Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-06
From the Charleston City Gazette.
REFLECT, BEFORE YOg
C. o " ID E NJ W"
lcoN1INUED.)


What will be the consequences of admit
ting neutrals to our ports
One of the most obvious, and that which
appears to have excited the most uneasiness
is, that possessing the advantage of not be-
ing exposed to capture, they Will be able to
exclude our vessels from competition in trade
to their respective ports. But should this
consequence insure to them so decided an
advantage, what worse situation are our
vessels placed IN, than if positively eXclud-
ed from their ports circumstance that ia
all probability would have followed upon the
exclusion of neutrals from our trader AS
1t is, by the aid of the additional duties and
tonnage, the difference otinsurance may in a
measure be counter0alanced. And at last,
should the whole naval resources of the u
States be diverted for a while from the Cham
! mel of commerce, and turned into that of
privateering, full as much advantage proba-
bly, VIII result from 1t, both as TO enriching
US, and embarrassing G.. Britain.
The suspension of the carrying trade must
necessarily he consequence of the war.
But what worse situation does the war place
| us in, than had already been produced by
| the acts of G. Britain! Her Courts OF Adj
miralty, her Blockades and Orders in Coun-
! Gil, had already anhihiated our carrying
trade; and a leading object of this war is to
| endeavor to cripple her in retaliation.
| Supposing that neutrals, Notwithstanding
| an exclusion from our ports, should still be
| induced by theft policy or that of Great
| Britain, to admit our vessels into their ports
would it be any thing more than lure
| for the unwary or unprinciplod! What
! would such a trade be worth, unless licensed
| directly or indirectly by Great Britain 1t
IS possible that her policy may induce her TO
withdraw her cruisers from some particular
entrepot, in order to procure from thence
the supplies which she may need. Bat in
| that case, nentrals will have no advantage
| over our own vessels.
direct trade from our ports to Great
Britain by neutrals, is prohibited by her laws
so that at least her supplies will be procur-
ed with increased delay, expense and risk
But suppose that the expectation of our pro-
duce were wholly prohlbited--what benefi-
Cial effects would result TO Us from it? Does
1t distress the lower order Of her people p
{ then it fills her armies and her navy with re-
crafts. Who doubts that a faCtitious dis
tress is at times resorted TO for this purpose
by their administrations Bat it is very
doubtful whether it would increase, in any
high degree, this If be such) desirable OBJ
ject. The distTesses Of the manufacturirq
laJOrcrs result from want of employment
Fit is the non-imporation act that produ-
ccs it. 1t is IN VAIN that there be provisions
in England, it the poor have not the money
to purchase. The laborer there scarceIy
earns more than will support him daily
Let him DC idle week, and ms family is star
wing. In vaiA also are provisions to DC pro-
cured from other countries, the Inan who
wants them IS unable to pay for them The
merchant viii not bring MS property within
the reach of a starving and Impoverished
populace.
/ But It IS contended that Great Britain