The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-10-18

influence; each of the hellgerents would
court their government to prevent them
from throwing their weight in the opposite
sc,le; they even would claim their good
o'nces tor the mediation Of peace. and the
neutral powers viewing in them also essen
tlal allies, would unite secretly or openly
their interest with theirs for the preservati
on OF their rights or the re-esta5lishmcut of
harmony among The be!ligerents.
But 1t neutrality is not armed. if it is not
well organized in all its branches, lift is
not severely executed and impar;ially OBJ
served. cit sours your friends without graft.
tying their enemiies,' or as Polybias re
marks. - it gives you no friends and takes
away none of your enemies" (Eeque ami
COS part. neque inimicos tollit.) and it
expos you to the i'll usage of all the
oel.igerents. and to the neglect of the neu-
trails.
No country has obtained more ex,raortli-
nary advantages from system OF armed
neutrality than the Swiss confederacv Neu.
trality in that part of Europe, so peace.ble
and so happy, before France had crushed its
independence into nulIity,. was a CONSTITUTE
onai principle of its federative government
hut instead of forgetting the obligations
which they had contracted when they. wan
ted help, the faithful Swiss supplied troops
to those with whom they had stipulatons
Tor tat purpose. and no one ever found
iauit with 1t. because they had a most ex-
ceilent military system and would never
embark in any European war themselves,
or suffer their best friends to violate the
neutrality of their Territory. which was
tor France key to Italy and to the Aus
iran domiDions, and for Austria a key to
France.
The Poles, before they fell a victim to
the triple ambition of Russia, Prussia and
Austria, had frequently attempted to main
tain system of armed neutrality but their
intestine divisions were so great and their
constitution so bad, that the individual valor
OF their mobiles. and the nagnanimous efforts
OF their great lords, could never prevent the
violation OF their territory, and the prostra.
ton OF their neutral rights, whenever the
Russians or the Turks were implicated in
the continental wars. and their disregarded
neutrality has always brought more distress
upon them than an open state of war.
The states generals of the united provir,-
ces OF the Netherlands. have been more
fortunate in observing at different periods a
system OF neutrality; but they owed it en-
tireiy to the excellence OF their navy, to the
strength OF their army. and to their atten
ton in combining with the art of the engi
heer, the defensive means which nature had
granted them.
Other powers. and particularly sweden,
Russia and Denmark, have equally recn
successful IN establishing neutrality as the
rule OF their conduct, but none without a
strict adherence to the fundamental princi
Ples that COVE ,nments TO D. respect eel must
be respectable. The weak and de enceies,
must give up II pretensIons to neutrality &
meekiy adopt Phocion's advice to the Athe
nians, fhaf I hey 7vere nor fhe STRONGEST.
IneY oHShf TO have he strongest Jor allies"
L introduce this opinion of tNa, illust V,ous
Greek ora or. to sooth it possible, the feel
ings OF Mr.. Pickering and his friends, and
70 SHOW that the plot of an English alliance,
oifensVe and defensive, which existed real
~ II not formally when that gentleman was
III offce, and which he Continues to promote
IN retirement has some similarity with the
sentiment Of the disciple OF Xenocrates. ~
In reality, as America, TN 4coount of her
commerce, is IN great measure ruled by
the sea, and as England rules the sea, she
rs with respect 10 the United States, the
greatest European power, not only by the
strength OF her navy, but by the lmmensity
OF commerce which spreads its roots like a
CorrodinS cancer through all the ramifica-
lions OF the political body. France .compa.
Istively, is hardly power Of the secoud Or
der in American affairs, She has lost ali
her Colonies. her navy is rot yet regenera
'~~f -''-"'SiSS 10 passive, anu THE StTOn-
gest national Prejudices coherent to he blood
OF Scotch or English origin initiate against
her interest, and also against all those who
owe her their birth
Between the English and French accor-
eihgly, agreeable to Phocion. the first are
entitled to orr alliance, because they are he
most Powe Iul by sea, they can the most in
Jure our commerce, and they have among
us thousands OF loyal partizans, who at this
very moment would glory to rally round
their standards and hoist them on ne CAPT
tol at washington. But far be from me,
the contnmellous thought that we are not
the strongest in our own country, and that
we want any European alliance at all to be
free and happy,
The physical strength of the u. States.
their IncoTmensurablc resources to create a
powerful navy; the bold spirit Of our sea-.
farng men which would render them the
most active and successful privateers-,he
valIant-youth OF their cities and villages.
whose zeal tor the study Of military tactics
deserves SC much praise heir hardy, rug
geo aDdbraye yeOmanry, who unite all the
qualities requlred To form IntefatigaDle sol
diersj the wonderful number Of their mi
l,ia, which would enable them to. turn a
battalion oil the field, easier than any Euro
psan nation could bring a platoon against
them TIE ilOurishing situation of their
agriculture, which never fails to offer an a
odndant surplus; and the astonishing pro.
Sress OF their ats, manufactures, furnaces,
forges and powder mills, are SD many nervcs