The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-05-01

ertsferee to the federation Of bellicerents",
l." 1t bell,gerents, from any motive zyhat
ever, so'Sh to suspend neutral trade the,
have a right to do so''!i And is il thus
that the rules of war established for are,
among all civilized states, are at one.
swept away. What says Common Sense
| That the trade of heutrals is righf, not an
indulgence; that it exists independently of
loeIhgerents, and not because it is tolerate,
IoY them. When war arises between A
and Is. 1t is not war as to C; G. is no party
toit--to him it is as if ii were not, except il,
Certain particulars which are necessary 70
carry ON the war. These, the usagcs Of
nations, Strengthened perhaps by the rca-
son OF The Case under the circumstances of
FORMER Hmes, have agreed to except out o.
the CLASS OF neutral rights-antl these are
therefore the only restrictions To the COM
merce of neutral states. These are contra-
oa"a OF War, and all trade to places actualyv
ofockaded.-The rule in this respect may
oe dra~n from the treaties of independent
states, OR the books of the best writer's on
the law OF nations. The former proves the
RUE TO be, as it is here stated; for these
treaties lay down Certain limitations as to
blockade and contraband--the other bran
ches OF trade are, therefore, left untouched
ana as tree as evcr-The writer's OH the law
Oh nations confirm this doctrine, ia its utmost
extent Idtfel says, that :" as neutrals have
no part in my quarrel, they are under no OBJ
legation to abandon their trade" &c. DIcrtiu
even asserts their right to enjoy in time of
war, the same trade which they exercised
IN time OF peace. The State-Papers of all
inc CABINETS OF the old world, and the dis
patches OF all their ministersto the govern
ment OF the new, recognise these rights of
neutrals, with the above executions. Then
what becomes OF the sweeping doctrine of
the Couricrl
Sut times have altered-snd the cir
cumstanccs of modern times are peculiar"
Il rue, they haUe altered most states now
make their own arms; and few places are
now biockaded with view of forcing them
to surrender. If this change then proves
any thing, it proves that from the reason of
me case, 1T is time to do away the above re-
s'rlcton' on neutral trade; to expand in
stead OF contracting neutral rights.
Aye but this is not what we mean--we
mean that G.. b. is now mistress of the seas.
ana must nave right to regulate its opn
element: Its own element the seas, the
doom or heaven to every nation that skirts it's
coasts, the PROPERTY of one only The ar
gument of the Courier, is built on the ruins
OF right and justice. 1t is the plea of the
highway robber, who presents his pistol ts
your weaker breast, and demands yo,r
purse 1t is the might alone that constitutes
the right.
But " the French DEGREES and British Or
ders may be regarded as a sort of tacit
agreement between them, that neutraltrade
shall no longer be carried on. are zye
called on as parties to the contract Have
the Turks, the Russians, the Swedes, the
Danes also assented? No; but Fr,hce and
England haUe-they dictate the .aw--And
what gives them tie right to do t, {. They
are 6elASerentS" SO then, Whenever any
two nations choose to go to war adieu to ali
the rights Of neutrsls. If Pappc,burg and the
republic OF Meriuo, for insIaice, please to
wage the tiny warfare against each other,
they may catch, and capture, and confiscate
the vessels of any other nanon, " from any
motive whatever'!l - 80
1t is idle to dwell or tie closing remarks
OF the Courier. If can srmed neutral BIZ
contradiction In terms Pit is certainly not so
to say that a neutral nay fly to arms TO de-
tend the rights of neutrality. If we wage
war against England, it is not the first time
that nation has sought fieace by war.
r. Enquirer.