The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-05


putting an end to the fIrpeniion of the ,aviga-
tin laws as effettiug the American intercourfe.
1t mould not, therefore, furey be argued, that
from theie laws having been relax. d for IS years,
It followed of courfe they NUT continue to be
intringed, and that the prcfent war would he
no injury to the Britifh navigation. The PAT
ing f1ch law without even making fome pro-
vfion TO fec,ire a reciprocity of duties on the
ihips of Great Britain and An erica in the ports
OF our colonies, and the rates, NUT have the eff
feet of encouraging the American owners, and
preventing any fubiect of this country from at
tempting to enter into a competition with
them; beeaufe Brtifh venels from all parts of
the world pay what is called the countervail.
ing duty in the ports of the u. s. whereas the
Americans pay that duty only in Gre,t.Britain
and ireland and the fevere Responsibility un-
der which the governors have hitherto acted,
being transferred TO the miniiters, on whom in
truth there will be none at all, the Americans
WI neceG 'rily have nothing t. apprehend from
the rivalry of Britift lhips. But.ifit lhould I've
admitted that fupp'y NJ lumber and provili-
ons in foreign Hips is neoeiiary to our if1ands in
the Wetindies, whv cSnfne that fupbly TO
American ihips Why no. let the Danes and
Swedrs, navigating thete feas in abundance, he
carriers, Ard tn give the full benefit OF cor,pe-
t'ton tothe WeN-Indies? In other rrfpe6ts
the provifcns of ne hill now depending. 90
mnc' "evond what has been pretended to be
called for under theft the Americans would
be at liberty TO frnd everv fort of plantation
torres. whether Of iron or other articles. and
10 carry from the Hands all their produce, for
which there did not exit even colourable pre-
tence; As the bill psfIed the other houft of Par.
Lament, and is now on the table, the duration
mot confined TO the prefeat war, but extends
TO al times of war, the mifchief of which would
not be much lefiened by fhortcnng the time to
two years, as was fuggeded BY Mr.. Fox the
meaiure, in truth, is on the whole, as ruinors
to our navigation, and executive trade to our
COLONIES. Occurred not only by our own laws but
by the fundamental law of Europe, as hated
by Montefqueu and other writers) as could be
dcvited, II the trainers of the bill had emploved
their ingenuity 10 devie how much harm thew
could by the enactment of two fentences.
20 inppotc mini'trrs meant niichieyouly to
the bet interetts OF the country, would b. ey-
travagant and unJuit but f they really had
iuch an lnteRtion, he was not aware how they
could effect 1t more completely than by the rnea-
tures you have adopted the anfver in ouefion
mutt, from the hyperion advantages of the A
merIcan n'neries, neceiiarrIv tend to the ferrous
injury or our own. And, in addition to
other evils already enumerated, the Britt !,
manufactures and the Eat India company .nuft
tutfer greatly by the facility it nuld unavoida-
bly, give to the Introduction by the Amerio ans
or German and other liuens, and of Elft-India
goods imported into America. Mr. Rof. then
itrongIy preicd upon the confederation of the
Houie, the importance of maintaining our ma
visation laws; fyitem which commenced FL
early as the 5th of Richard RI. was improyed
through the reigns of his fuccefTors to that of
Charies H. when 1t was perfected, Gnce which
tlme but little alterations was made in thofe
laws, till the temporary fufpeniion of them in
r.
which certainly were mean: to improve our
commerce, u is impoifible not to admit that
they were injurious TO our navigation they are
not nearly f. extenhve, however, now, as they
were ; ut the fame time there was not in the late
committee for trade 70 bigoted an adherence
to the old fvitem, as TO prevent fnch depar-
fure from 1t as appeared to be called for, there
heing three acts no@ in force DaiIed in 1902
8. and 4, to authorize the council to admit, in
particular cafes, importations in neutrals, which
ca not be made in Britilh lhDs TO far Az no
around Of complaint is afforded to the Brit n,
mp owner, and the merchant has all the adj
vantage IN commerce he can be entitled 70
After ;hew'ug the wide difference between tn.
i''I "rrr iuiprDiions or tne navigation Iaws and
the prrieDt propoihl, and explaining with what
Certainty the Weif-Indies might he iuppiid by
briish 'hips, Mr.. Roie eDumer lted the mifchiefs
that NUT follow from the adoption of the lat
iSi ny Drum continental colonies, Briti', }hID-
owners, Britih flheries, Dritilh manufactures
IN linen and cotton, and the Eaa-fnda com
Pany. Where intereRs offuch importance were
AT hake, and there appeared to be 70 much
danger from admitting the principle, he truited
he. mould prevail that the numerous and highly
respectable perfons who had petitoned againft
the bill, might be heard, an indulgence which
he believed, had never been refuftd in fuch
cafe and under fiuiiar circumstances Mr. Rofe
moved TOR committee to enquire into the facts
aiiedged by the petitioners; earneltiy impor-
ing the Honie not to turn from their door 70
highly respectable fet of men without at leaf
hearing them; a favor never rcfuled in his me-
mory iince he fat in Parliament.
Lord Temple thought it rather hard, after the
iuhIect OF this bill had already been fo tho
roughly debated, and after the Houfe had agreed
that the petitioners agsinft the bill fkouId be
heard by their council this day, that thofs gen
tiemen Ihould have no council ready, and that
thofe who brought forward tie bill ihould now
be called upon to withdraw it, and TO let the
regulation it propoled fand merely upon the
four OF exigency-The complaint urged by il,ip
owners was, that the protection of their rights
under the navigation act, fhould be placed ex-
cluhveiy under the direction ofhis maiefv in
council, initead of being left ut the difc retion ~
the governors of the Wet India Hand. where
II had hitherto in effect remained, and been 70
repeatedly violated. This was rather an extra
ordinary complaint; but he would beg TO know