Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-07-19 00:00:00, page 2

On their arrival at Louisiana, the slaves will be
employed in the barren occupation of felling thfi
large torefts with which this immense country fr
covered, a labor but little fitited to slaves, for it
requires being long accuflomed to the axe ; and
force and activity are seldom found in slaves.—
They mull be clothed, fed and maintained, during
whole years before any profit can be derived from
them. What lam about to relate may fefve to
determine that period. In the Northern and Mid
dle States of America, the usual term of a quit
rent tease in the new lands is ten years free from
rent, and after this the lessee pays t 2 bufheis of
wheat for every 100 acres forever. It is,therefore,
obvious, that the hrft ten years arecowlidered as a
time of expense, during which term the owner
requires no payment. But in the Southern States,
new lands cannot even be given out on those terms,
because the white planter feis a higher value.pn
his labor, and the clearing of forefts requites too
great outsets for any one but the owner of the land.
Who then will cultivate Louisiana with slaves ?
Who is the citizen willing to bellow large capitals
upon so precarious a property with the prolpe^ft
of a dillant return? r Q
Itmay be asked, why it does not happen in the"
Southern States? It is answered, firft, because none
are southerly enough to be wholly free from the
colds of winter, u hich renders savage life very dif
ficult to men born in hot climates ; and secondly,
because the Southern States are mollly surrounded
by the sea, and by mountains, the whole popula
tion of which is white, and which cut off the com
munication between the Raves and the vast forefts
of the interior parts.
But let us suppose all these difficulties overcome,
what commercial advantages can France derive
from the settlement of this colony ? The produc
tions of Louisiana being the fame with those of the
Weft Indies, no advantage is to be reaped, for the
islands, being well cultivated, will fuffice for the
wants France, and even all Europe. The intro
duction of those from Louisiana, would only les
sen the price without adding any thing to the val^
tie. and France would be obliged, to prevent the
ruin of those who had employed their funds in the
Colonies, to imitate the Dutch, who destroy their
spices and teas, when the quantity of these cemi
modifies in Europe is large enough to cause a de
preciation of their value.
The prod unions of Louisiana, which do not
grow in the Weft-Indies, are only lumber, and^
perhaps rice ; but it is certain that thole product
lions, considering the difficulties of procuring
them in a hot and unfalubrious climate, will not,
cover the outsets, or, at leaf), wj|l not: yield the
fame profits as would be procured by raising them,
in the Islands, in procuring the fame, or other'
and more valuable articles.
The proof of this is found in the United
States. It is not from Georgia nor South
Carolina, that the Weft Indies are supplied
with lumber, but caiefly from the northern
Rates, where fords are more scarce and
more valuable than in the South. The,
cause of this is,that the supplying oflumber,
the mills neceflary to prepare them for sale,
all these are the work of free hands, which
are fatisfied with a moderate price.
I shall prefiime further to lay down,how
ever paradoxical it may teem, that it is not
advantageous for France to supply herfelf
with lumber, even if ihe could procure it
from Louisiana. I have two reasons to of
fer: What lumber the northern dates sup
ply her colonies witi is paid tor in molas
ses and fume rum. The bril article cods
the planter nothing, for, were it not for
that, this would be an useless production of
his sugar, and the second is but a very mo-|
derate expense for distillation. If it were {
consumed in America, molasses would be
thrown away as useless, and this was the
case when America was a British colony, be
cause French commerce does not offer any,
other market for that commodity.l
It may therefore be said, that the colonies
have from the United States, lumber for noth
ing. Should, on the contrary, a settlement
be formed in Louisiana for the fuplying of
that article, every expense and outset of this
cdabliihment, all the labour necessary to cut,
saw, and transport it to the place where it is
to be fold, would be a real loss for the nation,
even admitting that the cutters and other
men employed, should take, as' payment,
molalfes and rum ; because their labour
would produce nothing to the nation.•I
But it is certain that Louifiapa could,not
furnith a market for mojafles or rum. It is
only in New-England, (Northern Spates,)
that those articles are confumed.,—The in
habitants of the South prefer ardent spirits,
distilled from grain, apples, and peaches, to
those diftilld from molasses.,
On the supposition, therefore, that the
planers supply themselves with lumber in
a French colony, exclufivcly at Louisiana,
they would be forced to pay for it in money or
objeas of real value. Ifthc right of supply
is not exclusive, it is null because the labour
er of a fumhern climate cannot work as cheap
as the robot! son ot the North.
