The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-01

War was not calculated to cure the evj
which affected US, hut to make it worse
! think so now. ca, the waste of our b.oot
and treasure heal Me wounds which til,
nations fancied honos may have received
Are we TO draw upon us all the niiserie!
that attend war, and Ill the dangers witt
which it is surrounded, without any practi.
cal good In prospect-rwhen perhaps ut the
end ct seven years we shall BE compelled
to SIX down and acqhiesce under the sys-
TENS against which the war is &aged-
merely TO have 1t to say, tina. we acted Ike
men OF spirit
Cir, l fear we have not been sufficiently
attentive to the progress OF events which
have passed before our eyes-events which
have Effected radical change in the as
.pect OF the civilized world We have at
ntributed the injuries and indgnities which
we have experienced, to causes distinct
from the true ones-we have supposed that
to the abstract and individual Injustice OF
the men who are the rulerslof c.. Britain
and France, was to be traced all our evils
when in fact that injustice wis the ineyita-
bic result of existing circumstances, and
when the true sources lay huch deeper.
The present state of the European worll,
is the primary cause from whit those prin-
ciples that have so seriously affected our
commerce have received theirprigin. And
to me it appears vain-to EXPECT that our
neutral rights will be respected until the
causes which have subvertel every val
liable principle, once rule d conduct be-
cen nations, shall no longer exist. We
may make arrangements witt France for
the revocation OF her decress and with En-
gland, for the revocation of no. orders II,
Council. But there will be nopermanent
security-we must participate 4 the evils
Tin some shape) which have fallen on the
community of civilized man.
Before the great changes in the aspect
OF Europe which have grown Snt of the
French revolution, the checks afforded by
a division of the. power of the tontinent,
into many distinct sovereignties gave secu-
rity even to the weakest. There vas a ma
tural jealousy which was all alive whene-
ever any attempt was made by any one,
infringe the principles which mutual in
terest, and mutual security had long conse-
Grated. In the wars which happened there
were dl7oays many, interested i'm tile pre-
servation of those rights which the Common
consent OF all had established for tile safe
ty OF neutrads@who were ready to make a
common cause against those who should vi
oiate them, and whom belligerents dare
not provoke to hostility. Hence neutral
pie means to enforce respect. But the
cause of this security no longer exists
the effect therefore will be looked for in
vain. There are now but two great pow
ers in Europe-one holding the dominion
OF the ocean, and the other of the land
They are mutually Interested in the pros
tration OF neutral rights, which are always
in conflict with belligerent CLAIMS and pre-
tensions. Are we capable against such An
immense host, population of perhaps cigh-
ty milions) to compel them toyield obcdi-
ence to our demands? Or who can we call
upon to assist us in giving security to the
almost forgotten privileges of neulrals /?
There is no hope for us as long as the
present war continues, aud continental Eu-
rope remains under the dominion of it's
imperial dictator.
THERE'S another delusion with which we
seem to have been carried away SC which
follows US to the present moment. We
nave considered ourselves Of too much i'm
portance in the scale of nations. Ithas led
us into great errors. Instead of yielding
70 circumstances which human power can
not control, We have imagined that our own
destiny and that of other nations was in
our hands--to be regulated as we thought
proper. 1T experience is to have any in.
nuence over us, we may Sc, how grossly
we were mistaken heretofore. The en-
barge and all its Kindred measures, which
were to bring the unjust bclligerents to oul
feet, have rccolled on ourselves. j he nett
thug is war, and this is recommended as {
certain cure / fear by the time it is over
we shall learn practically Gf we will not
learn sooner,) that there are periods in
the history of nations when not to act, is
virtuc-when those who manage their af
fairs must accommodate themselves to cir
cumstances-make a choice OF evils--anc
forego favorite object, because its attain.
ment is inpractlcable, or there is too Ditsc,
hazarded in the attempt.
In the present state of the RuroDea,
world, if we intend to have any intercours
with it, there is one Of two things VIC mus
sooner or later do. We must either perm
our merchants to carry their enterprise t
whatever quarter their interest or inclinati
on Tiay lead them, without being considere
as pledged to protect their rights, or redres
their wrongs, VIXEN out of our limits
tina; the hazard, whatever it shall be-yi
be heirS or we must determine with whnr
we will he on amicable terms during tn
present conflict in Europe-England @
France. This is a question of prudence an
could have been long since easily solved
The commerce Of England and her posse.
sioiis in every quarter Of the globe fand
ought to be rccollectcd that we are Going {
war FOR Commerce) IN a state of am;tv.
open To us, and is of vast inportancc-trh
commerce of France is very much restrict
and comparatively 81 no value-Enelan
can destroy oar commerce to France
France cannot affect ours to England. w