Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-11-20

4 and even victorious party. is dreadful
engine which should never be used but in
cases of the utmost extremity. Tous too
it would not fail to be deeply Injurious by
the necessary coslisiou of our arms with
the enemies OF our enemies, from whose
affected friendship we might receive more
injury'than from the hostility Of our asow-
ed foes.
Is there then no intermediate cours.
between submission and war which would
effectually answer our purpose, without
resorting at once 10 the latter. If there
be such, and If it can be made to appear
that II would as effeelually promote our
interests as war, il ought 10 be, at Teas, in
the hrst instance, appealed 10. Ifrequir-
ed by circumstances, war may at any SUBJ
sc.Iuent time be i>.sorted to.
1 am one ot those who hold the opinion
that there is such an cxpedient, consist
ing, as occasion may require, In the i'm
position OF extraordinary duties on the
ships and productions of-the Offending ma
ton; or III the prohibition TO export to
their territories, or part thereof, our own
produce; or in the prohibition to import
or consume any of their commodities or
in piohib,iono of all Intercourse whatever.
| Let US view the effet Of these several
measures.
What would he the effect of laying ex-
traordinary duties on the ships and goods
of Great Britain!
First-Wita respect 10 her ships
I Should an extraordinary tonnage duty be
LAID, 1t would operate 10 give preference
to the yassels OF other nations, and consti-
tute premium On Our own tonnage. 1t
rs true that in the trade carried OH between
the u States and England, the American
greatly exceeds the British tonnage, and
II might be thence inferred that shonld
Britain countervail eur du,ies, we would
proportionably feel the Inconvenience Of
the extraordinary duties. But this is far
from being scuno inference. Almost
all the articles England obtains from us
are articles of The hrst Necessity, & which
she cannot therefore possibly dispense
with. Her coun;ervail;ng duties on ton.
mage would have the efrSt of adding To
the cost of American productions, which
she as consumer would pay. WitRou,
some special regulations the interest, of
American shipping might be depressed.
BUT this effect could easily be averied By
declaring that the fund arising from, the
extraordinary duties imposed on British
ships should be applied in the shape of
bounties In American vessels CARVING A.
merican productions to England. Or if
the occasion should require il, it might be
Temporarily cnaG. d that American pro-
ducts should only be exported to Britain in
American vessels.
| Bul more important effects would Cow
from the imposition Of extraordinary du-
I ties on all articles OF British growth or
manufacture imported into the United
| States.
Our importa,lons from that country
I transcend our expectations to il. Our
products they must have. They cannot
find substitutes for them. Theirs, howe
!. yer promotive OF our comfort, We can TO a
; considerable degree TO without altogether.
or to considerable obtain from o..
Their nations. Upon these articles let an
additional duty ct IS per cent. be in,pos-
J ed, and short time will develope its ef
sects on the condue Of the British admi.
; nisiratlon. While he dnlies on ENGLISH
merchandise are rased, let those on the
merchandizes of friendly nations be cor.
respondenuy lowered, soihst the burthen
. OF taxes may not b, increased.
he effects OF tits measure would he
! these. We should experience some in
convenience from he augmented prices
OF The British predictions we consumed.
But this Inconvenience would be balanced
5y The reduced prite OF the productions of
other nations. This is the only evil we
should have 10 encounter.
On the other haad,
The British manufactures would he
, parallsed. Our own manufactures would
be effcaciousIy fosiered.
Our habitual dependence on Creat.Bri.
tain for her manufactures would be din,i.
nished.
We should open new channels of com.
merce with other nations.
We should give high premium to q.
tn r nations, whose articles would come
cheaper to Us.
We should create new manufactures IN
Europe, whose fatnrc competition with
The British manuhStures would enable ia
TO obtain goods Huch lotser.
/ We Should cal into activity the vast