Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-19

ration. In this extraordinary state OF
things, the legislature, willing to avoid
resort TO war, more especially during.
the concurrent aggressions of the two
great powers, themselves at war, the one
with the ether, and determined on the
other hand against an unqualified acqui-
escenee, have enleavored by successive
and varied regulations affecting the CON-
meree Of the parties, to make it their in
terest to be just.
In the act of Congress, out Of which the
existing non-importaion Las grown, the
state Of commerce was no otherwise quail
lied than by provision, that in case Ell
Their OF the bel,igerents should revoke its
unlawful edicts, and the other should fail
to do the same. our ports should DC shut
To the vessels and merchandise OF the lat
ter. This provision. which, like all our
previous offers, repeliei the very preteNt
set up by each, that its eticts against our
trade with The other, was required by an
acuuescenee in like edicts Of the other,
was equally presented to the attention Of
both. In consequence OF the eOmmwnica-
ton, the French government declared that
its DEGREES were revoked. As the British
government had expressed reluctance in
issuing its orders, and repeatedly signified
wish to find in the example OF its adver-
sary, an occasion for putting an end to
them, the expectation was the more conf
dent, that the occasion would be promptly
embraced. This was not done; aad the
period allowed for the purpose haVinge-
lapsed, our ports became smut TO British
ships and merchandise. Whether the
conduct of the French government has
been, and will be such as to satisfy the au-
thorized expectations the United States;
or whether the British government may
have opened, or will open the way, for the
Executive removal Of the restrictions on
British com meree with the United States,
which it continues in its power to do, by
reyoking its own unlawful restrictions on
our commerce, is to be ascePtained by
further information I; which will be re-
ceived and employed by the executive,
with that strict impartiality, which has
been invariably maintained towards the two
belligerents.
Whatever may be the Inconvenience
resulting i'm the mean time, from the non
importation act, it was not to have been
supposed, that whilst it falls within the
necessary power and practice OF regulat-
Ing our commercial intercourse with To-
reign countries, according to cirenm-
stances, the act would be regarded as not
warranted by the constitution or that
whilst it was partial restriction only,
and had for its object, an entire freedom
of cur commerce, by liberation OF it from
foreign restrictions unlawfuiiy imposed, it
could be viewed as destroying commerce ;
and least OF az, that likeness could be
seen between law enacted by the repre-
sentatives of the country, with view to
the interest of the country !: and acts OF
q government in which the country was
not represented, framed with view to
the interest OF another country, at the eX-
pence of this.
IF appeals to the justice Of the bellige-
rents, through their interests, involve pri-
vations on our part also; it ought to be
recohected, that this is an effect insepara-
BILE from every resort. by which one nation
can right Itself against the injustice OF O.
theirs.
If sacrifices made for the sake Of the
whole, result more to some than to other
districts or descriptions of citizens, this al
so is an effect, which, tho always to be
regretted, can never be entirely avoided.
Whether the appeal be to the sword, or
to interruptions or notifications OF GUS
tomary intercourse, an equal operation on
every part of the community can never
happen. Nor would an unqualified ac-
quiescence in belligerent restrictions on
cur commerce, if that could be reconciled
with what the nation owes to itself. be less
unequal in its effect on different local stu
atoms and interests.
In estimating the particular measure
which has been adopted by the National
Councils, it may De reasonably expected
therefore, from the candor OF enlightened