fa
THE NORTH- CAROLINA MINERVA,
..'.:"--: . an d' . . . ..:.....-...; .. ,
, . , ,. , -r " ' ; : : :-' - ' ' ' . 1 " .. - ' '-- - ' "
FATET-TEV It.LE ..Published evpy SATURDAY by HODGE and BOYLAN.
VbI.riII.
NtJMB. II3.
,
L E T T E R
FROM THE '.".."
HON. HARRISON G. OTIS, f
TO THE - .
HON. WILLIAM HEATH.
Philadelphia, March 30,
- trip jYft-
I798.
SIR ,
YOUR favour of the 2lftindant, iuclofmg a vote
ofthe-tqwn-ofitTxlrttry, upon the' ful'refl. of-pennit--
ting the armament of private "veffels, was received" by
-toe on the 28th, tub late to be prrfentedto trie houfe
on that day; but "on the next morning it was read and
comrmtted-toa ommittce-of th-wlwle houfcHQri the
flate of the Union. I thank you, fir, and your col
leagues of the conimittee, for the
to both houfes, at the laft feffion of Cb'ngfefi, " fiom
any'doubt of the propriety of perrntttfng eur veffels to
employ nfeansof defence while engaged in lawful com
merce, but mere'y to prevent colhtfion wiih the pow
ers at war," at'ihe faieimfir.e0-O3.Ln.eudij.)..to.ion--grefs
to, prefcribefuch regulations as would embrace
both objects. For fuch regulations, I then was, and
merce,, the augmentation of the .value of their land
and produce, and he flouriihing Hate of their town
are to be imputed. Indeed the vote of the town holds
Qp an expectation that Congrcfs will clevife fome ad
equate mean3 to protect cut commerce.
Three modes of protection are. all tbst occur tb rnr
imagination; an embargo, a public naval armament.
dill am an advocate, and have no doubt but th.it they -.j and an armament of private veffels. A general era.
a ned. 9-tef4t?e the nrinrinnl cw-xi'uLqjHIgo.WQuld not protect either our commerce navi-
confiding to my caie a petition, which it was probably
vknown would not-comport vvtth my own fentiments.
Although I. had long hnce forced an'o;-.iiii-nn 'lifer
ent from that of my fV!io.--'-:t!t ns oi Roxbury,
... under a due imprtffioaot.'.-eii; iiiiiitrortliefujeciy.r
y et the vote.of that refpectable town had. a clai'.-ii upon
my attention, which induced'me to review th"eco'iTffe"
of my dwn, reflections upon the fubjeft, and to weigh
the principal argu men t fuggelted in their me-nomL
It 18 ftiil my misfortune to-diiT nt front 'this intelligent
portion of ny condituents. My puidpat confutation
is derived from your remark, that he meeting wA3
affembled at avery (hort notice. Tlx: unanimity of
the "dee'duiv may therefore bep fuolynripi:ted-to a
iincereand laudabjc anxiety I'oT'pTnrepjJierTftj-n't;
a "deliberate examination of the arguments relating to
the fubjecl. Without this'prefurr.ption, T muild dill
hefitate to declare, that after much enquiry ana reflec
tion, more perhaps than every individual at that-meeting
found time to bedovv upon the quellior;, I do' be
-Iteverit highly-expedient and etfcTrtnl totl;e cdmrner--
cia! Tnt ef c it of this cou n:r y' t h s F'" "6 u'F m i crchnTrts (hoiiJd,
hi permitted to arm their vVfe!s ; or, in other words,
... that t ht y fli ould not be re ft r a) ned f 1 o m J"o doing hy law
except perhaps in certain fpeuial c :fcr.
. A fcnfe.of duty, and a hp'e of renovin doubts
from the minds of fomc of the ijrin'itcants ot koxbury,
iduce.me to fubtnit to their consideration a flcgtcfr'of
vertam rfeiifoiis, whith jdilify thi conclulion to nsy
" own minu, preceded by a'T3rtimar.Vof principal facts,
js, Tha buy ofature and of iiaf Ajn antliurie ' the
liht of ca r r y To gt a rno j ; forf ej ( Fc f "e ne , by f e a h s tv el 1
asy land, and no law has ever prohibited ta o;.u; eif
zensthVecrchcof this right.. In practice it lecns to
have been regulated by the menfure of danger inci
' dent to navigation, iii different Lr.it irdcs and fear- The
private (hips of all nations dt dined"' for the-c-o?:-3: 'of Af
rica, ,qr beyond the Cape of Good Hope, genyraliy,
if not. slways, carry gans, and the fame puic'tice ob
tains in the Mediterranean.' - - .
