Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-09-23
CONSEQUENCES IS INTPCLICY
tH.AR IrI7'H IMEPICA

The intelligence of the week has protiu-
ccd one event upon which it is impossible
to reflect without a sentiment of indignati-
oil. The iutcmDerance OF one Of our Admit
rails has ry involved us in a war with
America. The intempcrance of the par
ty-writers at hcnle has hurried them not
only to approve the Gonduct of our officers,
but TO make the unqualified assertion, that
Il war with America would he ALI undoubt-
ed good-an absolute advantage US.
a war with America an undoubted good
We really wish that these advocates for
war would consult the Merchants OF Lou
don, Liverpool, and Bristol. They would
soon be compelled into other conclusions.
America. say these advocates, moropo-
Ilizcs the Whole or cur Colonial Carving
Trade. This is manifest iriIry to Bril-
fish commerce. Indeed Why is it, good
friends, that merchants prefer the Ameii-
cans as carriers to carriers nf their own ma
tOu For no other reason, out because as a
neutral, America can al I'd to take their
commodities at a lower ficightage. And
is net this on Indispensable advantage both
20 the individual! merchant, and 10 the &C.
neral commerce of the country Are not
our commodities thus enabled To come chca.
per 20 market, and thereby ensure a more
certain and speedy sale.
1t appears, therefore, in this point of
view the carrying trade Of America is of
real benefit to the general commerce of En-
gland.
But tho shipping trade say the party-wri-
tiers, must rrop0r;ionaliy susier-Cer-
tainly. Eut 1t will not, we hope, be conten-
dcd, that the Interests of the general COM
MERGE arc 70 he sacrificed to one particu-
lar hranch--the shipping or country trade
har nd co.,
which are essential to neutrais, aud which
mo beiligerent power should grudge to its
neutral neighbor, nasmuch as they them
selves fully participate in tie benefit. COM
mercc would not only lauguish, but, in ma
ny respects would be totally eXtinGuished,
! if these neutral mediums were to be prohi-
bited.
In what manner, for example, is it, that
our colonial produce obtains admission into
France and Germany, in despite of all the
oppressive regulations Of the French En-
peror! it is only through these neutral me-
d!ums. In n word, what America takes
With one hand, she gives US tcnfoId with the
other. She is above carrier or an agent.
Her flag covers the English as well as the
French manufactures. She has no parti-
| ality but that Of gain, and as this may be
procured equally on both sides, so will A.
merica be found equally advantageous to
both.
If America were 20 he cut off from the
carrying trade, say the party writer's, the
| British merchant would he compelled to
employ his own countrymen.
We have already answered this argu-
ment The employment of the neutral me-
dunn isof beneftto the general commerce,
and the interest Of one branch must not be
consulted at the expense Of the whole.
The merchants must not send their commo-
dites INTO foreign markets, at a price a.
mounting to prohibition of all purchase,
for no other purpose bnt that thev would
employ their own couhtrymen. They must
not pay convoy and insurance on commodi-
ties Sugars, for example which will scarce
| ly pay the simple freightagc.
A very shallow objection is here made.
These commodities, say they, are articles
OF necessity; the buyers must have them,
and will therefore pay the price, be itwhat
it may.
In the first place, other commodities will
enter into competition with them, and tho
not so good, the difference Being more than
compensated by the inferior price, will as
suredly find preference.
In the second place, in the circumstance
oFany advanced price, even the necessary
puyCFS take a less quantity than usual
But this diminished consumption is so much
dead loss to the me reliant and manufactu-
Irer 1t will not, we hope, be contended,
that there is a new thing IN the advance Of
price which can indemnify him for his d-
mini,hed sale. The advanced price is but
the defrayment Of his advanced expense.
II he adds any thing beyond it. it is fore
cd augmentation If his profits beyond their
natural level, and Of course subjects him
to be undersold by those who will sell at
fair profit. He gains nothing, therefore,
as we have above said, by his advanced
price, and therefore must necessarily lose
by his diminished sale.
Such then would be the necessary effects
Of forcing trade into an unnatural channel
of compelling our merchants in event,
and under every circumstance, 20 employ
only British shipping, and dismiss the neu-
trail medium.
Our commerce would suffer and ulti-
mately our shippiUg. We should shortly
have more ships, but fewer commodities
CUR ship builders would then have like
cause ofcomplaint, that they had employed
/ their capitals in building vessels, which
have only TO rot in the docks.
THE result is that nothing is tob be gained
bv n war with America. In her carving
trade, she carries for us, and she carries
Tor our enemy. IL would be manifest IN
! Jury to our general commerce 70 deprive
I her of the former, and with respect to the
latter, we should not gain that of which We