The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-06
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND. DkcEIMBERs 6, 1905
TO THE PEOPLE or rHE EAsrkRN STATES.
NO III

|
times which try mems soaLs."-rhe same
heroic sacrifices OF private good. the same
dIsintercstcd love of country, the saaie rcst~
luton to brave every thing for the rights and
honor ct America, are necessary to avert
the gathering storms. Success establishes
our greatest interests Submission would
have furnished the honor, and surrendered
the dearest rights of the country.
For what did we then contend with the
hosts OF Britain ?-It was for the inderen.
dence ana rights of the United States. It
was against the encroAchments of an AFRO
giant power, that presumed to tax Us against
our own conscnt.-We could have borne the
tax ct few Pence on a Pound of Tea. II
was not the oppression aud weight of that
rcquisition, that goatlcd these states to resis-
tance.-lt was because we had saracity G.
nough to see these measures Gin their re-
mo,est orsclueuces." We saw, that il a
petty tax OH lea was once submitted TO, all
our lands, every article of our possessions,
m'ght be subjected to the fe2l.v of tribute
lie very air, which we breathei might be
put under contribution for the benefit Of the
British EXchequcr. 1t was because too, we
had prudence e.:ough TO see, that if tic rrn-
c:p'e ot taxation was once permitted to make
breach in the constitution, all the means.
and insignia of despotism, would enter in
the train. Our representative assemblies
would have vanished one aftcr.,he Cher: x
the British governors would have become the
Lords OF the Land
For what are We now called upon to strnr-
&c with the powers OF Europe 1t is, that the
same nation, which had once reused ns to oD-
posI'''.;: y war; haSattach ~ us again. Tie in
dependence and rights Of these Scites are once
more in danger. The same power, which
once attempted to cny'avc us On the land is
now assaili1g cur national so7'e1eisRty or the
Ocean That great high way Of nations.
which Great Britain neither cultivated nor
cleared, is obe turnpiked for her own emo
iument. Our nag must pay for the privilege
| OF lying IN any direction. Whole branches
| Oh trade, which she has hitherto recognized
and respected, are now to be lopt off by one
dash OF the pen. The whole continent of
Europe, with the exception Of Sweden, is
| thrown under "A fictitious blockade. Two
thirds ct our lawful commerce are destroy
cd by her sovereign direction. All our trade
with France, Holland, Russia, and other
countries, either in the colonial produce, or
| III the native productions of these states, is
directly shut up--oR, it IS opene on the ex-
| press condition of paving an hlgerine tribune
or every bottom and cargo. All American
vessels, that shah presume to 50 directly to
or come from these great emporia of our
commerce, are subject to capture g, condem-
naticp-CR. they must pass to a British Chs
tom iIapse and contribute a tax to the Bri-
t'sh Treasury, and purchase n lcence to
trade with t,icir natural markets.
| The effect of these Entertainments is not
10 be mistaken. Either q large portion CT
the profits of our trade would be abandoned
without struggle, or vast number If cur
vessels will be swept into the Courts of the
British Admiralty enriching and reward
ing the very power that dares to Cypress us.
lie homer OF our country likewise will be
deeply tarnshed. Europe will have reason
to reproach US with being so mercenary
people, that the slightest prospect of e'nolu
ment- the gain Ola miserable cent, here or
there, is sufficient inducenAent for us to
foreSo The most sacred rights.
These evils of the present encroachments
OF q. Britain are infinitely more oppressive
to US, than the tax Of few pence on colours
or on tea to the heroes of cur revolution
But these evils have not vet attained their
acme Submission would only ensure us
more extensive and Complicated oppression.
/ No man who is accustomed to the histo-
| yof British tyranny, will ever believe that
| there Is mercy enough in the british admins
tration to shield their suffering and submits.
sivc victim. There is nothing il the churac-
ter OF Americans which will cntitle them to
greater respect, than those who have snf-
| tercd in the Green Fields of ireland or On
1 wv l''ks'''o VI AiiiNibstdiI. nc present 3E-
sressions Of G. Britain then being tolerated,
not yestigc of our fertile trade on the o.
cean can be reasonably expected to escape
| her insoienre. Our ships, our exports, all
cur native as well as imported produ ctions,
all our branches OF trade to hcr own ports
or those of her enemy, may fail uader her
power by the provisions Of subsequent orders.
! All our rights may perish one alter the o.
! thcr, under colour Of tae same frivolous pre-
fences, which She mas hitherto employed :;
until at length No flag might be seen on the
ocean, except the proud stripes of Great
| Britain, or the diagraced pendant of some
| foreign power, flying under the purchased
! protection Of a British liccnce.
| The preteDces which she has urged for her
| present aggressions are just as ridiculous in
| themselves, as these aggressjons are de-
,ructive Of our rights. Ihev show the real
motisc Of this conduct, and tho spirit which
would hereafter guide the proceedings Of g.
Britain. These pretcXts are, that the y ..
have acqu;esced in th> usurpations of the
Berlin decree. Nothing is evidently more
hollo~o OF hypocritical. Without en- know
ing of the intentions Of the United States,
she enacted her Orders OF January T. Al
though the French Decree had not been put
inforce AGAINST the Dcutral rights o. tho g..
States, she enacted her orders Of November.
| A Il ,it