The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-29


commerce. Our exports will not be pnrchaf-
ed, as the merchants will not fit out their vef-
feis unlefs they can get a market for them. For
this what are we to gain. The carrying trade.
beg leave here TO make fome remarks on the
petition of the gentleman from MafIachufetts
audit examine the principle af1umed by the
FButiih government by which it will be feen
the whole Carrying trade is not affected by it.
What is the ground which the prize courts of
Britain take ! That neutral has no right to
deliver belligerent from the prefure OF his e.
nemies hoftiities by trading with his colonies in
time or war, in a way not authorized in time of
peace. This principle, 70 far as it relates 70
our government, is NOT 10 unfair as gentlemen
ieem to imagine. Let us apply it to Britain and
france. Asto Great Britain fhe is contendiny
FOR her liberties and her very exifence, and, al
though hall not contend that nation at war
has not the right to regulate her commerce
with neutral neiehbors in any way allowed by
the law of nations yet the enemy has certain
~ the right to prevent every means of relief.
to produce, if poffbe, oppreffion and poverty,
w oroer 10 procure peace. Can you expect that
Britain VIII permit You to fuppIy France and
Holland with commerce, and on fuct terms "a
enables them to go the cheapeft into the market
and convert all their merchant llips into arm
cd vefeis to privateer upon her trade, and while
france Is 10 relaxed in her fyfcm, have we a
right to expect any indulgence from Britain /?
war we know always brings fome evils TO 2
neutral country. Can we therefore 70 materi.
ally blame Great Britain Then as to the con-
iequenees OF this trade. 1t certainly does not
oring more than 10000 dollars into our trea-
iury' while 1t draws from the pnrchafe of our
uoneitic productions large part of the CAPT.
taI that would be otherwife devoted to it. When
lay 10000 dollars, mean to apply the re.
70 hnt ~
the object of fupprefion by the prize courts:
ror agree that the revenue arifng from the
wnoie carrying trade is ftated to amount to soo.-
600 dollars, but no man will fay that the duties
ariilng rom istpecies oftradcis underestimate
cd. Is the whole value of this trade TO important
as TO Juitfy tscrifice of all our nterefts will
AK gentlemen, whether it is correct or proper
mat the great interelts of the country fhould be
gwen up to trade only continued in time of
war, and In which but few men are intereRed
He' II not mere ne undertood that am the enc
NY vi commerce. NO, am its friend. With
out IL, agriculture would he nothing. and there
would be no market for the fale of our fnrnlps
produce. We muit have trade--but let it be on
principles OF permanency, and not on flcb as
emerge from tate of war. Britain has ne
yer aHected our direct trade, and nv vote fha,
ne always ready to protect it. / agree that cir
cnitous trade IS beneficial to the couptrv. inn
as m oney brought into it is beneficial Bnt Lot
us take the fubJee. upon calculation. I think If
tair 1ubJect OF calculation, aqueftion of profit
d"o lois, ana lee whether it ought on that
ground TO he protected. IF it is found the play.
Is NOT worth the candle, gentlemen will cert,in,
lynot with its prefervation. Is il riebt :, NJ
teet, at the hazard of every facriice. this trad,
OF 10 precariousa profit. and which cannot con-
tlnue longer than the period of war. Onrex-
ports to u. Is. and her dependencies amount m
ON an average OF three Years, to 20 $50, 900 dol.
lars or TINS amount the two articles of cottor
and tobacco, the executive produce of tbe a,tss
iouth of the Potomac, conititute more tbs., ons
nan. This will be entirely loft, or at leaf the
mott coniiderable part, for have no expeea.
lioh OF nnn'ng market for any thing like this
alh0iht' IN any other country. Cut up at one
' ,; utider me pretence of temporary expe-
aisncy, the cultivation of thefe two articles. and
you proftrate the expectation, Independence
ana indultry of thoufaDds-then will be apnli.
ca TO your own induttrious and virtuous CHI
Zens, what the mover of the refolution G,nnof
ca IL would be to the manufa aurers of ENGLAND
Dagger to their vitals. Let us not for Gods
lake rum our country under the deluliye eynec.
tation OF inJurlng our adverfares. Another and
very current view may be taken of this fubiete
IL rs acknowledged that there are comparstive,
" put few Pertons Immediately nterefed in this
anu aNuohsn 10 them a lucrative one.
YET 1t mutt end upon the ceiTation of hoRit;es
In Europe. 1t mri be uniuf, that the great in.
terett OF the aerculturaift ihould be Ecri6ced
10 TINS tiade, or even pledged for its PROTECTION
and iecurIty. never will agree that one clafs
or protection of people fhall underwrite and on.
lure the fuccefs of another clafs, and this too
without any premium. This is preciGelv tbe
Gale IN this initance--the trader gains all ,inarr
the protecting arm of the farmer, and the Iofs
falls on the farmer, ifit fhoud be attended with
any.
Let us view this fubis6t in another LIGHT. r.
is commended, that if Britifh manufaenres are
prohibited, that our commerce will fiu 90 ON.
that our merchants will find other markets. and
that the fecurity of the revenue will not be af-
feeted. But beg gentlemen ferioufly to conf
der the iituation of Europe. do believe that
our demands cannot be fupplied but from Bri-
tain, they cannot be fupplisd elsewhere? Be-.
caute from 1888, the Britifll manufactures intro
duced into this country have regularly encreaC-
ed; notwithstanding in France labor is cbeaner
than in Britain. Not becaufe an Enelib coat
was better than A French one. The fsta Is. tbe
French manufactures cannot be got on the fame
Reasonable terms as the Englilh. What has
been the efle6t on the price Of liverpool cottons
hnce France has menaced the nvafon of Eng
La.,a RI