Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-29


thai couatry against prosecution of the
war. This citation, as well a. the Who'll.
history of the war, are unfortunate arsu.
ments for those who use them. What, SIR,
was the fact? Did the manufacturers pre-.
vail in their opposition? They did not.
The war continued seven years in spite Of
them. Yes, sir, notwithstanding their
most spirited resistance, an unpopular war,
conducted by weak administrator sgaips.
a spirited and powerful opposition in paria.
menr, lasted ssyen years. And what at last
broush, it TO close? The resistance Of the
manufacturing interest? No, sir, the peace
was produced by an accumulation of more
than 100000 TO her public debt--by
the loss of armies==by the universal con.
viction ct the impracticabllity of accom-.
Plishing their purpose. Great Britain, sir,
has never shewn herself Of temper to
yield to ,he pressure of circumstances.
Such temper is the leas, characteristic
feature in the conduct Of her present mi.
mister Upon what ground then do gentle.
nen found their hopes? Will q contes,wi
this country be unpopular in England! Il
will not: The principle for which she con.
tends is necessary agent in the prosecu.
ton OF the continental war. She is nov
bghtins tor her existence as nation. tn,
only vulnerable part Of her snesny is ,hs
commerce of neu.rals between tina, enemy
and ita possessions. Her opposition TO this
commerce is founded deep in the struggle
she IS now making for ker own preservation.
War wiki us would be to her minor evil
to the surrender Of the ground she hasta.
ken. Lock at the late eelebrsted treatise
SO often cited in this debate. Yon sec there
this idea in every page. With this lmPres.
sion firmly riveted upon the mind. of the
people of the British nation, you have no.
thingso epe from the popularity Of your
cause. Have you any ground OF hope<from
the expense of war to her? 1t would not
cos, her a single cent. No man believes
she would think of landing an army upon
these shores. The war would be upon
commerce the high seas would be the The.
a.re Of hostili,ies. Look at her present
naval establishment; what is there now to
give employment to it? Nothing. The
fleets OF her enemies are gone; they arc
anrihila,ed. Your commerce in every sea
would enrich her sailors and her naval OF.
GERS. Your revenue would be cat up BY
the roots, your credit would sink, and your
public debt increase beyoad calculation.
Upcn gep,lemens' own premises, lhsn,
perceive ne hop. that we could reduce Ga
Britain to terms by the adoption of the re-
solu,ion. But, sir, their premises are not
well founded. The manufactures Of thas
country would find their way into this in
spite of your resolution. The gentleman
from Virginia pointed out &c you yesterday
the neutral channels through which they
would be imported. But, sir, it is not
through neutral channels asleae, that we
should receive them. Aretno conclusions
to be drawn applicable to this question,
from the remarkable circumstance tha: the
French soldiery are even at the present Gay
clad with British weolens?* Are no con-
clusions to be drawn from the &C! OF the
British parliament past last summer, sstab'
fishing certain free ports in .hs West In.
dies, aad especially licensing trade be-
tween them and the ports Of her enemy!
These things shew the disposition OF 1ae
British nation in relation to any trade nc.
eessary to give vent to the surplus mRnuiae.
ture or product eff herself se her depandsn-
cics. Will it BIO said tina, any attempts st
a similar conduct in relasioa to US, mghs
be eounteractsd by ourselves? Those wn'
are 10 the habit of trade, aud those who un'
dsrstand the evasions which are haoitualto
the uaprincipled part ef the mercantile
world, tell us no.
The measure contemplated wslld there.
fore be weak asd Inefficient q. it would re.
speet Crea. Britain, aud as to ourselves.
expressive and ruinous in she Increase oil
price We should pay for her manufactures.
But, Mr.. Chairman, the iapressmsnt OF