It might be thought that molasses would
still find a market in New-England, though
it were no longer the price of lumber ;—lt
would be an error. They have no other
reason to take it, than its being offered them
in exchange for an article for which they
have few other markets. Let tne colonies
refute lumber, from the North, spirits from
grain, apples, &c. will immediately be fub
fttuted to those from sugar, because the price
of rum would immediately be higher. 1 ben
it wiii be that every fort hf commerce be
tween them and the colonies will cease un
less it be for provisions, which they will ne
ceflardy require to be said for in money, or
in what will pass in foreign markets, for
w°nev. _ .
The second reason why France ought not
to get her^Lurnber from Louisiana, even
though fhefotighb,do fl, is, §hat in case ol
war, supposing England fhoufd prefers her
naval fu, eridrity, no fufe calculation could
be made upon receiving provision! ; and
they could not be supplied from the United
States, for that commerce having been a^
bandoned fined the peace, tirofe whom it
then employed have fought other objeas of
industry ; and saw mills ereCted tc^^epar
that lumber, are out of ^Qg||flll rot
be ea lily set up -again, of
hostilities, so that the misfortunes which arc
the consequence of it would be doubly dis
tressing to the colonies.
It is therefore, very evident the colonizing
of Louisiana would, in a commercial point
of view be every injurious tp France,becaufe
it would employ capitals which would be
more ufefully employed in the other colon
ies ; because those capitals, would lie dorm-!
ant for several years arid because admitting,
they should become productive for indivi
duals, they would add nothing to the nation
al mass, and would have no other effect thai
to lower the price oftolonial produce, and
lessen the price of (heir labour,
It might however be thought, that the
poffeflion of Louisiana would afford one
more market to French manufactures, and
thus to compensate the expence of the na
tion for its settlement. This qutftion de
serves a particular examination, and the pro
visioning or the consumption of French
manufactures may relate either to the tree
or bond population.
If it be the free class that is to be mufler
ed by emigrants from France, it will be com
posed ot that portion of the people, which
not only could support themselves in France,
but, besides, ihereafe the national riches by
indußry. For France is not overburthened
by her population, and confequenfy every
emigration with from a vacuum fouewhere,
or abandon some ufeful branch ' which will
no longer be carried on. The emigrant
carries away with him a portion of be gen
eral good, in the mass of the productive la
bour of the mother country ; he also carries
away with him a portion of the capital, for
he never goes with empty hands ; and, as I
have already observed, ten years muff pass
away before his fetlement produces beyond
his tirft neceflarics. He must at the fame
time,live with the ftri&e(t economy, for bavi
ing nothing to offer in exchange, he receive
scarcely any thing from the mother conn
try, and the nature of the southerly ciimates
requires very few of the articles neceflary ip
Europe. It is therefore, beyond all doubt,'
that, as to the present emigrant, the few
articles furnifhed him by French manufac
ures will not cover the loss which the nation
will sustain of his own labour ; besides, he
will consume much less in America than he
would in France and besides his labour, 'the
manufacturer who supplied his wants in
both countries, will be a loser by his emi
gration.
Black population will still less contribute
to the lupport of French manufaaures, be
cause their consumption, in articles of dress
is very small ; and even in South Carolina
it does not amount to'more than forty livres'
a year for such negto. At Louisiana, where
the winter is still less fevure, it will be re
duced in proportion.—lt will consist in cot
ton, principally worked in the country, and
still more smuggled from the United States.
But if the whole were brought from France,
after deduding the raw materials which mult
be purchased, the whole profit of the French
manufaaurer will not amount to more than
thirty livres for each negro, every year.
Now, as each Rave will colt the nation 1000
livres, and as this capital would have pro
duced, in France, at least ten per cent, in
every other commerce or manufacture, the
^difference between 100 livres French produce
and go livres, produce of the Louisiana cloth
ing, gives the real loss to be sustained by
France in the firft ten years, during which,
they can only, as I have said before, supply
their firft wants, if so much ; and as a certain
number mult die by the change of climate,
and a number will run away, the real loss
of France on every slave imported in Louisi
ana, mult be too livres in every year.
But if we add to this, the profit which this
very slave could have futnifhed, if transport
ed to the Islands (and it is certain that all
the slaves carried to Louisiana are so many
hands taken from the islands) we shall find
that the adua! loss of the nation, in the in
terruption of labor, will amount to upwards
of 600 livres per annum ; so that the firft
loss for the nation,in the introduction of 1000
slaves to Louisiana; will be 600,000 livres.
It is true, that if peace continue, and if, in
opposition to expectation, the colony should
prosper , the rich planters will makea great
consumption of French goods but that of the
slaves will ever be very small, or their labor
without, profit, because, as I have already
observed, being employed to cultivate articles
which the islands can more easily supply for
every demand, and the sale of which is con
fined, by increasing the quantity, they will
only lessen the prices of those commodities
which it is eflential for France to keep high,
because she possesses the most fertile islands.
