Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-07-17

4 the rIElf or OBTAINING necessary SupplleS
from America, and OF employing the ne
oessssg means OF eRsclually obtaining
xaoss Supplies ander limited and duly
registered intercourse, stated and vindi-
GATED, inaaswerto Lord SheheIRs Stric-
tures.---By G. w. Jordan, esq. +. X. 5.
colonial agent for Barbados.
POLITICAL economy, il seems,
IKE religion, hasits bigoted as well its
sratsonal professors and examples of each
Kind are afforded by the parties who now
= demand our consideration. Soclosely at
tachsd is lord Sheffield TO the navigation
laws that be will allow no deviation from
siiem, however impsriously required by
circumstances and the dictates of policy,
or the calls of hnnanity, or the pressure OF
famine, are Ia his miad scarcely adequate
excuses for any departure from the rigid
'enactments of our marine regulations. Ills
siordship had censnred the Dutch property
act, the repeal of the American counter.
vaihng duties, and the admission OF Anne
rican shipping into our West India islands,
under licences severally granted by the pri-
w council here, and by the respective go
ysrnments of the islands abroad. Mr..
Jordan, however, triumphantly com5ats
The views of the noble lord on all these
points. The first two, indeed. are now
merely events past history; bat II should
seem that Mr.. Jordan was OF opinion that
II would facilitate his success in debating
the latter point, if he showed that: in mat
tiers of like import, lord S. was not emit
tied 10 the credit which previous reputation
had tendency TO secure TO him, but that
ron the contrary his ideas were confined,
and that he labored under prejucices which
materially naisled him.
In order to comprehend the third point
In dispute We must take. briet historical
view of it. MIR. Jordan informs US that
various articles, of which the colonies are
in want. cannot be supplied by Great BIZ
tain, among which are those of the 6fst
necessity; that the American states, when
subject TO Great Britain, were accustomed
TO furnish these commodities to the West
India islands; that they were principally
conveyed IN American bottoms; that the
purchasers paid for them in produce; and
that. xhEn she ebarrea OF ths i Important Fan
trathc, were reduced to extreme hardships.
When peace became re-established, the
necessity OF renewal Of this intercourse
esbcfween the islands and the American
msinlaad was universally felt and ADMIT
ed; aud accordingly il was allowed and
regulated by the 2Ssh Of the King. In pass
ing this statute, the legislature took it for
granted that the circuisous voyages of Bri.
fish ships; vessels furnished by the colo
MES which still remained to England, and
sach as the islands themselves would build
would be fully adequate to the transport
OF the American supplies; aud it thereto c
enacts that these goods shall be imported
solely IN British bottoms. This expecta-
zion has completely failed; SO thar, from
the date or the statute 80 the present time,
licences sanctioned by parliameot have
been issued by the privy council here, and
by the several governments of the islands,
dispensing with its provisions, and allow
lng the admission of American vessels. in
order to prevent the Inhabitants from starry
ing, and TO supply them, with materials TO
enclose the produce which was to be con.
Seyed to the mother couary. The legis.
lature. ia passing the before mentnnei
aaS, recognized the necessity of the inter-
course between the islands aud Anne lea
and had no idea of shackling it by direct
Ing an inadequate mode of carriage but
that the mode which 1t did establish was
wholly inadequate, the experience of more
than ten years demonstrates. Nothing
can more strongly prove this fact, than the
regular issue Of licences dispensing with
the provisions of the statute daring the
whole of tina; time. The council at home
is above suspicion; and the governors a.
broad, as is here. shown, exercise rhe pow
er under avery serious responsibility.