The intriguts of Mf. Genet, whe .ja n Vwill re
mrmber, came to: this country with initruffions to
InTplicate in a common caule vith' t!ie i'jejWh re
public, required all .t!ic vigilaace of government to
crunteraft them. He. had fcattered hi; co nmQon
preaeniion alligiied by tiie tovhT, wiiicli rtteis to cap
tains who are not citizens of the United States. C011
grtlsdid not however think proper to interfere upon
hsafi-dnAthT
the prclident iiill repeated and enforced his opinion of
t:v neetfli'.y for this precautionary me..fure, our lof
ies by French' captures thciiV ainbu uti ui g. to "npwarda of
ffieeh milion of dollars On the 26t.I1' December, a bill
was reported to the houfc confotmabli to this view
limiting and jedrajnjng jdie right of arming to certain
CafnthranftSritr5rn)f ;hieh
The depredation on our. trade Mill increased, and by
a late decree or the difeeY;ry arc faiicVibncd in another.
lmtnrfe defer iption of cafes ; under ciicumilances
yhich demonilratJ -in- intcnti'M to proceed to dill gr.ea
ter extremities, and to annihilate our commerce.
. Til? Prefi Jent CQUvtnciJ' as h? declarer, in public,
that ni hope remiins yf ii favorable . termination of our
f emk.fly to Fraaec ; -after haying indfucted our cmi-
iiiuu 3 in uu an duc renounce our (uuionai liiue-
gation, but deftiby both, and produce the evils above
enumerated in thin full extent. A partial embargo
upv'i our own veiTeli, while ' p n fnJ
pg it 'ence, to prefcrve peacf ,ij.iid Ji nd tng-that- an ex
ceii of caution to xvmi giving offence,-prod uci no
other. fruit than an a;.';n;vAti;m of inpry and infait, has
decided with tint wjfdo-"n-nd-pi-udenccvwhich' difttn-
gui;h "a-rl !r i --;tirm3, ' lotrger to' t.-ike' fhc iefponfi-
bihty or i iirdiiiiug pf;Ardive ineafures upon himfelf ;
but. by revoking she " -order of the colVftora, has pla-
I ,.,.J-.:.. :f - .- V. t
M-e rrgru of arfrtti'-q- u-ioir the urea a anti original
mv.i:v awd nations. A refub.uion
I ; 1 a . -x. iaul : ot Keprel nt.Ui , s
-op rso it (1 t o t a k e- m ca 1 u re -i o n this
t'if.-t.v
kn-n n cf
i d. We
ce : .
bafi5
fu")iect to ' clhaiii tbe n'-,rht of nri.vate armament by law
of ltik!v.C.uc;i ?.o iriv:' been heievofjre prcicribed to the
cli'-ctVrn. to inch a reftramt i profels iiiyf-.If to be.
O'Or.feJV bclievin tint it wnuii be-IrWilr - tr.r'rtoiiS
t AniFcetmi ri e, ra;"ii;u:6 to 'our.navigaiiori, a.d ton
fequeT.t":y"io" the" hiidcd"'iiTterelK and ' tnat-'lt "wotihV
j ' ' 1
rat pet
w.
XL
rrre
ninam
ot tfe"l" I'tivit .
" T '.c export
' " T,' 1
anr-en'.c tire
-- t - !
fpint-ot. violence sua
th'-vjprcfeiit.Dirc&ory
than
wlirriv attvjot;
i'Jlf!!C.' . - -
othe co:nrnon xvu !.! ol ?,la)ta-nmetr,
'or me latr Year. ' amounted 10 ifvc-sin".!lJons ana an
Tfg"affoTTTvviTId7m our commeree, and
all that remains would be carried on bj the fccliigerent
nations or by neutrals, under great additionaljcharges
arid expellees. Fi ance, one of t he belligerent nations,
would be thus deprived 61 our commerce in Americaa
boUocns, and bs no fhfps of her own engaged tn trade.
Great .Britain T0nthex .'many fhips,-;
Would derive ' an imrpcnfc benefit fr;im becoming our
carriers. Hcc.ttarle wuld be invrcf: 1, and tjm the
onjy obftacle on the"part 0 France to declaring war
agair.d us, which is bei v int of our commeice, would
be removed, a& her enemy would monopolize the Whole
of that benefit, excepting th.it part which might dill
be cbrried on by neutrals. Could youSir, as an
Amciicaii, fit patiently and fee the tlups pi Great
ri?,J'tf or from. . 5 v cden, Deumar Ic or the Hanfe
r9WBi"-.r?'0-.trJMuBpliautry . httntt ports, "and bV
JOB eiin-af a -iewg-mts erj?rring t nr-wrrale"C4 fry i ng t rade
o: our country, w!i;le uurown ILips would le 1) ing
in our docks, a prey to worms, an J their owners and
builders idle in our fhceta-a -prevto that devouring'
conkerwli ich feeds up ni the Ina' t drings! i will not
belike that you are willing to fubmit to this humiliat
ing fpectncle. - , .
