Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-02
TO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA

In " h'ufngton's Nerv-York Gasetfeo of nee.
ou'' Is publication, under the appearance of a
.etler IRON London, dated September Goth and
IS on subject which demands the attention q,
the United States y
The public will remember, that treaty. rs
commerce between the United States and Eng.
ana was set on foot last spring, and that uni,
uie ssId treaty could be completed, bill wa.
prcught INTO the British Parliament, by the tbep
cnanceilor OF the exchequer, Mr.. Pitt. to adm
ma iegalize Gas the case then required1 the com
nerce OF the United States into the British nor,
,'u uoln'nipns; But neither the one nor the other
mas oeen completed. The commercial treaty. is
either broken off, or remains as it began and
ne OH IN parliament has been thrown ASIDE
>nu III leu thereof, selfish system of Enelisi.
ooiitlcs mas started up, calculated to fetter the
commerce OF America, by s,,grossins- to EneL.n,.
ne c0rrTTg trade cfhs .imeriean produce /. he
lPest india isLands
Among the advocates for this last measure is
ORC Sheheid, member ofthe British parlja
,ent, VINO mas published pamphlet entitled
,oserOnhons on the Commerce of the .qneyicaa
'fates. The pamphlet Ia. two objects the onf
;, 10 allure the Americans to purchase British
manufactures and the other, to spirit ND the
,rtlsn ,ariAment 70 prohibit the einzens ofthe
on'fed Siafss from trading TO tho West India is
idnds .' %
viewed IN this light, the pamphlet, though N
soms parts dextefousiy written, is an absur1iity
IL onends, IN the very act of end eayourinsr To in
5ratate; and his Iordship, as a politician oupbt
'ot to have suffered the two objects to have 40.
peared together The letter alluded to contains
extracts foIn the pamphlet, with high encom,.
ms ON lord Sheffield, for laboriousIy endeavor.
ng las the letter styles it) to shew the mighty
'usahtaSe' OF retaining the carrying trade
o,hce the publication of this pamphlet in Eng
NO. ~, rle Commerce. o. the United Stafes TO The
:. O., A"d'es ~ drrerican DesseLs has heen prohi.
vi q and all intercourse, except in British hat
TOMS. the property OF, and navlgsted by British
subj Gus cut off
ii'a' country has right to be as fool sh a,
piesses, has been proved by the practice 81
! ShBi Tor many years past In her InsuIar q.
VA ION seques cred from the world. she forge
that her ispers re heard by other nat ons am
IN her plans OF polit cs and CONNIE, ce. she seem
not 10 know, that other votes are necessary be
sues hr own America would be equally -,
TOOL sh as Britain, were she 10 suffer. so frreat
degradation on her flag. and such stroke On the
lance va
Weadimt the right of any nation TO prohibit the
commerce OF another into its own domu,ions
where there areno treaties to the contrary h.,
~ TINS right belongs to one side as we'll as the
't9er' there is always u zsdy e/t to bring avarce
and insoience to reason.
But the ground Of security which Lord Shelf
neld has chosen to erect his policy upon. 10 of
nature which ought and think must awaken IN
every American, just and strong sense of matt.
onai dignity Lord Sheffield appears to be sen.
sioie, That III advising The British nation and Paw
lament 10 engross to themselves so great n mar,
OF the carrying trade Of AmericS,ie is AZ emnt; O.
measure which cannot succeed, ifthe poIuics
81 the United States, be promptly directed 10
coluteract the assumption
Rttf h., l..
hs,e oeDors me 8gssricdn Stdtes can Be bro,I,5, S
act as nation, nsSthsr are thsy 10 be Eayo s ,,,I
by Hs." ~ '"s''
What is this more or less than a. tell ma a.,
while we have no national system oS
the br1hsh zSg gopsru zr traos by their ov,,'
Jaws ana ProclsmstIons As they biease. The QUO
'atlon dlScloses truth too serious IN he ..
yerlooked, and too mischievous not 10 be rerns.
d.ed. ~ O' ien's-
among other Circumstances which led them
70 tDls discovery, none could operate 40 effectu.
Hny' a. tne mludcious, uDcandd and indecent
opPoSluon made by sundry persons in a CERTAIN
winter, for an import duty Of FIVE ner esn, =,
.ould not but explain to the British ,eeaE,.s,
~ me national ps1osr Of yfnerica, and encourage
nem 20 attempt restrictions on her trade. which
otherwise they would not haus dared "a Ia yard
Nsitner IS there any state in the union wbose
policy was more nisdirectsd, to its interest than
tne state allude to, because her principal sun.
Port IS the carrying trade, which britain induced
~ .ue Want OF well conferred power IN the U.
70 Protect and secure, Is now attempt Ing TO
axe away. It fortunately happened land 10 no
state IN the union more than the state r., uest;on
nat the terms ofpesce were agreed on before
me opposition appeared, otherwise, there need,
not doubt that if the same idea of The diminish.
Ell authority ofhmerica had occurred to them q,
mat tune /" has occurred to then since, b1t