Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-16
DEF ERRED ARTICLES.
FROM THE NATIONAL ADVOCATE.
RESTRICTIVE SYSTEM.

The RI strictive System, we have before OBJ.
served, was peculiarly asiaptt d, as measure of
coercion, to state of peace, and to those cir
cumstances of the commercial world when the
British flag and trade were excluded from eve.
ry civilized country The Spanish revolu ion
was the principal incident which defeated the
operation Of the former embargo the effects
OF the non importation act produced the condi.
tonal repeal or modification OF the British or.
ders in council, which the dec ara,ion of war,
prevented from being carried into effect But
neither OF these measures seemed to be suited
TO a state of war, which had been substituted
forthem. They were essentially pacific in their
nature, and dried up those sources of revenue
which are the sinews ofthe war. But however
burthensome in their nature, and whatever sa.
CRITICS. they might have required from the peo-
pie, they would unquestionubiy have been cheer
fully sustained, had not great revolution taken
place in the commercial system of Europe. in
consequence ofwhich these restrictive measure S
had become Intellectual. The commercial SD,
nit Of the age, which win brook no delay in the
fruition OF the benefits of trade, has overleapeti
all the restraints attempted 10 he imposed up
on IL. Neutrals, as betweenus and G. Britain,
have arisen, who have common interest with
the U. States, in asserting he rights of maritime
nations, as well as in a commerce with this
country. In the almost total introduction of 70.
reign trad by our laws, they could ave no mo
tive for asserting those rights against British
pretensions. Now that this trade is 10 be- thrown
open, they will be brought in direct collision
with our enemy against his paper blockade oil
our coasts
We have also alluded to the disinclination of
the Senate to adopt these measure (which were
on all hands deemed absolutely necessary to
carry into fiect the non-importation. The same
remark applies to the House of Representative S
which had referred to the committee of com.
merce and manufactures the bill, passed by the
the Senate, totally prohibiting the importation
OF rum, and cotton and woollen g0ls. Thus
the President became alone responsible for a
measure. which, whatever might be its merits
IN theory, had become practically Intellectual,
for the want of those subsidiary provisions that
were necessary to enforce it. Already broken
down, and trampled upon by smugg!ers, it was
further violated under the cloak of the law, and
goods, bounded under false valuation, or i'm
ported as of neutral growth and manufacture,
eluded the vigilance of the officers of the law.
In this state of things, can it be wonderful that
the Executive should refuse to be any longer
responsible for system which the Legislature
refused to give fair trial, by furnishing the
means of carrying ii into eHsct.
The Ncw-England States (ss they are pleased
TO style themselves) will now feel the effects of
their blind and indscriminate opposition to the
measures OF Administrations. The ingredients of
that chdHce which they had themselves prepa-
red, will now be returned to their o.,n l;ps.-
They can now no longer profit by the exemption
OF their ports from blockade, he d out by the
enc my as premium for their disaffection nor
can they drain our vaults of specie to buy Bri.
fish bills Their shipping will be rivailed by
neutrais, and their manufactures sustain the
competition of the British. ii they should be
outstripped in this competition, of whom can
they complain but themselves ! Have they MOI
-disclaimed the protection of the government in
every form ! Have they not declared their abb
lily to manage their own affairs, in their own
wayi