' A public naval armament is in itfilf the mod ' natu
ral, fife, and I. believe ftugal defence cf American
commerce. It is ho.vever a mighty bulwark which
cannot be created in a day, and which too many wifh
Hiould never be create d. A growing jeaJcuiy of com.
n-.i ir,R,i.;n, an,-i i ii.n rnuft be correftcd or fub
dned, before this noble object can be accomp!ilhec!.
-Sf:t.t fhi og-,-.however, might, and l trud will be ef
fected towards it. - iiclolutions are btfure us, for the
purchafe. or building of a rumber of fliips that may
"nrtinriTrfVoiirWciTt
four .r.i!i;on3 and an half
f)r the equipment of privateers t h rughou t ;.our Vca
ports,, and veffels were daily armed and fitted out,V to
cwite agavnlt one ct toe oeiagerent powers.
-f eat a dratagem-efidtntly-calcnirt'rrt-trr-
ractnrality, an aft of Congtefs was pa'fled June, 179.
1 1 r r in r- 1
rrair or. uoiiars ; or vviiicu
.vcrc tire-produce and fra riu
try-T-Aiiy" Uagiiatfon brcommerce that ihoiild. tota-lly
rnTpedc-the exportation orNjiis jurplii?, would be tqui
valent tr a -direcVaX upoijVth!e hw.fcd and .man.ufac-
turing i"te:ke;li5 of the CommVivveal .,'" of four m.illi
ohTa nd one half of dollars auroutlly, and though a part
bfthefe niiy dillfinda way to maidMin fort ign bottoms,
and' the French have nbfyet formally comprifed thtfe
articles, jiV their dcares-.', "y etipon : moder ate com
P'.ituion Oiie halkof this produc'T and . theje manufnc-'
Fode- tures vili'..-rcinaiV'0"n--ninRt"ir?us"-lo.riC fafc mode of
ATrxTrortartioncan bL found in our o-.vnh(UTo"ms, and"
1 -
Ltsakin it penal to f.t4ut 'and arni anv-vtiU-l in ou
Tt;- gaitijl any of the powers at peace -mAth the IfnieitSlafeTi
. sr.d in the month of".iily -.h'oWtri'g., a -cifeuJar order
. . . was fcrlt to the colleai-9-,froTr the lute. pteliJent, in
which, a in on g other things, it wa s ohferved, " t bat
. the United States beincr a neutral nation, the vcfiehT
of their citizens in m :t enfe do net require to be ar
" med ; the arming foch viTels, thccef-re. ra;l..-s a pre-
imption tliat it is .dHic wit h a -)UHre--ttUn-ad
contrary to' the .'prohibitions ' o'f l lie or 'tor.gre-is.
- ..tjam'efpecial cafes-may indeed :cuv in which arming
':.-. ay.be proper and necefiary, .bui .theu tvjftjj. ought lv
vays to be examined and afcertained, '? 'hey Jhould
cirvcr colltjharmtt tJipstT-af war." . .Thcfe collu
""' ' ' 7 fiohs here intended, tniid havx emb' fced' principally
'.,' the cafes of French orivateei fitted put to cruife a-
"tTieretc.;in"at tTiat "t ime, but little
g-aind the Brilih-
ii-:diieem"ent for the Briti(l. to fit but pi ivateers pgaind
. the French, as the navicratioh of the lutr. nation was
- A.-;--f t-O-.-- .. . 4- .
veffels of war and privateers.
