Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-13

Under THIS .nfGtuatiOn their governments
| have in some cases countenanccd, and in C.
| theirs directly authorised hostile measures a
gainst them. During all this timcthe ques-
ton has perpetually REQUIRED to the Ameri-
can people, wnetherit was their interest to
protect this trade by force Of arms If facts
prove any thing, they prove that the people
OF this country have resolved not to defend
commerce in this way. For it Cannot be de-
MED that the constituted authorities are the
fair representatives of the people; nor have
/ they failed, from any corrupt motive, to p
| dopt measures to carry the general sentiment
into effect. In making this remark, it will
be perceived that / treat with merited con-
tempt the factious and ignorant rawlings of
! demagogucs, whose sole object It constantly is
TO rcvile good and wise men, that they may
get their places and fltten ON the public spoils..
On their tongues all is candor and truth and
devotion to liberty and justice; while in their
hearts they are prepared, without scruple,
to sacrifice the dearets rights of the people
for pence or power.
! ~ assume then as indisputable that the A.
nierican people have hitherto determined not
TO defend the widespread trade of theirmer-
chants by force Of arms 1 say they had a
fright, a moral right, without reproach, to
take this ground. Whether they should so
defend 1t, or not, is a question of policy; is .
.nafiOnai question IS question in which al
| the people are equally interested. 1t is not
4 question Of the merchants, on of the towns;
| it IS question of the0yhcle people. And the
Ipeople having honestly decided it, the mer-
chants have no exclusive right TO complain
! They have, ! may add, less reason to COM
plain, than any ether class of the community
! These two points shall now proceed to cs-
tablish. They appear to me TO aARrit CT de-
monstration equal mathematical.
premise, as inGisputable, that the extent
! to which any profession of business requiring
governmental assistance shall be festered and
learned, must always bcregalated By the &C.
ineral welfare, and t.lat tae great body ofthe
/ people must necessarily be the Judges off
Ifthis axiom be e3rreot. theis tag people, thru
their representatives, far ~ chosen, have a
/ right to proHonpoe in Mat degree they viii
Tester the exteiiSoRSef trade, or ygiIetAerthey
viii foster it at all The iedeYal constitution
puts this point beyond all dispute, b. giving
! Congress the power 90 regulate commerce. 50
fully aware were the trainers OF that instrli-
mentofthe Observation-Disclosures trade, of its
essential differences from all other personal
/ concerns, iiislort of its national character,
that they have vested in Congress the fiozeer
/ TO reg-aiztc lI,, while they have expressly de-
MED the power ofregulating any other branch
of business This proves their Conviction
and the adoption of the constitution establish
es the general conviction, that the public in
terest demanded its regulation, and that,
i whcnregulatcd, it must be SO regulated, net
u merely asyto advance the interests of ner-
chants or particular sections Of country, but
so as to promote the great interests OF the
whole community.
This powcPsto regulate commerce was Civ
en- for the most important reasons. Without
Il aproper regulation Gift, the inordinate thirst
for riches of a few men might embroil the
whole nation in a warm which their hsppi-
ness and their rights might be wrecked.
4 Without duly regulating it, we might be the
victims Of foreign cupidity and injustice.
! This power, however great, was So tiyre-
: posed because a case could not be imagined
in which the collective wisdom Of the nation
icouldnot dictate. measures the most Iavora-
bic to the merchant, consistently with the &c
neral welfare. 1t was certain that every re-
gulationadoptedmu spring from this source,
as just in proportion to the prosperous pur-
suits of business by Che merchant would the
general welfare be advanced for, according
ly as he prospered, would he be enabled TO
give good price for domestic products, and
to sell foreign ones low. 1t was forcseen,
therefore, that no sinister inducement under
4 Heaven could exist to Cypress commerce by
improper regulations Such an oppresslon
would nave been a/ti1 de sc of the natioTsoD
Iitsclf.
AL these facts, al these considerations,
we're under the view Of Ger merchants when
they commenced THEN business, for the whole
amount for our trade at the adoption OF the
IcoD5titution was tTifing. Their eyes were
lopen; they bchcld the scene before them
they saw the state Of The world; they knew,
or ought to hage known, the interests Of the
American people; they were not only ac-
Iquajnted with the provisions Of the consu-
tuition, they were the warmest advocates
for It's adoption thcy read ~ th2t iastta~
ment an authority given 20 the government
70 regulate commerce they poTceiycd in &c
no duty erjoined TO protect IL They wc-e
free to act as they pleased they behold the
good and the eyii before them. They made
their choice. II their selection ola proics-
sion has been Djudicious they are alcne in
iiauit The door WAS Opcn, 70 tkem as well
as al ether citizens, Cd every ether profes-
sion- Ihey have then 30 f.ccuk4r reason to
,compialn. Above all, 60 set themselves up
rs a distinct and privileged class, to de-
inard that fht5. RttTt8fs shall be regarded
, even &C the eNpcncc Of the general welfare,
tnat the government shalt enable than to
/ aceumuiaic priHccly fortunes out Cf the pub
| lie blood and treasure, and at the SILL dcafcr
price "a liberty Itself, is a mouruful evidence
! 81 the mistaken CSlDates p0Orhuman nature
IS prDe % form ofitscf{ IN my nextnumbcr|
I slall saew taat OuwTnSrchants have les