The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-18

i believe, amount to 20 I,er Cent. and therefore
the dcfalcaiion' in the revenue will not he 70
great has been ftated, even admitting that we
do rot import from other coantriss. But is It
ito be fnppofsd that the enterprise and induitry
Of the merchants are to lie wholly paralized by
this meafure Will they lay up their veiTels in
their docks, and fhut up their money in their
|cheas No, hr. when they find thcmfelves ex-
cluded by law from Briffh markets, they will
refort to other countries, and no doubt they
will find goods to anfwer our purpofe quite as
well as many OF the gewGaws we get from En-.
gland, and quite as many as we will be able to
find money TO purchafe.
II has been faid ALTO that the price of our ex.
ports is,to be greatly affected by this meafnre
The article of cotton has been particularly men.
toned. Why, fr, the refnlution does not fay
a word about exports. 1t is entirely flent as to
them. They are left at liberty to go to thofe
markets where they have heretofore found pur-
chaiers, or to fearch for new ones as it may fuit
their convenience. The adoption of the mea-
lure may produce monetary dminution of
price, and this Inconvenience will be promoted
by the representations of deigning fpecuators,
who are continually roaming through the coun-
try to take advantage of the ignorant and unwa-
~. But when the firf impreliion is removed,
our productions being either necenaries of life,
or materials for me ufa Cures will be in demand,
|
pondcnt to that demand. But, FIR, even admit
ting that we were to futana temporary incon-
venience from fmall reduction in the price of
the produce OF our farms, are we to put a few
cents difference in the price of pound of cot
| ton, or tobacco, or a barrel Of -four, or q,,in-
| tai OF nth in competition with the honor and
general interef of our country? Is there mem
| Der OF this Houfe, is there man in the comnu-
nifty that would fnbmit to fee his neighbor
dragged into ignoble bondage, merely becaufe
It would produce a flight fhock in the market
tor his produce Such an idea would, / believe,
| be universally fpurned at.
But, Mr.. Chairman, the ftropgeft objection
| have heard mentioned is, that if we do pats
non.importion act, it cannot be executed, and
either we ihal be laughed at by Great Britain,
or 1t VIII afford pretext to her mnifter, Whole
decfion is we'll known, to let loofe his cruifers,
| and 1weep the ocean. This is the language
| uted in Britain. Their writers acknowledge
| that Hon-inportation aa would be to them
ferrous calamity, bat comfort themfelves with
the reelection that it could not be executed.
Now ak, what reafon can be aligned why it
could not be az we'll executed now as it was in
former times ! Are we 70 abjea, 70 degenerate
asto fubmit to fuch national indignity, rather
than forego the pleafure refulting from an in
diligence in Britif, Injuries But it may give
offence to the Britiih miniftcr who will Etveeo
the ocean with his CRITTERS. This, to be fiIre,
IS JaUeepins objection, but how will it apply
What right has the Britfh miniftcr to take Of
fence at any regulations we may fee proper to
adopt We have moral, and we have con-
'tltutional right To manage our commercial
concerns IN our own way, provided we don't
infringe, or violate the rights of other nations.
This iacred truft has been committed to us by
the people of this country, and / truft we will
| Md frxr 20
miniiter. --..
But admitting that great man with all his deci-
hon, ihould let loofc his cruifers, what will he
gam Is he not more at our mercy than we
| are at his If he attempts to make general
flveep, fef-defence will juitify reprifals. The
debts owing to Britifh fnbetfs, the immenfe
property owned by them in this country, will
OF courfe be laid hold of. will perhaps be
told here, that by the treaty of 1874 equeftra,i-
on of debts prohibited. True-But if one of
The contracting parties violates the contract,
1 me: ather is releafed from his obligation. IF
| britain violates nine articles of the treaty, fhe
cannot conridsr us bound by INC tenth. Be-
i'deS' her provIhees are quite contiguous and
open TO u.s. and by occurring them, we would
| make ourfelves matters OF the fur trade. from
which ihe derives flch Important advantages.
| Even on the ocean doubt whether fi1e would
be a gamer in the CONTEXT. Aud this is not
| mere theory. During the laft war, our priva-
teers captured more of their ve(Tels than thew
| took of ours with all their navy. Our fhippinp
then was not more than fourth of what we
now pof1ef,, and the number of feamen about
in the fame proportion. And it is worthy of
remark, that owing to the difference in the va
lue of their cargoes and ours, the one confift-
ing entirely of bulky articles, necefIaries of life
and raw materials for manufactures, and the
other made up Of thefe materials after they have
received the laft touch of art and ndulfry if
we fucceeded in taking one for their three, the
balance perhaps would be about equal.
The refolution has alto been called a war
meafure. Now, would ak, what Is there
warlike about it Sir, ] before have faid and
repeat it, that deprecate war. With me it
will always be a laf refort. Recourfe fbouid he
had to every peaceable means TO obtain iuflice,
before an appeal Is made to arms. The refo-
luton confiderpurely as meaflre of that kind,
& 70 it msf appear to the Brtlfh minifter, unlefs
beis determined on war, and then he will find
fome pretext. 1t Is common for nations going
to war, to publifh declaration Eating their
reafons in publication of their conduit to other
nations. Let the Britifh miniter take the refo-
luton and publifh It at length, and will any o.
ther nation coniIder it as fufficient ground for
war. rmereIy Rates that we confider ourfeIves
injured, and that in juftce to ourfelves, we NUT
fufpend our interCourfe until we obtain redrefs