Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-03-18


ofihe gewgaws we get om England, and !
,noaey 10 purchase.
1t has been said also that the price of
our export, IS ~ BE- greatly Affected by
tins measure. The article of Cotton has
been particularly mentioned. Why, SIR,
the rctoluiion does moi say word about
exports. II is ent,Jely silent as 10 them.
They are lett at Liberty 10 go to- those
markets where they have heretofore
tound purchasers, or TO search for new
ones as 1t may suit their convenience.
The adoption of the measure may pro-
duce a momenlary d,m,nution of price,
and this Inconvenience will be promoted
by The representations of designing specu
leiors, who are continually roaming ,hro'
,he country to take advantage of The ig-
norant and unwary. But when the first
impression is removed, our production
being either necessaries of life, or mate
rails for manufactures will be in demand,
and sought for, and purchased at a price
correspondent TO THAI demand. But, sir,
even admitting that we wersio sustain a
Temporary inconvenience from a smsll
reduction In the price of the produce of
our farms, are We TO put few cents diff
terence In the p,Ice Of pound of cotton,
or tobacco, or barrel of -four, or a quintel
OF fish IN competition with The honor and
general interest ofour country Is there
member OF this House, ID there a mao
IN the community that would submit 10
see hisnsighbor dragged into ignoble bon
dage, merely because it would produce d
slight shock in the ma ket for his pro.
duce /! Such an idea would, believe, be
universally spurned at.
But, MIR. Chairman, the strongest ob-
/ lection l have heard mentioned IS, that
II We do pass non-importation act, it
canaot be executed, and ether we shall
be laughed at b, Great. Bri ain. or it will
afford pretext TO her minister, wtoxc
decision is we'll known, to let loose his
cruisers, aud sweep the ocean. This is
the language used in Britain. Their wri-
lers acknowledge that non.importation
act would be to them serious calamity,
but comfort themselves With the refleSli.
on that II could not be executed. Now
L ask what reason can be assigned why
II could not be as well executed now as 1t
was IN former times? Are we so abieSt
so degenerate as TO submit to such natl
onal indignity, rather than forego the
pleasure resulting from an indulgence in
British luxurIes? But it may give offence
to the British minister who will sweeh the
ocean with his cruisers. This, to be sure,
Is sareef'ng objection, but how will il
apply! What right has the British mi.
mister TO take offence at any regulations
We may see proper to adopt? We have
moral and we have a constitutional ri hit
TO manage our commercial concerns i'm
our own way, provided we don't infringe,
orviola:e the rights of other nations. This
sacred trust has been committed 10 us by
the people OF this country, and trust we
will never feel disposed to resign it to a.
! ny foreign minister.
Hut admitting that great man with all
his decision, should let loose his cruisers,
whal will he gain! Is he not more al
our mercy than we are at his! If he at.
temp. to make general savcet, self dc.
/ fence will justify reprisaIs. The debt,
/ owing to British subjects, the immense
property swned by them in thl. country,
will Of course be laid hold of. will per.
haps be told here, that by the treaty of
1873 sequestraiion of debts is prohibited.
True But if one of the contracting par.
ties violates the contract, the other is re
leased from his obligation. If Britain vi.
olates nine articles of the treaty, she can
not consider us bound by the tenth. Be.
sides, her provinces are quite contiguous
and open to us, and by securing them, we
would make ourselves masters of the
fur trade, from which she derives such
important advantages. Even on theo
cean doubt whether she would be gain
er in the contest. And this is not mere
theory. During the last war, our priya-
teers captured more oftheir vessels Than
they took OF ours with all their navy. Our
shipping then was not more than fourth
OF what We now possess & the number of
seamen about in the same proportion.
And it is worthy of remark, that owing to
the difference in the value of their car.
goes and ours, the one consisting entire.
ly of bulky articles, necossaries OF life and
raw materials for manufactures, and the
other made up Of these materials after
they have received the last touch of
art and industry; FIVE succeeded in TAX
Jag one for their three, the balance psr.
haps would be about equal.
The resolution has also been called
\