Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-14

sures 1t threatens would produce an alarm
on this side of the Atlantic, and Brighten us
intoa submission of measures only of a less
hostile complexion.
But this calculation is funded on gross
ignorance ; il is founded on the persuasion
that our people or government are so un-
Informed as to be ready TO swallow all the
false inierences drawn in the report from
ihe mournGui facts it details. Let us exa-
mine these differences, promising previous
| ly, however, the important admissions of
the report itself.
1t is admitted that the whole sugar cult
walton ut the British West India islands is
at present productive only ofioss, without
making any allowance for the immense Ca
| pitai invested in the plantations, and ma
ciimery and utensils employed in working
them; and, We may add, without making
any allowance for the expenses attending
the immense naval force required for their
| protection. To such "a dreadful picture,
what bright contract do the sugar plan
tations OF Louisiana present, where the
clear profS is certainly between twenty and
thirty per centum Such are the advanta-
| scs oi peace over war, of pacific over a
fHaiIsiSHme nation, of a nation without CO.
| Ionles over one possessed of them, of ma
ton without navy over one possessed of
| a gigantic havy, Of a republic over a mo-
nirChy, OF freedom over slavery.
his evil is principally ascribed TO "the
facility OF intercourse between the hostile
colonies and Europe under the American
fas by neans of which their produce is
isad to be sold at lower rate than that of
,the British islands hut is this sound po-
.tion! Allowing the fact assumed, isit The
| principal Cause of the evil complained of?
| lhe price OF any commodity depends, not
| merely on the expense incurred in produ-
eng II, but likewise on the extent of The
demand for it. This is so much the case.
that we have seen in this country the great
$aples OF -four and tobacco within A peri
cd OF few years varying, the former from
i've To twelve dollars, and the latter from
! i've to ten dollars. And yet during all this
time the expense Of production was the
same. IT we mistake not, it is principally
10 tins cause that the depressed price of SUI
gars is to be traced; either the quantity
produced has increased, or the demand has
sunk. The last is most probably the case.
we all know that sugar is not a necessary
OF lite but that it is a most essential arti-
Gle OF comfortable subsistence and that,
| consequently, its consumption will greatly
| depend upon the condition of the people
u they are IN good circumstances they will
use It freely if IN narrow circumstances,
ltheir use of i. will be diminished and II
IN ayect poverty they will cease altogether
to use It. Now the wars CT Europe and the
accumuIated burthens produced by them,
nave REDUCED the people to this miserable
condition, and hence, as we apprehend, the
diminished consumption of this agreeable
and nutritious article. If this be the cause
OF the reduced price, no palliatives can af-
lord remedy. Wars. must cease. taxes
must be reduced, the condition of the peo.
pie must be elevated, before the root OF the
/ evil S,Tcachcd.
! There is one way, indeed, in which a par
! tial, perhaps an efficient remedy, might be
had. Aet Britain throw of Ill existing res
traints op free trade to her colonies. Let
thepl enjoy all the advantages which it is
said the hosHGe colonies derive from neu-
,rai Tag. No longer will her enemy be a.
/ bic TO undersell her in the market. The
-Gmercan merchant will carry her Goods
as cheap las those which arc carried from
the colonies other enemy. There will then
be fair and honorable competition H.
Idnstry and skill will command reward
Tor their exertions. And on this ground
England has little to fear, for her subjects
are industrious and ingenious, laborious and
Ienterprizing and the whole world knows
that whenever her government does not re-
strain these faculties, they are inferior to
no other people on earth. This is hertrue
policy. The sooner she pursues it the bet
ter. For in the present state oftbe world.
no nation Can establish monopoly, with
out paying more for it than it is worth.
For this evil rigorous blockade of the
enemies ports, is proposed, together with
an introduction of the neutral trade from
them. 1t is perfectly clear, that what Is
here meant by Blockade is a declared and
! NOT an actual blockade for vast as the
Il British navy is, It's incompetent to the ao-
tual blockade Of one tenth part of her e.
1 nemies ports. This thenis proposition
plainly and unequivoeally repugnaht to the
y clearest principles of the laws of nations.
: principles which have never been contest
u ed Such measure would consequently
: be an act of war against this nation: and.
II rlgldly carried into operation, would pro-
badly produce war Ona proposition that
4 directly leads to such a result, ir is almost
useless 10 argue; as state of things would
soon ensue in which all argument would be
Idle. 1t may not, however, be altogether
useless to enquire, whether, even sq,,Dos-
log America should submit to such aviola.
ton of her rights, the evil complained of
would be remedledl
Inc effect OF such rigorous blockade
) would be TO create so many obstacles in the
way Of the present Carriage of colonial
products by American vessels as greatly
! to reduce the existing profits. Now, il Is
Z these very profits that have given birth r..
lr. do 81 =.