The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-11

he Re.iier, we cannot heti.a.e to decide which
is deierving of the mon weight.
The moi obvious inference, dcducihle from
Cobbett's remarks, is that there is no cXpecta-
tion in Britain of an embargo or non-importa.- |
on. We are told the Americans love money
too much 10 incur the hazards of iuch mca-
fure, that it would reduce cur merchants to
bcggary, throw our natefmen out OF bread, s
operate a complete overthrow of the govern
msnt. Thefe are the dreadful bug-bears which
are offered as a.iulaby to the fears OF Britiih
merchants and tmii politicians.
On what BATS is this inperitrueture RATED
On the imprehion that our merchants have no
other than Englifl, markets. Is this true
There is not well Informed man that thinks
70. 1t is pofIible that the effect of fuch mca-
fure would be a momentary fiaenation OF
trade, and foine eight embarrafl'neut confe-
quent on it. But this is the mott ferrous effect
it could have, and the merchant would proba-
bly, feel it's ixurious effects lrfs than the other
clailes OF fociety. lie would not fail to raife
the price of his wares, whole augmented vaise
would more than indemnify him Tor the OBJ
itruttions thrown in the way ot his regular
trade. And for the in, .ed price OF foreign
goods continued, the H., ion would be amply
unidentified by the diminfcd MATS of con-
!umption. That there would be an exemption
from all evil, no rational man will contend.
We well know how much of our PROPERTY
| we owe TO freedom OF commerce, and we are
| aware that any rc!trittion would injrre us. But
this has long iince ceafed TO be the quefion.
| Britain is inIliaing fatal wound, not merely
on cur trade, but on our character as an inde-
pendent nation: and it is to avert her bows
that we are compelled in felf defence TO deal
back the blows ihe offers to convince her
that if fe has the power of imiuring us, we
poiiefs in a ten fold degree the means Of inju-
ring her.
Let things come to the WORT, and the iilue
can only be ,his
We ihall he obliged to abridse our ufe of
Engijh luxnvies
We fliail be obliged to n,anufa Sure fome
articles ourte.ves that now come from Britain.
WE ihall be obliged to turn our merchantmen
into prvateers.
What will be the effect OF th.ie mcafures on
the two nations
The deprivation, we ftail experience, of
luxuries, and our extended manufactures, may
be poiitive benefits. They will, at any rate,
not be dreadful evils.
On the other hand, the manufactures of
Britain, the only fold BATS Of her itrength, the
only pietervative of her glory, will be puraIiicd.
Either the thou!ands who G'pport them, and
fub!it on the lowea pittance that can preftrve
animal life, will tarve, or they will rebel.
Britain, in addition to an external enemy
Whole energy keeps her in con;tant alarm,
will have fill more terrible enemy in her bo-
tom.
Should there be repriEnls, or in other words,
war, unfortunate as that event will be. there
can be no doubt but that the United States
will DC more than match for Britain in that
irscies of warfare which will be waged
Our merchantmen will be infantry convert
ed into prlvateers. One hundred thou{and
tons OF ihpping will be turned into floating
batteries. The 1otilla, guided by the Courage
and enterprise of our countrymen, Will be
more than match for the enemy. Every ton
OF Bfitlih ihipping, with the cargo it contains,
is equal in value to three tons of American
ihipping with their cargoes. If, therefore, we
take but one Britifh vetiel for three taken from
us, the Remit will be equal. We however con-
fidently believe that the number of our CAP
tares would exceed that of theirs. The yigor
and enterprise of our feamen ftrongly allure us
OF this iiue. But we have better data Du-
mig the late war, when our refources were
few aud feeble, we took more BritiG, vel1eIs
than were taken from us. IF fich was then
the cafe, what may we not expect from the
great and commanding refources poGefed hv
our country at this day, rsfources, which, 70
Ear from being afforded in that portion of trade
ieaailpc Tor afu!l luppiy or all our wants, are
10 exuberant as to have ovcrflown into A ca,rv-
ing trade that rivals in magnitude our dornefic
commerce.
But Britain may ftize our fhips before fhe
declares war lne may detroy our f!ourliliipc
towns hfore we are aware oft.
lfffe dogs, what follows, what ellie can fol-
low than iequeftration of Briti1i property of
all detcription5, and the fall Of her taGern pro-
vlnces. Here is the fund, of which fhe is too
well apprized, to dare TO take this fep. She
knows that ihe would be, in faft, ini,ieting
deeper wound on he,felf than on us.
Ihs inbett isa great, and perhaps in fone
Ineaiurea difficult one. We have hattiy made
theie remarks, more with viewto indicate the
national teptiment. than our own individual o.
Pinioa. we will conclude with the ioIemn
declaration. of our belief, that the United
States will take frong ground, that they will
make hrm ftand againH the invaders of their
rights, and that no phyfcal power on earth
will, after this ground is once chofen, fsIaLe
them from it. Mt. I,t.
JOHN AICOCE.