The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-06-30

tra-by making prize ot that neu rails property
employed IN such lawful trade. 1t is most lagram,
ynlation OF the rights OF the neutral. Does Great
britain diminish the injury by taking To herself
through the traudiul and deceptive medium OF her
licences, that trade o which she thus dcp,ives the
neutral Docs she dimimil the injury by assuming
the principle that, since France prohibits her from
trading 10 certain ports the continent Of Europe
no trade SHALL be carried tn these ports, but what
She herself can carry ON by means of those licences
Upon this principle she aets--and tn gpecies OF
trade she carries on 20 great extent Does she ti-
mnsh the injury BY capturing and condeinning A
mcrican vessels bound to any of those ports OF the
Iconunent, and then permitting her own merchants
70 send the same vessels together with their crp oes
to those very pots under the protection of her IL
cences Can thcse questions require any answer
lie increase and not tiirlinution g.! ciornity il,
the system is manifestations such is the NJ
he. procedure. What sort of retaliation can il be
called The real effect of the system liz Great in
Jury TO the neutral and little injury to the en-.
lemy II his scarcely any tendency to DEGREES the
ttade OF the enemy while it extends her trade
AT the eNpslse Of the neutral rights of the United
States.
Here we have these facts; that by the operation
loi the orders in council the commerce of this ma
uou As greatly injured AVID diminished, and com
inercc really British, rendered very extensive even
IN the ports oil that very enemy and her allies on
account OF the restrictions of which enemy those
pretended rctaliatory orders avowcd TO have
been issued Hence 1t would seem that, rs the En-
siish government attempted TO force upon the peo-
Ipie oil this country, when in their colonial .ate
asysteIn oil arbitrary taxation, in order thereby 10 OBJ
tain.t the means OF drawing from them large contri.
sutioisat pleasure, that proportionabiy less might
be necessary to he drawn from the reope of E,-
gland so It's system ofsommercial aggression cut
Ion tue trade oil the American people i'm a ve,,
Sreat degree, from the ports of France and other
countries under her contioul, in order that ,,r,b
commerce. in those ports may be the more e,ten
sve. - $500
Can n syatem of commercial hostility. ike this
ne conteiip'a1si without extreme indignation
4 "a rtrchf ,afy
abandonment ot the maritime rights of ibis n,t;o,
That IT would be SR6niiSSion-Geai-aaing sub,,;c
sion. Who is there That would not pr.fe w,i.,io
Suei' state Who would he willing to tarns, the
glory of his country by enteranins. sprle thourh,
| IN taNor OF such submission who for n mo-
inent would ohers wish see his country niacel
| IN such state OF humiliation Yet do l,,eve
that suc:l would be the situation of his tor f,nd
republic, H., under the existing circumstances re-
sort 10 war had not been determined ,,Don Sorry
should be, therefore, if it could be, imagined H.:
situated as am here IN the character OF one of th
trustees oil the rights OF this nation yoId r.f,,ee
~ Iahe q course which 90 omit, would SO clearly
10 my view, be IN abandonnlent offs portion oi bos.
rights l trust that my wishes and efforts ,owsrds
maintaining the lights and the honor of this country
VIII never cease but with my life and with ,,.
rights and the honour of this -;,intrv r cone;,I
that its true Interests are Idle titled u trns,
that the spirit which aninaatsi the hernes oftLn
Ie'o'ulioh' VIII not be less ardent and vivid in
the bosonis OF their sons At the. menorable eioch
the best interests OF the then cooniss were inyoIv
Gu In the resistance they made against the cncroach
nents attempted upon their Liberties: Ii is nlso The
case, ''t the present ser, that the hes. int.r.ss M
th's haton are mvoivedn manly re Stance Inv war
against the system of British asgressions unon 10,
maritime rights since every other means have fail
ell 10 OBTAIN redress of injuries or any sort of relay
atoh ' that dctestabie system, bat which, ON The
contrary, rs persisted In with circunstanb.s nj 49,
giavated inveteracy 1t is unremitt;ngv n.,rs III q
violation OF rights amply pcrsainin@ 70 This nn,;o
as nose esiuhiaiely belonging to tie proud mon
I mr. tn md
itprou'ler there be, OH the face OF this cIolc'
viewing, as do, the existing state OF affairs in re-
iauon to u Britain, were to enterta;n srn,;,n.,t
Oh nature contrary to those / have expressed.
sho"Ii seem TO myself to be unworthy ofthe neonie
have had the honor long to repre.ant o,d CO..
hdent am that IN entertaining these sentiments and
Ia aching co'iormably therewiti,. represent The
real sentiments of the great body OF them
IL VIII be seen that the course taken is s.pnroved
OF by portion OF the Legislative BODY No dn,b,
the system, on account of which 4 have deem,d II
my outy TO concur in adopting the measure, does
no! present i'seii 10 their minds in the came aspect
AS tdoes 70 me. Perhaps there rnay be others also
whose views OF u may be different from m,pe
whoever, with knowledge of the real character
nature and extent OF the odious aegressions dors NO,
believe that 1t would be sa61nisSfon further IN c
qnIesce or forbear to resist them by war crc,r
stanced as we now are, can but saw there is a ya
difference between his opinion and mine in respcrt
to the same things The public large will Je,er
nave, doubt not, already long ago de-
I
With respect to the other system or ontroc. ,,,
has been mehttoned-thc system Of awless Violence
on the persons Of American seamen---vbn doc
not see In that practice ample cause of war Ibas
Tor a long series OF years afforded ground for ;r
because IN every mprersment on the high seas an
act IL committed which amoun.s to am sct ne nor
upon the person ofthe American citizen ON yboTr
IT'S committed. II the ocean be the co,nmnn b,rL
way OF nations, belonging equally to all-.aud nj.
isuniyersaiy ackHOwledg t.il--aIIav. c,r,s,I, ri
70 use It AMI the citizt ns or SUBJECTS or ys,
tion ave equally entitled to projection in the lawful
use OF II from the violence Of any and all o,bcre
liis Is the general principle. Nothing can inst;r,
oepaiture from this principle b4t n chance of rela
uons between the parties affected by tho departure
Whsn they enter Into state of v,;r tl,eu aud
hott' then, they have right 20 disregqi this min
c'P'e hecause state 4 20 Ear dissOlycs IN.
mutual obligation OF each begercnt rarty tn r.erc.t
TIE rights OF tbs other, tlist each acuuir.s tbrn
rlst TO seize the vessels Oi Lis enemy and th nor
sons NJ hseneiny on board ofthem whpresoevrr lac
hpis them on the high seas au1 can apply suFieen,
'e 10 40 So itehce, by parity Of reasoning il is
clear aud manifest, that lac who seiz,s ucrsoo nc
hur7lctIzeh or subject whsle in the lawful exercise
ct iiis common right The ocean dies In r,rt co,
mt what is jnstiliabie only in state of warron
mlts on the person of a neutral that which he Lea,
no righttoo0mn,it but On the PEI soa of an enemy
thal u - tOSS}, he commits an act of war on tj,
person O. Chat neutral citizen or subject and No
'ph% ~ he nous itim m captivity. so long Ipcs lac
commune ~ exercise that act OF war in yjnation or
the persolai rights OF such neutral. Upon eyrr-y 4
mer'can citizen therefore, impressed on the Iiob
seas from on board an American vessel clearly md
unqucstiohab'y an act of war has been comTi,trd
am co"tinpcd IN operation upon his pei son So lono
rs hc has been detained in CAPTIVITY under such ;
UItu q glfl