The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-07-23
Nfse* 5nnirs.
FROM THE LONDON MONTHLY REVIEW FOR
APRIL, 1905.
THE CLAIMS OF THE BRITISH WEST
INDIA COLONISTS.

i+fDi4A So1LoNIol y,
TO the right of obtaining necefIary fnpplies from
America, and Of employing the necetiary
means of etfrcfually obtaining thofe fupplies
nnder limited and duly regulated intercourse,
rated and indicated, in anfver to lord
Shef1ield's ttriaures. BY c. w. Jordan, efu.
+. X. S. colonial agent for Barbados.
Political, economy, it feems, like religion.
has It's bgotfd as well as its rational protectors
and examples Of each kind are afforded by the
parties who now demand our confederation.
So clofeiy attached is lord Sheffield to the ma
VACATION laws, that he will allow of no deyia
ton from them, however impcrioufly required
by circumstances; and the dictates of policy,
or the calls of humanity, or the preffure of ia
nine are IN his mind fcarcely adequate excufes
for any departure from the rigid crattments of
our marine regulations. His Iordiflip had GEN.
hired the Dutch property a6, the repeal ofthe
American countervailing duties, and the adj
milton Of American fhipping into orr Wet
India Hands, under licences feverally granted
by the privy council here, and by the REFLECTIVE
governments of the illands abroad. Mr.. Tor
dan, however, triumphantly combats the views
Of the noble lord on all thefe points. The frR
two1ndeed are now merely events of par hfto.
ry bat it fhould feem that Mr. Jordan was of
opinion that II would falicitate his fuccefs in
debating the latter point, if he fhewed that,
in matters of like import, lord 6. was not en-
titled 10 the credit which previous reputation
had tendency 70 fcure to him, hui that on
the contrary his ideas were confined and that
b. Iahorrd under prcjudices which materially
ta;Gej him.
II ordtr 70 comprehend Tic third point in dit
pute we mua take a brefhifo~ical view of il.
nv. Jordan Informs Us that various articles, of
which thc colonies are in want, cannot Sc fap-
Piled bv G!Sat Britain, among "h,ch are .tofe
: 81 The 'irit nrceiity That the AmCrican fates
when fuhieft TO Great-Britair, were accuHom-
ed 20 furniia thefe commodities to the Wet
India Hands that they were principally con
vpyed - American bottoms that the purcha-
isTs psid torthem in produce and that, when
the American war broke out, the colonies, de-
barred Of his importan traffic, were reduced
70 ex.~eo'e hardihips. When peace became
fe-efabli'hed, the necefiity of a renewal of this
ia.erco,irfe between the llands and the Ameri-
car main land was universally felt and admit
ted and accordingly was allowed and regula-
tel by the osth of the king. IN pafiing this fta-
tute, the Legislature took it for granted that the
orcuitons voyages of Britiih fhips-vefTe!s fur
hifhed by the colonies which Till remained 10
England, and fuch as the inands thenfelves
would build would be fully adequate to the
tranfport of the American fnppGes and it
therefore enaets that thefe goods ihall be impor-
ted 6lely IN Drilih bottoms. This expeel alton
hiss completely failed 70 that from the date of
the hatute to the prefent time, licences, GaBai-
Dped by parliament have been iITued by the pri-
w council here, and by the feveral governments
of the flands, difpenGng with its provifnns,
and allowing the adrnifIion Of American veGels,
IN order to prevent the inhabitants from farv-
ing, and to fupply them with materials to en-
clOie the produce which was to- be conveyed to
the mother country. The Legislature. in paGing
tle before mentioned aei, recognized the necef-
Ely of The infercourfe between the Hands and
America, and had no idea Of fliackIing It by di-
refling ~ iradeG1ate mode of carriage; but
that the Mode which il did efsljlilh .vag whon,
Inadequate, The experience cf more than zen
years domonfrates. Nothing can more Rrorg-
iy prove fsis fact, t'sa the regular iEue Of H.
ceBces diforaiing With tbc provifons of the Aa4
fmse durihg thc whole of that time. Ire coun4
Gil at home 10 above GIfpicior; and the govern
brs abroad. ss IS here Aicwr, ezercif- the pow
tr under q very iyrious rsfponiibiiity.
al know" f.ys The author, {" IL. cafe 10 have
occurred, when dOri1g Ire continuance of war,