Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-26


should be that OF desisg means to prcscrve pcaco in
future among tho Amcrican nations themselves aud
with the rest of tho world. No time cunId be more
auspicious than the present, for Successful INQUIRY
oy the American Nations, into the causes which have
SO often disturbed the repose OF the world and for an
earnest endcavor, BY wise prccaution, Ia the es,ub
hshnent OF Just and enlightened principles for the
government of their conduct IN peace and in war TO
s"aro, as tar rs possible against all misundcrsa
They have no oldpreudiccs to combat; no long
established practcesto change; no cntangcd conneS.
IONS or theories to break through. Committed to no
parucular systems OF commerce, nor to any selfish
ochgerent code OF law, thoy free TO consult the
experience of mankind, and to establish, without
oias principles tor themselves adapted to their con-
on and likely to promote their peace, security, and
happiness. Remote from Europe il Is moi probnbl,
that they will often be involved in the wars with
which that quarter Of the globe may be destined.
hereafter to he afflicted In these wars the policy of
all America viii be the same, that Of peace and ncu
trality, which the United States have, heretofore.
const sntly laborcd to preserve.
II tho principles which that probable state of eu
traity indicates as best for the interests of this HEM
sphere DC, at the same time. just in themselves. end
cacuiaeo 10 prevent wars mitigate the rigor Of
those great scourges, they will present themselves to
the general acceptance with an union frre sisib,e
Recommendations Both those qualities are believed
to be possessed by the maritime principles for which
the United States have contcndcd and especially
Throughout the whole period of the late European
wars The President wishes you to bring forward
those pruncplcs OH an occasion suspicious that
H.
controlled power whatever element it is excrted
Is prone to great abuse. But is still more liable
to abuse on the sea, than on the land perhaps be-
cause II Is there exercised beyond the presence OF
impartial spectators, and, therefore, with but little
moral restraint resulting from the salutarv influence
ofpublic opinion, which, il applied ALL has always
to be subsequently, and consequently less efficacious
Iy applied. The moral coguisance when IL comes To
be taken, finds. too, more doubtful or contested
state OF fact, than It the theatre had been where there
we're more numerous and less preudiccd witnesses.
At all times there has existed more inequality in the
distribution among nations, Of maritime, than of ter
ritoral power. In almost every agc some one has
had the complete mastery the ocean, and this SUI
perorty has been occasionally great as to more
than counterbaIncc the combined maritime force
OF al other nations, if such combination were prac
tlcable But when single nation finds itself posses
Sod Of power any where, which one nor all other
nations, successfully check countervail, the
consequences too sadly unfoded in the papes of
history. Such nation grows presumptuous. impa-
tcnt OF decentralization opposition, and finds the so.
LUTON OF national problems easier and more grateful
to its PRIDE by the sword than by the slow and less
brilliant process of patient investigation. Ifthe supe-
riorty be the the excuses in the abuses of
that power become intolerabie Although, in the ar
raDgement of things, security against oppression
should be the greatest where it is most likoy To he
often prnctiscd, IL is, nevertheless remarkabe that
the progress Of enlightened civilization has been
much more advanced on the land than on the ocean.
And, accordingly, personal rights. and especially those
of property In both safety and protection on the
Scarcely any circumstance would now tend more to
cxalt the character of America than that of uniting
Its endeavors TO bring up the of civilizations
rs applied to the ocean TO the same forward point
which it has at aimed the land, and thus rendering
men and their property against all human in.
justice and violence, leave them exposed onv to the
action of those storms aud disasters, sufficiently peri
lous which arc comprehended in the dispcnsations of
Providence.
1t is under the influence Of these, and similar con-
sidcretions, that you will bring forward at he con-
,t.lf H.
against private property and non combatants upon
the ocean. Private property OF an enemy is pro-
tected when land from seizure and confsca-
tion Those who do not bear arms there are
not disturbed In their vacations. WHY should not
the same humane exemptions be extended to the
sea? Ifmerchandise in warehouse OH shore re-
mains unmoested, amidst the ravages of modern war
can any good reason be assigned for allowing the
same merchandise, when transferred to ship which
is peaceably navigating the ocean, TO be object of
legitimate capture and condemnation? If artisans
and husbandrnen are permitted, without hindrance,
To pursue their respective calings, why should not
the not less useful mariners be allowed peaceaby to
distribute the productions OF their industry in exchun-
ges for the common benefit of mankind? This has
been object which the United States have had
much at heart, ever since they assumed their place
among the nations. More than forty years apo Dr.
FranEin, one ofther most enlightened and success
ful ministers, thus expressed HIMSELF lit is time il
is hugh timc for the rake of humanity, TINT a st5o
we're put to this enormity. The United States of
America, though better situated than my European
nution to make profit by privoecring, are as far as
in them lies, endeavOrng to abolish the practice by
offering, in all their treaties with other powers an
article engaging soemny that, in of future war
no privatecr shall be commissioned either side
and that una led merchant Ships, on both Sides shall
pursue their voyages unmolcsted. This will be n
happy improvement ofthe law OF nations. The hui
name and the just cannot but wish general success TO
the proposition" What the sagacious forecast of
that ilustrious man enabled him to anticipate at
that early day of our national existence, has been
fully confirmed in Our subsequent progress. We arc
better situated than any other nation and, in the
event Of war, we nov have ample means TO enable
us to make profit by Prvateerng but faithful to our
principles offer, in or mutirer and stronger
condition, the samo stpulaons which wero offered
BY Franklin and other American negotiafors but
which might then have been attributed 10 our infn.
cy and weakness.
IT. by the common consent ofnatIons, private pro-
pery on the ocean no longer liable to capture as
lawful prize OF war, the principle that free ships