Aftcrthe decrees of. the
1796,- and March 1797, the depredations of 'that na
tion upon pur commerce, whfch'had never been eu
tirely difcontinued, increafed; to. a mod alarming ex-,
tent ; infomuch that it became highly dangerous to riflr
a . voyage to any part of the globe. The prcGdent
adhering to the fjue'n'of his. predeceffor!, dill thought
fit to. reftra'in the failinar . (if armed vcfftk, not bound
' to the Ead .TndiesJ t as he cxpreff?'a"iu his fpecch
this dii?erence alone would a'ruU'ht. r& a "htavicr land
ta-Ji, than would probably be 'iiecefiary to carry on an
to the cl.afs. of exporttrs edimatedi only ?.t. ten per
.... - -- : . .. t - r .1 r 3
cent." w:ll amount to tour nuuuren and mty tnouiano
ollars per annum. In. the fame commonwealth, the
omedic to mag, t cxc'.ufi-.-e of xi&h employediJ.nlihe.
s
coadmg trade and jidieries u: but little (hprt or one
hundred and feventy thoufand tons, which arc worth
t lute millbons. four htm Jfed thonfand dollars, anLgivft.
g:ee that evidence is afforded of a Sincere" difpofition
. j provide a naval-forcer .any object ionj-to multiply
rcfuiftions upon the right of private armament will
fubiide. They will not however be entirely lemoved.
A part of this force mud be employed in the defence
of t his coail is jthe LrefLdjiedj I dributed. affiongthe4arKCC--feaports,
woyld be occafionajjy ufeful in takingcharge
of fmall fquadrors of merchantmen, which bting aifo
armed' might together difplay a refpectahle foict ;
but without this co-operation of private fli ps, any .
convoy that can be provided within a reafonabie time
would be inadequate to the protection of our various
and extenfive commerce- ' .. . .
The remaining refuurcerand that r,whrchwitH the
greated facility and difpatch can beputjn operation -is
the armament of ptivate veffels. "All objections to
hthU tn'ieafute' 4f"Wd1lced;' i&6aif the ftar left the in- "
dividuals with arms in ;heir veffils fhoult afford to the
French republic a caufe for declaring war againd the
jud caufes of war becomes important' in confidering
this quedion: To'avoid all jutt caufes of var or even
of offence to a foreign nation, tfpetially a nation cla-
ted with conqued and afpiriiigllixe4mmfiaiioT
imports and to-innge would, be dencierit7T:tie"""ddfidit
jruift nHn btf levied npon-land. " To-this :ftate3Lthjngl
.vrlrcitlimpfllcd by the .rondaaLiJl-qfiejL
wluch advances as'.-we recede, .whiclTrequites our "cSu
t ion aid forbearance 'with- renewed;outrage which
YiliimlfraYiii.- -fTri 5 on t he "fea. and waits only for a
the wotld. is an indifpenfable duty which is trcafon
in a legiflatot or even a private'eitizen to violate. No
f till; caufe of war can be infirred frcm an en iffion on
mphy-WtenTjmrand"fra
hipping becomes ufcleis to tne owners,, unlets protect
ed "'from capture, and worfe than ufelefs as it will be
fubjeft tti-avy damages and oharge3r--n immenfe
number of mechanics in different .branches," and of la
boring poor, who depend upon theeriiployment of
thi'a tuarhimcr capital, would--be- reduced ho - diltrefs,"
and the fall of produce would not only operate as a
...V,. . -JEjVr- ' f.li ifaT
direct tax-upon. land, but, as tne revenue anting nun
- - :r - i i i - i .- - -. Jf.A'.
from arininu -while tfic commanders confine themfelves
to dejefifive operations. In fuch cales" they keep with
in the pale of -the hw bf nations. But fuppofe they
refufcto fubmit to the claina of fearch ? By our treaty
with France, the right of fearching for contraband
goods behoves to be exereifed in a particular mode
-1 ne vellel requeuing tne learcn i iu remain out ui
cannon diat,"and to fend only two or three men aboard
the neutral, and after examining her paffport the is to
be permitted to Drocee.d,iTo.-Lhigjriode- theFretfchr
have never coiiformed. ThdecrWb
their numerouscapturcslearly prove that they ttieatl
not to con term ..ifl.. it, -.and raiie a preiumpuon inai
fomethtng'TOore than a mere fearch is attended in all
c?fes, Thei treaty with us has been broken and an
nulled. Our captain's therefore ftand vindicated in con- .
Gdering their pretences of fearch, as hoftile aggrcffioni,
and in defending themfelves by force - - -
But it is faid to be probable ttiat tne eominanaeri ot
. . ' .. . . . 'V -c i r tr. . lj.
coneuient fcafon to follow them to 'our ports and to
ravage our coaits.'. In a pecuutary view, let me atic,
could vour fituation be worfe in time of open war ?
You," Si't, I am certain yatl tvill agreewith me that
tnis commeiciai capiidj i --t i"""'"-' x,: " .. . . ?-c , n i. -
Pood people of Roxbury uiuft alfdbe fen lible that-b'
the circulSion of tKi3 capital by mean of forei-u com- againd. ttc. veffels of that" republic. lntered, or the .
H