Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-13
Cor. MoNRoE's CORRESPONDENTS.


oS
Cor MoNRoE's CORRESPONDENCE.
Communicated TO Congress 81 the President or
the 5ti Novsnsber. 1911.
NO. VI.
= IT is unfortunate that the diplomatic COR
dependence Of our several ministers have
tnrned so much upon Eurorcan politics.
When Great Britain first undertook to jus
Gfy her outraScs on our commerce by quot
ing the ediots of France as a precedent, it
was a cohit0i error to Join issue upon that
point. lthas given TO The American side citle
question tho ohhcarance OF cuaiescin, with
France. Many good men have no doubt been
misletl by this false appearance, and have
lent their voices to swell the chorus of oppos-
ton which has so long, and hit too successful
ly, sounded in our ears. We ought to have
pressed with energy each of the great often
dcrs, without suffering the acts of one to he
cited AZ. an apology for those of the other.
We ought to have avoided that disgraceful
scene, the ridicule ofall Europe, wherein our
minister's at Paris and at London, were mere.
channels for conveying the sentiments of
Trance On the one part ard of Enc land OH
the other, and were made use of by the two
great bclligerent potentates to feel each O.
theirs political pulse. relative to TIE probable
duration of their orders and edicts. During
the continuance Of this scene, messengers
were continually crossing the channel to learn
the inclinations of Napoleon or George the
Third until the knavery of the two mon
archs became SO palpable that human ma
ture would bear the farce no longer.
1t would be. worse than useless 20 dwell
upon these past transactions, were it not to
answer the purpose of a present good to
Al foil rs
ble-handed diplomacy, which has enabled
France and England to play us backward
and forward like a shuttle-cock. Henocfor-
ward let US deal sngle-handed with each.
Let US say to Great Britain, syou have
wronecd us, ana YOU must do us Justice" If
she replies that France, too, has done us
wrong let US not even name France in orr
correspondence with Great Britain let ms
repeat the wrong and reiterate the demandGor
redress and, ifredress is not given, put the
nation into ian armor and an dtfitude de-
manded by the crisis In the mean tune
however let us make the same remonstrance
10 france. and demand the like satisfac-
ton: II she refuse, or unreasonable DELAY.
let us prepare for her likewise: And thus
instead of wasting words upon paDer. instead
ct an eifusion of breath in scoldnp. both G.
Britain and France will see that we are not
partial to either; that, against each, we are
Determined to maintain our rights not only
by acts OF Congress, but by acts ofzyQr. Both
will perceive, by our proceedings, that We
are serious, that we are not to be further ca
joled, and that there must be an end 10 ;nsnl,
and outrage or an end to all friendly inter
course. AS far as the President and Con-
gress have proceeded, this appears now to
be the Dissemination Of government.
The strongest point of view in which G
f~nf,r~ -. - e
relation to the orders in council, is this /:
That France prohibits, wherever her power
extends, the leof British productions; that.
therefore. Great Britainis authorised. where
ever British power extends, to proven, the
sale OF FRENCH productions and that, as the
trade OF neutrais to France enables the
latter to sell her manufactures and produce
Great britain, in order 70 prevent such sale,
has right 70 oSstruct the neutral trade
his opens N;3an Us a new doctrine.. and n
mounts tc DottiHg more nor less than an as
sumption CT q Supreme direction over the
commerce OF the weird. The whole cur
rent OF Mr.: fcSter areumenteSoes to,estab-
ish the pr.nciPie, 1fct al nclh7nl trade is
a7kaFyfltt IA 7okich British manufactures and
firdduce DO not. form O material article. And
hence the inference, ve,y logically drawn nv
Mr.. Monroe, that before Great Britain will
suRcr the United States 10 enjoy a fair neu-
trail commerce in articles of American pro
duction, the y. States must compel France
to allow them to trade in articles of British
production. Ihe absardity of this protein
sion will very strongly appear, by supposino
the case of mechanic, a shoe-maker fny
example, who, because lie viii not sell the
shoes of another shoe. ma ler, that other BAYS
up the door of his shop aud will not lethim sell
his own shoes. The absurditv of the thing
might, indeed, be lcssened il the United
States, from caprice, or fYom a spirit of hos
UNITY, refused to make sale IF British fabrics
IT is not, however, the United States who ,e-
fuse to sell, but il is The Trench 7yho yefps,
10 buy the productions of Great Britain II
the thought were not too ludicrous for a grave
subject, 1T might be supposed that the British
ministry wishes America to treat France a,
the cooks sometimes treat living Turkey
stuff her with articles for which she has ne
inclination.
France declares, if we 10 trade in Bri;isl
merchandise to France, she will seize vesse
and eargo: Great Britain proclaims. that I;
We do NOT trade in British sIerchandize e
France. We shall not trade a. all. 1t follow 5
then, that sce could carry orr ozDn hrodHc
sto'ls 70 France, if Great Er5taala did rot IN
trrrnht rs. Her interruption arises, a IA,
FoS'er contesscs, not from any act Of cars
but from the acts Of France AS tho Unite,
states are not rcspt nsible for the acts q
France, tho interruption Of o1r conmerc,
with France by the British is cansc!ess. WI
may righuully resist it by arms, o. we maj
submit to it. But, If we WELD 70 IT, an az
foreign trade Is enbargo,d, TO- the Enylis,
ports afford no markets The people of tlu
Cnfted States would not submit TO an er,6cy
80 when lsid on by their own governmeDt
MHey gt5nN TO an cmbmgo ,7q&osfd o.