Large iron works are allo wrought on the
spot, and English hard-ware has so well
known a superiority. over the French that
the latter would certainly remain "fold, if
both were exposed at market. The only
article which migt perhaps be introduced
into the country, would be silks, cambricks,
and a few articles of luxury. But even all
these can never pass through the river. The
dangerous navigation of the gulph, the long
and expensive dißance to go againftthe cur
rent, the large capitals of the English and
American merchants at Philadelphia, and
the great improvements vftiich are made ev
ery day in the roads and inland navigation
will cause land carriage to be preferred as
far as the Ohio, and other rivers, whence
they are carried to the settlements easily and
cheaply. It is a known fad, that dry goods
are carried from Philadelphia to N. Orleans
by land, by that route in preference to sea
carriage. It is, therefore, visionary to be
lieve that goods from France will be carried
in that way ; whilfl the enterprising Eng
lilh, who have the right of navigating that
river, and the prejudices of the Americans
in favor of their manufaaures, never at
tempted to introduce their goods that way,
because they well know that they are more
easily brought to Philadelphia and Baltimore.
But should France be desirous of introducing,
that way,more bulky articles into the weftern
States, and accustom the inhabitants to their
wines and manufactures, it could only be by
putting Ac w- Orleans into their bands, with the
rejerve, that it /ball ever be a free port for
French veftls and goods, without being fubjebl
ed to any other duties, than those paid by the
Americans. By this means the American
merchants, fettled at New-Orleans, may be
.interested in their commerce, instead of going
to England, their capitals will go to France ;
the latter will have all the advantages of a
colony without the expence of supporting it,
and the money, which American activity ob
tained from the Spaniards, would go to
France, for England, which has not the fame
means and which pays higher duties, could
not ftipply those goods at so low a rate.
Bui should France on the other hand, re
solve to keep the island a great proportion of
the capitals of the commerce of New-Or
leans, which are efpeciaily in the hands of
the Englilh and Americans, will naturally
take the course which the United States shall
fix, and thpt muff be a rival place of com
merce with New-Orleans, which being rid
of the vexations consequent upon a military
government, at a dißance from the sovereign,
will draw, in spite of all the disadvantages of
filiation, the whole commerce of which the
other is at this day the centre.
The Boundaries established between Spain and
the United States, and very lately between the
Engbfii and Spanilh possessions, have deprived the
inhabitants of Louisiana ot their (hare ot the fur
trade, which it mult be confeffed was not, nor
could ever be, very important, as the peltry of the
fouth are of but little value, the few Iltins are of
no importance to commerce, as may be seen in the
tables of importation of New Orleans.—Goods are
ever to be transported from the Miffifippi in the
United States, that way.
In these confederations I have kept no account of
the pains, expences, and loss ot men, which are in
separable from new settlements in a marfliy coun
try and a burning climate; the invasion of Indians ;
the infurreaioa of slaves ; the insubordination of
the troops; the abuses committed by officers re
mote from the sovereign's vigilant eye. All these
inconveniences united, or only a few of them, are
enough to Hop an undertaking, and ruin settle
ments. A very important observation is, however,
to barmade, and that is of some weight. Many of
those who will carry their families to Louisiana,
observing that the lands are as cheap on the Ameri
can lide, will prefer fettling there, even in time ot
peace : some because they will prefer the govern
ment of that country, others, by caprice, others
through spite, or to rid themselves from a military
government, such as that of Louisiana mull neces
sarily be. That with mull be general in the case of
a new war between France and England, for ad
mitting that the latter maintains her naval superi
ority (as 1 have already proved in another place
the must, unless France changes her commercial
fyllem in order to eftablfhit upon more liberal
principles,) the mouth of the Mifyppi will be
blocked up and the planters in the French colonies
Will be reduced to the greatest distress, while those
of the United States, will deiive from the war the
greater benefit.
Then It will be, that a great part of the capitals
l^lnow that there if an opinion entertained
bymapy, viz, fy French goods', 1 in their
'wfy tu the Mffliftippi, will find a maiket in
the weftern part ot the United States. The
noft complete ignorance of the navigation
<f that river could alone have given rife to
foch an.opinion, which i§ likewise grind
ed on the ignorance or the wants of the in
habivah& iLis- certain abet the wines of
France are not fit for climates as hot as
those they mutt cross before they arrive in
the Weftern Rates ; that they are still less
fitted to'the means and Rate of the inhabi
tants, who arc molt accustomed to their own
Jiquors such as cyder, beer, whiskey and
peach brandy, the latter,with time, becomes
superior to the bed French brandy , so that
in receiving those articles through Louisiana,
they might themselves supply the colony
With them. As to the Article of glass and
earthen ware, they are made in every part
of the weftern Rates, where the raw mate
rial are every where found. The demands
for china ware are small, but jf they were
large, French ware is too dear so hurt the
sale of china.
