The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-10-10

before their eyes grand and primary evil frem
(which all the other. eay TO be deduced; namely,
che facility of nereourfe between the hottie Colonies
and Europe under the American neutral Rag, by
means of which not only the whole of their produce
carried to market, but charges ittle exceeding
thnis of Peace while Britih planter is burthened
with all the rk and espenie, refuling
from lfats of war.
The advantage, which the hoiiile Colonie. derive
from the relaxation Of that principle, which prohibit
ed any trade from being carried with the enemys
Colonies by Ncutrals during war, which The enemy
himielf did not permit thse Neutrals during peace
may be in part eitimated by reference Ratement
OF the imports int Ameerdam alone, from tie United
States OF America in the year so6, amounting to
S3,oS5 hhds. of coffee, and As 0o7 hhds of ugar
veyed iii q veiels, hereupto annexed * fate
ment alto annexed OF the amount Of Wea India pro-
duce, exported from the United States Of America be-
tween the In of . 9ober, 1905, and 3oth Septen,-
her, 1906 In point of comparative expenee the hof-
tile colonies will be further urated by the evidence
OF MIR. Marryat, Imported b. satisfactory documents
which thow the charges Of freight and infurance u
gar from the hottie Colonies, through the u States
OF America, to the ports of Holland aud Flanders, s.
to thoe OF the Mediterranean, be lefs by S. Id
IN the former and by l2s Cd. to the latter than the
charges on Britiih fugars to the fame ports.
Your committee omit to Gate eno,her impor-
tant advantage enjoyed by the French colonies from
the Tale Of nearly the whole French mercantile marine
to Neutrals, under the liquidation OF each veel being
returned into French ports, in order be navagated
as french fhips, within 9 months after peace, and
with the enjoyment during the war, of the fame pri-
wedges IN the ports of France If they actual
~ French for ntiance, import fugar at duty of
Is. per c"t efs than the duty impoed on fugar i'm,
ported on Neutral veiiels. erfte.
In order to commentaries in fome degree the adj
yantages, thus enjoyed by the hottie Colonies the
detrinient of the Brh Planter, it has been recon-
,Ias, = -
ettienents thoud be reiorted to; iueh Azure, if
it could be r!y enforced, would undoubtedly afford
relief to our export trade. ~ s.st
But nieaiure of more permanent and certain ad-
vantage would be the enforcement Of thofe reri9ions
on the trade between Neutrals and enemys Colonies
which were formerly maintained by c.. Britain, and
from the relaxation Of which the enemys Colonies OBJ
tain indirectly, during war, all the advantages of
peace; while our colonies, in the interceurle
with whom that fyaem of monopoly, which has been
held eilential the commercial and Military Navy
OF this country isrigoreuiy enforced, are deprived
OF the advantages under which in former wars they
carried their produce to the foreign markets, & which
in the preient war, by of our decided naval f-
perisrity, would have amounted to the executive fup-
ply of the whole of Europe and when thofe extraor-
binary mealnres taken into confederation which
have been adopted 70 exclude the Brh Colonial pro-
duce from the European market, it appears to your
committee to be of evident and mperious ne
ceiiity, to refort to fueh aylem, by impeding and
rettretng, and as far pofible, preventing the
port OF the produce of the enemys Colonies from the
places of its growth, fhall compel the Continent to
have recourie to the only fource offupply which,
vent, would be open to it.
As it may be unprecedented that from the adoption
OF fuch meafures, difficulties might arile in that inter-
eourfe from which the Wei Indies atpreient derive
comfortable proportion of fome of their fupplies
your committee have thought it their duty to make
enquiry into the reiources in that refpe which re-
courfe might be had in fuch an event. During the
only period which affords example of the iuipenii-
on of that intercourse, the evidence the
fact OF fuPPly having been obtained (though not
without temporary and occafona Inconvenience
from variety of fources which may reafonaby be
lied upon, in cafe of fuch nccefity, the prefent
moment to greater amount than the former period,
From the examination of perfons who in confequence
of their refdence in the Britiih North American fe-
Elements, or extenGve commercial connections with
then pofefs the beR information as their prefent
and future reources, there ground to believe that
iome upplY of the principal articles of lumber might
he obtained from thence Immediately, and to expect
that, with due encouragement, the quantity of that
iupPlY might be eucfeafed to anJ extent.
. The fupply of flour which they could at prefent
afford to the Wen India market would be fma, and
of inferior quality. They appear to be capable of
attending large IMPLY of fifh; and what deficiency
might exia in other articles of alt proviions might
be made up by fupplies from Europe
Upon the whole, the npreiIion which your COM
itee have received is that the trade carried on
between the Brtiih Wen Indies and United States
of America is very convenient AVID advantageous to
the Inhabitants Of Colonies, and which
they could not r.linquh without ehentia detrimen,,
unlefs it were compensated by other advantages
but that it is not eGental their exifence, equi
valent to the disadvantage, Of their tation in thoe
refpeas which your committee have already gone
through in the prefent latements
Your committee having briefly hated the di(trei1ed
tuation Of the Wei-India planter-rhe taufes which
gradually produced his ditrefs which beyond his
reach to remedy, and which NUT continue to operate
with encrssfed efee--and having ftated fuch mea-
fures of relief have been fuggeRcd to them, and
fuch as from the bea fources of information, appear
mott adequate to the end in view, have only add,
that if thofe remedies liable objections and DIFF
fculties there is the other hand the rongef con.
current teflimony and proof that uDles fome fpeedy
and efficient meafures of relief are adopted the ru.
in Of great number Of the planters, and of perfons
in th, country holding annutes, and otherwifc de-
pendent on thofe properties for their income, nun
inevitably very foon take place, which nun he follow
ed by the lois of van capital, advanced on ecures
in thofe countries, and BY the NOT fatal injury the
commercial maritime, and financial interels Of Great
Britain.