The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-22
[voLyMs 2.

people OF the Brtifh nation, you have nothing
to hope from the popularity of your caufe.
Have you any ground of hope from the ex-
pence of a war to her: 1t would not COD her
Jingle cent. No man believes flle would think
OF landing an army upon thefe ihores. The
war would be upon commerce---The high feas
would be the theatre of hoftilities.--Look At
her prefent naval efablifhmcnt- What is there
now to give employment to it Nothing. The
fleets OF her enemies are gone---they are ami
h'lated. Your commerce in every fea would
enrich her failors and her naval officers. Your
revenue would be cut up by the roots, your
credit would fink, and your public debt in.
create beyond calculation. Upon gentleman'e
own premifes, then, perceive no hone that
we could reduce Great-Britan to terms bv the
adoption OF the refolution. But, fir, their prrs
mites arc not well founded. The manufaetil
ofthat country would find their way into th;s
ln ipits OF your refolution. The gentleman
from Virginia pointed out to you yefterday the
neutral channels through which thew ,voni,,, H.
imported. But, fir, tits not throngn nen,r.I
channels alone, that we fhould receive them
Are no conciullons 10 be drawn applicable to
TINS queitlon, from the remarkable circumftance
tnat Inc French foldiery even at the prefent
day clad with Britiih woolens ~ Are no con
clulions to be, drawn from the acf ofthe RritiGb
parliament paft laft fummer, eftabllhipc Ger.
tam free ports in the Wet Indies, and eT,ec;-
any icenng trade between them and tb-
ports OF her enemy Thefe things fhew the
diipolitiou of the Britifh nation in Relation .,
ny trade neceflary to give vent to the fnrnns
manufacture or product of herfelf and her de.
Tendencies. Will it be faid that any alternate
at hmiiar conduct IN relation to us. MIGHT he
counteraeted by ourfeves Thofe who ~. in
the habit OF trade, and thofe who undsrRand
the eValons which are habitualto the unprinci-
pied part OF the mercantile world, tell us 70.
The meafure contemplated would therefors
be weak and inefficient as it would refneta r. :,
B. and as to ourfelves opprelIive and rninous n
the increafe of price we flould paw for her man.
ufaeturers.
BUT, MIR. Chairman, the impeachment of A.
merican teamen by Britifh CRITTERS. is held ont
as one of the objects of redrefs in the conten-
plated meafure. This, FIR, is grievance which
no man Will attempt to deny or palliate. II il
an evil calling 10 imperioufly for redrefs, that
amoh any facrlflce ought to be made, provided
1t would aniwer the purPofe. But do gentle
men, can they feriouily believe that this refolu.
ton will produce the defired effect ? Can il he
for moment iupPoied, that meafure at beft
weak and Inefhcient-a meafure which in ire
operation mutt prefs with fourfold weight mon
ourielves, will produce any ferrous diverlion in
our favor, by ncreaGng the number of ob;ef,s
OF which you intend TO compel the furren6er
on the part of your advcrfary My fear is thar
1T would only make bad worfe--antthat iuRead
of $500 feamen impre1ed on board Britilll min.
of war, we ihouid have as many thouf,nd 49,
captiyes, and compelled to fight againlt their
own country.
The refolution under confederation promotes
an ininrance upon terms yaltly dfadvantageous.
The premium and the rifk are out of ali pro.
portion. What, fir, is the premium, The
fun of 100000 dollars, the amount of revenue
eitimated to accrue from the carrying trade.
What is the riik The almoft certain facri6ce
of the agricultural intereft of the nation-the al
mott certain event of Il war, and the confeouent
riik OF the Destruction of the contribution and IL
berries of this nation. For one cannot UNDER
write fuch policy, will'not pledge my con-
ftituents to enfure upon filch terms
But we are aiSed mutt the carrying trade be
furrendered In return we ak mutt the sgri-
cultural interef of the country be facrificed to
Preterye it Mutt we plunge into war to pre-
ferve it Muft we put to rik the contribution
and liberties of the nation to preCerve it
Mr.. Chairman, this nation is at peace-We
are happy in the enjoyment of our rights ar
home. We are prosperous beyond the example
! of any other people in the world.-We enjoy
the fruits OF our own induftry, abundantly fup-
piled with all the comforts of life, and increaf.
ing rapidly in wealth by good markets for our
produce. The merchants receive profit upon
their trade, coexteDfve with the higheh wiihes
OF rational men, and when confined to fair neu-
trail commerce, purfue their occupations with
ieeurlty. Is this a fate of things which ihouId
be put to the rfk of chance for fuch a boon az
the EARRING trade ? Is this Fate of things
which fhoud be jeopardifed for the profit of
| few merchants in a few mercantile towns
1t is known to this houfe that negotiation
is depending with the court of St. lanes upon
the fubjec matter of complaint. 1t is alto
known that at the date of our laf difpatches.
hopes were entertained by our miniter there
that the difculiion would afIume feature more
favorable THAI they had heretofore exhibited.
Whit this negotiation is depending, and the
ihue in total uncertainty, does it comport with
even common prudence to be taking meafures.
which would infallibly blow it up
Again, fir, beieech gentlemen to turn their
eyes to the continent. Let them con6der the
magnitude of the events, there pafIing in f,ch
rapid fuccef1ion, as not to fuffer the mind IN
paufe and reject upon their even probable bear.
ing. Ihoie events mutt lead to fate of things.
which it is not within human fagacity TO fore.
Zee. That rate of things mua have an impor-
tant bearing upon the relations of this country.
The war, from the fpirit with which it is pro-
iccuted, mutt either have an entire ne,v dire6,i