The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-09-22
CONSEQUENCES AND IMPOLIcY OF A
WAR WITH AMERICA.

The intelligence of the week has produced
one event upon which il is imponibe To- reject
without frntiment of Indignation. The in
temperance of one of our Admiras has nearly
involved us in war with America. The in
temperance of the party writers at home has
hurried them not only to approve OF the con-
duct OF our Officers, but TO make the unquali-
fed ailertion, that with America would
he an undoubted good--as ablulute advantage
tous.
war with America as uudoubted good
We really win that thefe advocates for war
would conin't the Merchants of london, liz
verpoo and Brifol. They would foon be COM
PEELED into other conculions.
America, fay theft advocates, monopolizes
the whole of our Colonial Carrying Trade.
This is manifeit injury TO Britn, Commerce.
Indeed Why is it, good friends, that our
merchants prefer the Americans as carriers to
Carriers OF their own nation ? For no other
reafon, Tut bccauie rs neutral, America can
afford TO take their commodities at lower
frSightage. And il not this an indifpenfable adj
vantage both to the individual merchant aud to
| the general commerce of the country Are
not cur commodities thus enabled to come
cheaper TO market, and tn, reby enfure a more
certain and more fpeedy faIe.
1t appears, therefore, IN this point Of view
the carrying trade Of America is of real Benefit
10 the general commerce Of England
| But the chipping rade, fay The party.writerc,
mutt proPortlondtely fufer. -Cert5iny. But
1T will not, we hope, he commended, that the in
tereIts oil The general commerce are to- b. facrl-
| need 70 one particular brancb--the Shipping
or country trade.
| There are, indeed, certain advantages which
are silential to Neutrals, and which no BelIiger-
ent Power ihould grudge to its neutral neigh
/ bour, inaimnch as they tbemfclves fully pdrti-
cipate in the benefit. Commerce would n0t
only ldnguifb, but, in many refpc6ta would be
totally extinguihed, il thefe neutral mediums
were to be prohibited.
In what manner for example, is it, that our
colonial produce obtains aduifFon into France
and Germany, in defpite Of ali the opprcHiye
regulations OF the French emperor Ii is only
through theie neutral mediums. IN a word,
what America takes with one hand, ihe gives
us tenfold with another. She is above carri-
er or an agent. Her flag covers the Rnelifh as
well as the French manufactures. She has no
partiaiity but that OF gain, aud az this may he
procured equally on both lides, 70 will Ameri-
ca be found equally advantageCu. to both.
If America were to be cut off from the Car
rying Trade, iaYsthe Party Writers, the Britint
J merchant would be compelled 10 employ his
own countrymen.
We have already anfwered this argument.
The employment Of the neutral medium is Of
benefit TO the general commerce, and the nte-
ref of one branch NUT not be couiulted at the
. eGpcnce OF the whole. The merchants mu(t
F, not isnd their commodities into foreign markets,
( at a price amounting To prohibition ct all pur-
) chae, for no other PurPofe hot that they would
; employ their own countrymen. They nun
t not pay convoy and infurahce on commodities
r (tugars, for exampIe) which will fcsfceiy paw
/, the fimPle !reigblsgJ