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


eonsidera,ions-to all other feelings Yhatcve,
were the public feelnss-und they we're poirnau
indeed IN the first stages Ut oppostion-they wer,
all aupefsedsd by the superior claim, OF duty 4,
ourselves and duty to o'r unborn posterity to resist
the encroachmyuts attempted on liberties--en.
croachments, which, yieffed to and sanctioned at
that time, might have erected throne OF desuc;ism
IN THIS new world TOR ages vet ~ CONE,
Perhaps 1t may be said there was q material diff.
ference between the precedent circumstances Of tie
Revolutionary war and that which is Row declared
that Great Britain herself commenced that war.
aetnaliy invaded the colonies in "a hostile manner
anu That then the coomists fought in their own de-
renee. rue u is, that she did invade. But let us
look back to the proceedings of the British govern.
nent ~ relation to the colonies anteeedcnt To any
actual invasion. IL may he worth while to take this
REVIEW Tor the purposeOf pairing those piocced-
ngs WITH the present of that government in
reuoh 10 inns same country In its existing state of
inuependen ce. think there NAV be ,,crceiyetI "A
striking analogy between what would have been the
tendency-and effect of its former effort had tlat
been successful, aud its present cours. in relation
10 tie commerce OF thus Country. The one weult,
nave srtjcctcd' the property Of the colonist,
TO the arb,trnry disposal OF the fnrl;si, ia, .,nen,
IN Tue Iorn oil taxa,iom-The other subiecs TO ca,-
,ore aad condemnation the property Orthe Amer.
ieal c'tizens wbenmet with on the high seas and
destined to foreign ports, o. i'm It's pass,.. from
them. to hich ports tley have u, much ri,,t
ssten,iy with every principle of national law to
transport that property, and 10 prosecute their vo,
ages WITH the returns, the colonists he'd to be
exempt from taxes other than what might have
oeen imposed upon them by their own Representa-
tycs. =
How came the invasoii'to be made thenl Be
cause the coionsts would not submit to the claim of
taxation set UP by the British government. Had
'". ciai been submitted TO, there would have been
no invasion--there would have been no var. So
now IN respect to the orders in council and Impress
inent OF American aeamen-they must either have
neen submitted TO, or SEXUAL resistance by must
he m It.af- al, n 4
the claim OF taxation Because they denied that
the English parliament had any right to tax them
ana upon that ground they refused TO subject them
serves TO any such taxation. The effort was then
Iiaue 10 compel them 10y force of arms. Thus the
war commenced, and the coionists had to defend
themselves against that unwarrantabe atterant TO
Cypress and to deprive them of most essential at
tribute OF freedom. They had To engage; in a war
WIN nation Tor whom they had felt tie strongest
ties OF afeetion Their LOYALTY au, affection for ib.
mother country scarcely, indeed admitted NJ dca
cripuon, until the hand Of oppression and arbitrary
power was seen stretched forth to wrest from der,
that invaluable heritage. 4, =
Although the war terminated successfully on th,
ue OF the colonies after struggle of sever
Al years although it terminated in total separation
VI 'ie coiohes from the mother country, aud pae.
them IN state OF absolute independence; vet, al
most with the return of peace there was to he ner
1ehep "returh OF Partially in favor of th at nation.
he commerce Of these states immediately so,yb,
ue ports OF britain, and poured their redundant
products INTO her bosom. Tht. intercourse soon he
came Almost rs general and extensive as il was
uurihg the continuance of the political connexion
between the two countries-and the ansient Lar
mony' which had subsisted previously to the origin
W 'he cause oil separation, nearly restored 1t
seceu '"oeeu ASH the angel of reconciliation had
ho'ereu over the two countries with healing i'm its
wings and had almost extineuisl,ed the tr,,.s of
oiood, which the fell demon OF war had left behind
him. But enyy-balefui envy and rank jealousy in
snort tune began to look with evil and malignant
sim, .Nr
The British government beheltl in this young -four
ishihS and extensive country, the elements OF vast
expansive commerce, maturing daily and promising
sooh 20 rfai its own on the great commercial thea
Tres oil Europe and other parts Of the old world The
prospect OF these Immense resources Ia 2dy null
tplying, and under the auspices OF vigorous active
spirit OF enterprise pushed into operation alarmed
the PRIDE and Jealousy of that government and excl
leu the design OF a'ains itself of its naval force
making Tie war with France pretext to harrass in
Jure aud depress The American trade as much AZ
possible his IS the real source o(its whole system
uf mrrinme depredations, and which contini,es tn
noeiIsh that system in all its increasing inyeteracy
III this source Gi yexatiOus aggression unon nh.
commerce of the United States. we have porall.I
Win that, from whence originated the assertion of
right TO bind The people of this country when tbev
were coonlsts, by acts of Parliament, in all epses
whatever without their consent. Their rising n,.ns
Peiity ana weatii excited at that time spirit of
jealousy, as their growing prospects of commercial
eninehce nave excited it since the establishment of
their Independence-and, as in the one instance il
devised The scheme of arbitrary taxation for the
purpose oil drawing contributions from them nj
pleasure, IN order TO tighten the burdens of the
people OF England SO in the otlIsr Instance it has
formed The design OF 'iarging the circle of British
commerce by contracting that of the United States
dlHerence exists, however, in this respect--the
former scheme could not be carried into effect
whereas the latter has been, from the iorbear.
anee oil the United States, IN full operation for
years.
The resistance made by the colonists against the
projected scheme Of taxation made in defence of
ulelr rights chWtered to them portions of the Bril-
tsi empire : he resistance OF the United States a.
eanst the British orders in council will be ress-
ehice IN defence OF the rights of commerce al,per.
'"'"ihg TO mem as an independent nat on---a com-
merce IN which every article OF their own produce
for the system extends 10 all objects of
trade and merchandise whatever. II goes to inter
d'e aud 10 limit the trade OF this country as to all
SHch foreign ports as that government has chosen
10 include IN its interdietion, or 70 which it has
thought proper to permit the trade. 10 yield to this
would he To recognise in that government az, auth
priy 20 regulate the commerce oftlns country with
any part on parts of the world according 10 lis own
VIM, 10 M extent as unlimited as would have been
me power OF taxation over the colonies had right
20 exercise il b' acknowledgement subnittcd TO- L.
you'd &c indeed to relinguSl the very character Of
an independent nation.
The war, therefore which is nog resortcd to- will
be war not Of offence, by any means but solely *
strictly OF deicnoe-a defence too Of this nations
rlglso OF independence, pletcy q. The war of
the ieyoution was IN defence of Our tleu CO.
lOItal rights. An iuvssion ef the British colonies
tsuons to the United States will not operate any
change IN the character Of the war. Such inyasi,n
viii no more changc its character than the a,ta i
OF an American AIMED ssel made ON ono belonging
to Great Britain viii change its character The
cause OF the the one side and tie object e il