Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-18

! Phiet Called war In disguise.
(Coneiuded.
No. XVI.
Maritime rights Of Great Britai. othos-
3 ed
Page 217. "I protest (says the author)
IN every event in behalf of the British plan
ter against the further settlement of Cuba,
! by a relaxation in any mode of the rules of
maritime war. During the last war the
produce of that vast Island, was at least
doubled, and if the present system CONT
nues, it will be soon doubled again. to the
destruction of our sugar colonies; for the
consumption oethc West-India produce has
natural limits; and the Jamaica Assembly
has satisfactorily shown, that those limits
are scarcely now wide enough to receive
! the actual supply at such prices as the Bri-
fish planter can afford to accept"
Is not THIS language both plain and can.
did! The writer has left nothing for doubt.
The Jamaica planters, he SAYS, will COM
plain, If there is any relaxation in the prin-
ciples which are contended for. Because
in that event they will not get satisfactory
prices for their sugar And why forsooth ?
Truly because the increased cultivation
OF Cuba will increase the quantity of sugar.
and thereby lessen the advantages which
the proprietors of Jamaica now eniov.
The prices in that event will fall, and the
poor OF every country will have a chance.
now and then, to purchase few pounds of
that useful luxury and necessary of life.
This may do as an argument in favor of
the proprietors of Jamaica, and other Rri-
fish Islands, or for those who will neither
listen to, or understand any thing which
initiates against the projects of that go
vernment but how viii it stand the test in
the United States, in continental Europe,
with the poor of England, or with every
benevolent mind, no matter to what cline
or class of beings he NAV belong?
VIII the citizens of the United States,
oppose the establishment of future order
OF things, which will give them sugar at six
cents pound instead of twelve and coffee
and molasses at the same reduced rates !?
No reasonable answer can be offered in re-
ply to these plain questions But instead of
! AIN answer we discover, that the advocates
for the British policy ere consequently ad-
vocates for continuation of the high pri-
ces of these necessaries, when it Is admi.-
! ted that if the policy was either rclinuuis,i-
ed or overthrow, the quantities OF sugar,
coffee, &c. would be doubled and doubled
again.
Although the United States neither do
nor ought to participate in the sDIcndor
and glory of the British naval exploits, vet
the American partizan, Indirectly &C
knowledges that he prefers to subject the
people of this country to the payment OF
double prices for sugar and coffee, and TO
the receipt OF half prices for corn and four.
rather than. Ey an Increased cultivation of
the Spanish * French Islands, the quantities
of sugar and coffee, and the demand for
corn and -four should be increased, in like
manner.
lfthese fatal decisions were confined to
few theorists and disclaimers, they would
not deserve notice: But the poison spreads
far and wide ; collateral matters are intro
duccd; the real questions a. Just stated,
| are net brought forward but we are in
dustriouslv and crafty excited to hate,
fear, curse and oppose the emperor of
| France. We are invited to array ourselves
in battle by the side of the English, to FIGHT
i'll their cause; and for what? WHY, tru-
ly, to lessen the quantity of sugar, coffee and
molasses, and to diminish and circunIscribe
the demand for corn and flour We must
by all means hate andexecrate Bonaparte,
( bccahsc he says that tie seas ShaH6e FREE,
, and that we may be thereby supplied with
| sugar at SIX cents pound, instead of
I lWSlNC' C~Ss Witic vi llc Olncr mana the
| British rulers, and their adherents say, thu
the civilized world shall not be fully sun
| piled with these articles upon anv terms,
and thatnone shall have privilege of obtain
ing them who can not pay such prices as
will satisfy a few jamaica lordlings.
A man who enjoys large income does
not regard the prices of sugar and coffee, be-
cause compared with his other expenses,
whether sugar be six-pence or one shilling
and six-pencc apound, will make but little
! difference to him. But TO one who does not
clear more than six-pcnce day, If he is o.
bliged to purchase sugar, this difference Of
price, will make the difference Of working
three days in the week, instead of one TO
procure an article Of necessity.
Let She advocates for the British doc
trine, examine its tendencies b. this short
and simple argument. AS far as it NAV be
explained they will find that the public voice
against them will be not only general but
loud.
II is not worth while to go TO England
TO enquire among the poorer classes ofpco-
pie in that country, whether they would
prefer to purchase Spanish sugar az six
pence pound, in preference 20 Jamaica
sugar, Of no better quality, at one shilling
/ and six-pence a pound. And ifthe i;lcrcas-
ed cultivation Of Cuba would have that ef-
| feet in favor Of INDECENT industry. can any
thing be said to faye- a war which has no.
thing tosupport it than the complaints
/