The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-04-28 00:00:00, page 4

will not be deemed immodest, as it has
no other source than in an ardent feel
ing for the good of our country.
Peace with America, a close conjunc
tion of interests, a confederacy offriend
ship, a family compact of union, is the
znost desirable ot all possible events
that could occur in Great Britain at the
present moment.
1 he war has now ceased ; and, as
-ar as the conflict of armies is concern
ed, the sword is sheathed. I he conti
nental confederacy is split and bulged
to its last timber ; and in that state of
decomposition and wreck, that no dex
terity can promise itself tc put it again
together.
1 here is hut one power on the conti
nent ol Europe; and hut cne power up
on the sea—the Leviathan ol the land,
and the Leviathan of the waters.
In this state ot things, America is,
beyond a doubt, the third and next
great power ot the world. She has
grown to it by her industry, and under
tite encouragement of Heaven ; and we
cannot prevent it.
-V nation ot eight millions of people,
upon a boundless continent ; with two
immense oceans rolling on either side
which connect tmm easily with everv
part ol the world that is not their own ;
ouch a nation, in the present state of
things, is a political phenomenon.
h rom habit, from common growth,
from reciprocal descent, from a pre
judice arising fr*>m wants and habits
cr the same sort, she belongs to us, and
nothing but our own folly can alienate
Such a nation as this vrar can neither
< ripple nor throw back—Destroy her
trade and you do an essential service to
h *r, but an irreparable injury to vourself
—She is a continent : commerce is no
thing to her : wc must not think every
national good to be found only in the
price current.
The mercantile interest of America,
forms but a very small part of the inter
est of the whole. There is an interest
of soil as well as the sea. America
will not di-hati herself for traders. She
encourages their., because she liv< s and
1 rofits by their industry ; hut be assur
ed she hates and is guarded against
the well known selfishness of their feel
•:'g
In a n itional consideration she would
.an as little for the ruin oi her mer
!.,; Us, as \ ou would.
1 She knows that it is not the sea, out
the land, that produces wealth : and the
merchant ot America, who is scarcely
more than a factor or a carrier of the
goods of other nations, does little indeed
(whilst his capital is thus employed,) for
the permanent wealth and benefit of his
country.
Destroy this traffic : cut off Ameri
ca from your supplies,and you drive her
to the substitution of her own industry
and ingenuity : you forte her upon
ways and means ot her own : vou strike
at her latent qualities ; and if she once
learns to supply herself (and necessity
will quickly teach a lesson, upon which
fortune and providence have never
failed to smile,) your market and future
traffic with her will lost to you for
ever. She will have manufactures of her
own, and your customer will prove
your rival.
Peace with America will as certainly
give all the continuing benefits of the
one, as war will both take them away ik
supply her with future means oi doing
without them.
Let us then have peace with Ame
rica, and though the whole continent
he shut against us, she can give us
all tlie raw articles we want, and con
sume them all when \vc have worked
them up.
e want nothing from any other.—
The tar, hemp, turpentine, and iron of
America, are ten times cheaper and bet
ter than those of the Baltic
From the Clarion.
A spirit we have long feared would
be shewn l>y the inhabitants of the Or
leans territory, manifested itself in a de
bate m the legislature of that territory
on the. hill to improve internal naviga
tion. 1 o understand the force of the
remarks it may be necessary to observe
that a company was incorporated about
three years ago lor opening live Canal
ol Carondalet and Bayon St. John, and
other waters. The above bill went to
repeal the charter so far as respects
the Bayous on the west side of the M is
sissippi. 1 he arguments that we parti
cularly mean to notice were supported
by a very great majority of the mem
bers, and we believe are unprecede nted
in this or any other country.
“ It was contended that the legisla
ture had a right to pass such laws as
they thought fit, and had no power to
eontroul them—the constitution '>f the
United States did not extend to this
country—no courts could declare their
acts unconstitutional, and congress had
no other controul over them, than a
voice in confirming the appointment of
counsellors, which belonged exclusively
to the senate.
The treaty of cession had secured
certain privileges ; among which was
the one contended for ; and it was ask
ed if the council ^10 passed the act of
incorporation had the power of grant
ing a charter that could not be abro •
gated ?
) “It was argued that this legislature
; a right to repeal any charter, and
an uncontroulable power over acts hi
therto passed. It would not be denied
that the power that created could de
stroy ; and as to unconstutionalitv or il
legality, such a thing did not exist, as all
power and all right centered in the le
gislature,
u I he opposition took the ground of
the unconstitutionally of the law—it
strikes at the vital principles of the so
cial compact, destroys all confidence,
and prostrates all right. The legisla
ture had granted a charter to a com
pany for improving Inland Navigation,
—that charter was a solemn compact
entered into by the territory and the
company—a compact that could not be
legally abrogated, unless there was soim
omission some non-compliance on the
part of the company—Was this the
case ? On the contrary, acting in full
confidence on the plighted faith of gov
eminent, they had already expended
fiO,000 dollars on internal improvement.
Pass the bill on your table, and what is
the consequence ? Individuals are
ruined, the faith of the government,
solemnly pledged, is violated, and vour
citizens’ becoming bankrupt in fortune,
leaves the territory bankrupt in reputa
tion.
“ On the question shall this hill pass ?
| It was taken bv the yeas and nnvs a a
follows :——Yeas, Messrs. Bouligr.y,
Bsanque, Bernard, Declouct, Favre,
Gurchartl, Gonsoulin, Hebert, La
hranche, Qrthega, Robin, and Thibo
deaux—12.
Nays, Messrs. Klrney, Bauvois,
D‘Orciere, Hughes, Ker and Lacroix
—6.”
Communication from Washington, to the
Lditor of the United St at* s Gazette.
Weflncsflay, April (j.
Three days have now been sr» nt aU
most wholly on the at my bill. It pro