The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-20
ENQUIRER

SAiuSDAb OCTOBER 90, 1904.
s.'@~~(-cr~o ~'<~~~~~r|~C~-r %
VIEWS ON THE RUBICON.
NO. ).
TIE relpe6 WITCH is due TO the rights and
| interefts of Spain , not, however, the only, or
the mott important reafon for orr avoiding a
precipitate declartion of war. The interefts
of our own countri imperiouily require the ob.
iervance ola pacitc policy. The greatcf adj
vantages, which We are moft likely to derive
from fate of hoiilitiss, can icarcelv be equal
to the various injuies taken at their loweit cal
culation, which wald mott probably attend it.
Let us for mon,cr pats theit injuries in review
before our imagnaiou, that when we expatate
upon the advantages which we are likely to re-
ceive from war, e may at the fame time an
ticipate fome of ts hcrihces, which it would
inevitably impoie pon the nation.
Should we enteIinto war with Spain, we
ihould mmediatelylofe mott of the profits of a
lucrative trade wit that country. In the year
1908, the exports from the United States to
Spain was equal invalue to and half mill
ons of dollarsJ fun which is the hieheft on
| the lift of the expos of this country.
If we engage in swar with Spain, we fhouid
Immediately lofe te profits of our commerce
with the Spanifh NIndia Hands, and of her
South American deendencies. A comfortable
quantity of provifins and lumber would thus
remain in our maganes, without any profit at
the fame time we fhuld be fhut out from the
principal markets (which we obtain our real
circulating medium
a war with Spainvould be accompanied not
| only with an interrution of the trade, wbichwr
| carry on with her, ut with comfortable d..
minution of the trac, which is maintained with
Tome other countiit. Our veffcls would EEL
dom dare to approaa the mouth of the Mediter-
ranean fea, which icontiguous to the Spanfh
ports, and would benearly commanded bv the
Spaniih veffels. Wlf1ould then fee our com
merce excluded frn the fouthern COATS of
France, and from Imports of Italy. Our mer-
chantmcn behdes, | Carrying on this trade,
would have to endunter not only the naval
force of Spain, butthe yigiIant CRITTERS of an
old and active eney. To protect our own
trade on our own oats, and to prevent the
blockade of our haiours by the Spaniih navy
one of the very irit kpedients of the war would
be, to recall the wide of our fquadron, or at
all events to withdrt part of it from the Me
diterranean itation, Once more then would the
Iripolitan corfairs unmuzzled: Tunis, who
has been hitherto Wy wavering in her friend
ihip, would fcarcelyefitate to Join in the DUR
fuit and partake oathe plumber: Aleiers and
| Morocco, pofieflinghe true Punic faith, which
| formerly characteriii the inhabitants of that
Toll, might ALTO afiifthis predatory combinati-
on and we ffiouldhus fee the American yef-
| ie'S IN thote feas, epofed to purnbcrIefs can
lures, until this luGtive trade were entirely
fufpended.-In the Sulph of Mexico too and
along the COATS oftiiW. India illands, our trad
ing .vefiels would b annoyed BY the Spaniih
cruizers, fometimcs ,aptured, and always fnb
Jected to interrution. Our commerce
would thussbe dimiiihed: vefiels of finall
burthen would fcardy venture into thofe feas,
and the American ia would only be feen to de-
eorsts fneh trading lGvIo, as were f,ifficicrtiy
itrong to protect the felves,or privateers, which
had been ipecially CONDITIONED to attack and
| to capture the eheres of their country.
Should We enter ITO war with Spain. I've
ihould be compelleto multiply all the inffru-
ments. of war. At IL and on land, our military
arrangements woult embrace wider circle of
activity and expen:. Gun-boats and armed
veiieis OF greater FOR. mutt be built or purcha-
led, and equipt witlarms, ammunition and fea-
men. An army toOnuf be raifed to conduct
the appropriate opetions of hoftiity, whether
they would be detirA to the occupation of z
and w. Florida, or Rn attack upon MEXICO
But thoie extraordnY expences would reouire
extraordinary refourS-and where fbould orr
government obtain tim There is no f1ner-
numerary fund alreas accumulated in the pub-
lie treafury, to meetthis unexpected demand.
1t VIII therefore be ompelled to do, what all
other civilized counti:s have done in iimilar e.
tuations it muft raiilits fupplies by anticipa.
ton. 1t mutt borr0 as much money as il
wants, and it mutt mtgage part of the pub
nc revenue to pay thorincpal or the interef.
The public debt mufthus be augmented, and
freih or higher taxes ut then be levied upon
the people to difchare this additional claim.
And is 1t thus that theenlightened patriot is to
witneis the DISAPPOINTMENT of his fondeft hopes?
Is he then never deftird to fee the time, when
the public debt ihall { completely extineuif1-
ed-and when the prcnt annual appropriation
offeven and a half mions is to be fufpended
when 70 large fun $50 be dedu6ted from the
burdens of the peopleand referyed for the diff.
cretlonary purpofes ofndiyidual enterprife and
enjoyment or when is to be appropriated bv
our government to the great public improve
ments, which fliall heater fand forth to a diff
tant poiterity as the MI venerable monuments
OF the peace, the 9coamy and patriotic zeal of
the prefent times
Should we engage d war with Spain, VIC
ihali ikewife introdhcsinto the administration
Oh our preient goyernnnt, an important fyfem
OF meafures, with whicit has hitherto been nm.
acquainted, but the infence OF which upon the
people and fucceeding Administration il NAV
De difficult to determine Since the adoption Of
the pretent confitutiorwe have been at peace
with the whole cyze world. We have form
ed no " entangling alliaces," and no permanent
left Cf tutereffe nth 49,