mus1hvolve necessary restric-
tons ON consxneEsG, and that were no nea-
sure whatevef opposed to the beiligerent acts
against our commerce, il would not only re-.
main under the severe restrictions now i'm
posed BY foreign hands, bit new motives,
would DC gwen for prolongin6 and invigorat-,
ing them.
These observations are not meant 20 anti
cipate the policy which the Legislature nav
heneeforward hnd best adopted, 70 support
the h9hcr O.. promote. the interest of the natl
on orkq&Tejpdge questiobs relative to parti-
culaRc hnges, which may be pointed out bv
expefetPe q be called Tor by the state of
l. L.