In this view, the commerce of the United
States is cobfidcred as very profitable to Eng
land but when French manufaaures shall
have obtained all the improvements of which
they are capable ; when commerce shall be
eltablifhed open a suitable basts, it will pre
lent a much greater variety of articles upon"
which to support iifef than the commerce of
England. Woolen articles and hard ware
are the only article which America receives
from England ; but France shall furniin net
only all these, but her agriculture will gain
by the sale of her wines, her brandies, and
her oils. Those advantages added to the
relative situation of France and the United
States, which removes every fufpiciou of ri
valry between them, both by sea and land,
have exhibitedFnmce as the national allycftha
U. States to the eye of those who have con
sidered, in the extent of her power, a new
pledge of the security of their commerce and
their future tranquillity. They have done
homage to the wisdom of those Ratesmen
who, at the condition of advantageous war
have thought that France would gain more
by set bring the solid friendfhip ot the Uni
ted States,than by acquiring a territory which
would be for them an object of jealousy, and
might again force them under the domination
of a people whose yoke they had just affifled
them to shake off.
I am not ignorant how delicate it is to fcretel
political misfortunes, which might result to
France and the United States from the pos
session ot Louisiana atid the Floridas by the
fOTmer. I must cither conceal that which
truth would have me fay, or on the other
hand, frighten certain querulous minds, who
may fancy they fee a threat in roy franknefs.
Nevertheless a citizen of one of the two na
tions, and strongly attached to the other, I
hope that those to whom this memorial may
be delivered, will be able to set a jyft value
on on the motives of my condu&, and will
fee in it, nothing but my cxciticus to remove
every fubjed of dispute between two peo
ple formed to afliß cue another, and ahho'
I am too well acquainted with the resourc
es of my own country to dread the power of
any of the European nations, it will easily
be seen, that I am incapable of conceiving
the ridiculous idea of threatening a govern
ment which has seen all Europe berd ths
knee before its power.
I have observed, that France &the United
States are in a refpedive situation, so fortu
nate as to have no point of collision. They
may afiiß, without being tempted to hurt
one another in any manner. This commerce
is ufeful to both nations ; thi6 union of senti
ments and interests rests upon principles
which ought to form the maritime code, and
deliver the universe from the tyranny found
ed by Great Britain, which she maintains, &:'
which never will be combatted with success,
until the other powers, by uniting, will a
brfdge her means, by transferring to nations
more moderate a part of her commerce ; and
as there ate no nation on the globe whose
consumption offers to foreign manufaaures
resources as vast as those offered by the United
States, if we confider with what rapidity this
consumption increases, the means which
America has of creating a navy when her
political situation shall render it neceflary,
we shall be obligated to own that France
must have veiy flrong motives & very power
erful, to induce her to abandon these advan
tages, and change a natural ally from a warm
friend into a suspicious and jealous neighbour
and perhaps hereafter into a declareu enemv.
Experience, has proved, that two nations
could not be neighbours without beingrivab;
and if this be true, of two neighbouring na
tions, it may be said with flill more truth of
a colony formed by a great and powers |
nation removed from the metropolis, and cf
a people bordering on the territory of tie
brought from France to Louisiana, will pass into
the United States, where are found farms already
cleared, for one halt of what it ucula have cull a
French planter to clear his ; because an Amer ican,
familiarized from his infancy to the use of the axe
has acquired a dexterity ano a mufet lar flreiigth
uhich.are never obtained by a man uled to other
bufinefc.
1 he experience of the pad is % holly in support
of these observations. Trough set. .d for one cen
tury, Louisiana has never prospered under either
the French or the Spaniffi government—and -tire
half of the commerce of New Orleans u nm carri
ed on with American capitals, under the guarantee
of their treaty with Spain. As soon as the French
will plant a rival colony, that commerce rail be
'" ? ny other P lrtce in the United States,
which the policy of their government may indue
proper to encourage. °
it the settlement of Louisiana is not ad
vantageous to France in a commercial view
because it diverts capitals from a much rr ore
important charnel, it is still more contraty
to her interests in a political point of view.
America is of the utmeß importance to
France, whether considered as accmmercial
'E"?"'' '° 1C poMer.' I have explained my
opinion fully in this hist relation, art anoth
er occasion ; as to the other, there is no
queflion that an agricultural nation, which
by her industry and her raw materials, is a-
II: to procure all the lupeiflucus luxuries of
Europe, and whose habits ard occupations
prevent them from manufacturing for them
fehes, there can be no queflion that such a
nation mult afford a very important market
to the inhabitants of the old world.