Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-18
DON ESTIC.
From the Baltimore .Aneriean.
CAUSES OF WAR.

IN hazarding his reputation on the assertion
that the causes # war against G.. Britain
~ this time, are as many, and as great "A
they were when the Patriots If the Ameri-
can colonies determined to take up arms
20 resist the pretensions and usurpations of
he councils f the mother country. Blind
totruth, and deaf to argument, party spi-
rit seems to have taken such powerful hold
on the minds Of the fcderalists, as to make
them, contend that we may safely and homer
ably submit to the hostile conduct of En-
gland that her CT inns are compatible with
state of peace and an unlin,ited trade TO
her dominions, and that our government ex-
cusivev are tn blame for the interruption
OF the fair and friendly relations which once
subsisted between the two nations. We can
impute the prevalence OF these fatal noti-
ons, which have subverted every principle
of reason, every feeling of patriotism, to no
other cause than the unprincipled publica
tons in the violent and maniac leading fe-
deral papers, transplanted into the columns
of every weekly journal, under federal gui-
dance, on the continent Whateve- may
be the moUke or the stimulants which move
the federal editors and writer's to act as they
do act; whether it be an honest, !. faciiHus
or az ambitious zeal to overthrow the np-
posite party, the effect is the same. The
demolition IF the splendid fabric of Ameri-
can Independence, reared by the toll and
valor of the Revolutionary Patriots. and he
roes, must follow the triumph of the federal
party, if when in power, they act upon the
same principles towards Great Britain,
which their leaders now avow and sup
port. We would fain bring the great boz
dy of honest federalists back to a recollec-
| ton of their duties and rights as citizens of
an independent country /; we would fain
convince them, that they will better con
suit their own permanent welfare. by direct
ing the artillery of their vengeance against
the usurpations of n foreign foe, than by di-
recting it, as they now do, against their
own government we would fain implore
them not to immediate on the altar ofpar-
ty spirit, the dearest interests of their
| country and themselves, as an independent,
neutral nation.
What are the belligerent claims of En-
gland, and the causes of war? In addition
to the impressment of seamen, the most de-
testable species Of despotism exercised over
the citizens of neutral power, she main
tains the principle, in practice as we'll as in
theory, that the trade of neutrals depends
upon the gracious will of belligerents. : he
treaty of Utrecht, concluded between
France and England on the 31st of March,
1918, recognized and established the rule,
that &c free ships make free goods" and
that all property covered by the neutral
flag, contraband articles always excepted,
should be exempted from the inspection
| and seizure of belligerent cruzers. Great
Britain habitually tramples upon this rule,
which has formed the basis of all modern
treaties, Jays treaty excepted, which ought
to be held ne less sacred than it is just BY
tho ire - Il Al r. IN
| credit was to be given to all passports or
sea-letters /; and merchants, exhibiting
these passports or sea letters, were NOT TO
BE SEARCHED, noLested, or con1heLled TO
quit their intended course unless contra
band goods were found" Great Britain
claims & exercises the privilege of search
ing our merchant vessels in all cases, whe-
Their they have sea letters or not. She paws
no respect, in theory or in practice, to the
most authentic and indisputable American
documents. The visits and searches made
by the Lieutenants of her cruzers, are ge-
| morally accompanied by the most indecent
and provoking insults.
The convention ofJune %, 1870, between
Russia. Denmark, Sweden and ether DOW
ers, which was formed to indicate and
maintain The long established rights of neu-
trails, founded upon universal national law,
recognized the just and rational principle,
that apower at war has no right even to
interrupt the commerce of neutrals, and
that neutral nation must not lose by the
wars of others, the rights which she had
before those wars. Great Britain not only
interrupts the commerce of neutral Ameri-
ca, but constantly captures, plumbers and
condemns it, in the most arbitrary and vex-
atious manner, without even pretending to
have shadow of right to do il. She reta-
liates the injuries of France on an unoffen-
ding and peaceable neutral. Her orders in
council, her paper blockades, are all ac-
knowledged violations Of neutral American
| commerce.
And is it possible, that the federal party
can be willing to indulge Great Britain or
any other beligeient in these nefarious
claims and practices, by which that valua-
bic commerce, of which they pretend to be
the exclusive friends, is harrassed and ru-
ined When it is as plain as the light of
! day, t,lag every one of her pretensons, G.
very act which she commits to enforce
those professions, is a cause of war; when
her writer's, her cabinet, her members of
Parliament, ministerial and opposition, adj
NIT that her orders in council are unjust to-
wards us and subversive Of the established
laws of nations is il possible, with these
overwhelming facts daily before their eyes.
that the honest federalsts in the party can
censure revile and oppose their govern
ment for attempting TO go to wat to resist
the acknowledged injustice, the violence, the
vexatious insults, the maritime despotism
of Great BritainS For tho honor Of the
American name, for the permanent interest
and commercial prosperity Of thu nation,
we 5eseech them IN stay the progress Of the
mad opposition of their mad leaders, to a
government contending for the fnmut able
principles Of justice. for the proudest and