Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-18
Nrw YONG. March II. 1865.

NEW YoRK. March II. 1906.
SIR have the honor 10 address YOU by d.
reeion of a committee appoin ed at u general
mseting of merchants in this city on the 26lh
December
The opinions and wishes of tbs commercial in
terest OF New fork we're expressed in their
In menioria since chnothing has occurred
TO Change their ssntinenis, or diminsh-iher alp
prehensions.
Sensible hat foreign relations mus, be intti
cate, and believing those of the United States 10
be J VOWED IN unusual perplexiiy. The mere hanls
ot New York have waited in silence bur wi h
anxiety. tho Development Of those measures
which the wisdom of government may hzye dc
vised for the redress OF wrongs already suffered
and protection against injuries sii.l apprerex,isd
Esen at this late hour. although warranted as
wsll by the usage OF other nations as by our re
fus'ican institutions, freely TO ask and confident.
iy 70 exDea every useful into nation, when osn
be gwen without embarrassing the. measures Of
government, they would suil preserve the same
retpeainl silence If they were not othcrwiss i'm
pe.ied by mo,ives ofirrensilbs force.
lhs season approaches commences their
most important operations dependane for auccess
on continuance OF peace The present starna
ton of business, if pro,,atied, would not merely
diminish their profits, bur must distress those of
their fellow citizens who depend on daily labnur
tor daily bread. ItIhu,t injnre those who pro
cure, by selling he pr dustons of their soil, ar.
uclss OF Subsistence which habit has rendered
u cessaFy o Comfortable existence On the O
tIer hand. merchants asd insurers must b. ruined
1T they adventure calculations essentially err
roneous The merchants with whom they are
connected mus, he involved in the same catasrro
phe. The produce of our country will then no
longer lind those markets which give spring ~
nati nal industry, and thus our prosperity will
vanish
! Undsr the pressure of such cogent crcuustan
ces. the merchants Of New York hope irwin no.
be deemed impairment. respectfully TO solici, in
formation on fou disune points highly intsrss
ting and whica are now iayo.ved in dangerous
obscufity
The-stuationin whrch we AZ. y .ced wi, n En-
gland, claims he FIRST nc,lce btcaese of her sro
digious naval power, which it is appiehensed
by some. may be suddenly employed TO annihi
late our commerce We sh therefore 10 he
informed whether the injuricus pr nipples adop,
cd BY her tribunals, have been relirs,ii he'd or
extended :~-whether the measures devised by
the wisdom of government to Oh ain redress com
pensation and security, promise successful re
suit or whether the merchants mutt exse mo e
portentous events
Rumofs have prevailed respe aiuE orr relations
to the opposite bsliseren,s and of evsn,s ten
NtbA us WI inSIUs WniNn nave alar
med the merchants Of New rk THEY are de
sirous of knowing hsiher those fumoi,,s be j
die and vain; or whether from transactions in The
knowle &c OF government il would be prudent
TO suspend or wholly 10 abandon our commerce
with France and Spain
There was reason TO believe that pe.ce had
been made with Tripoli. BIZ. as no ratification of
treaty had been officially published cha mer.
chants wish to know whether investments for
the Mediterranean can be safely made. or vile
thar they mast provide against the sepredations
OF Barbary corsairs.
Finally, the plundsY snd outrage to which cor,
nierce il exposed in the Yves. Indies. and even
on our own coast render 1t very desirable to know
whether government contemplate emilio, ing a
respectable naval force TO repfess tho.c uredato
ny aggrss5sons
am diTeasd by the committee TO dicavow ali
ntention, or even wish to pry into the secrets of
government, or urge he disclosure OF measure
which it may DEAN useful on convenient 20 con
cesl; more especially 70 a Harry thing incompAt
ible With your official oSIisA ions.
WIZ s-ea' rsspea
have the honor TO remain. sir.
Your mos: obcdisu, humble servant,
THOMAS FARMaR
Chairman efibe general rosrWiftes Vt Ma eba.ss.
Hon lanes Maurgo,- -