The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-29


up, that it is common to meet thirty men
possessed of SO, 0o0l on one Exchange. Four
miles from any rocn, lands were TWO Years
ago sold at 500 dollars by the acre, much
higher price than is known in Middlesex it
self. An emigration has been of late years
perceived to take place from the northern
to the western part of the country where the
land is cheaper. Nay, they have even a con
siderable number of manufactures already
established; they have, upon some occasions,
been able to export to other countries, and
have so evidently begun to supply their own
market that some of the witnesses at your bar
found themselves cut out of it by the compete
ton ofhome made goods. The result OF tn c
whole is, that we have given up part
of our capital, for the purpose of enabling
the Americans to establish trades and manu-
factories of their own and that if we continue
to force it into this employment, by our foolish
measures, we shall soon find ourselves gene
rally & permanently forestalled in the Anne
rican market by their home made goods.
aim far from saving, sir, that these I'M
questionable facts ought to alarm this coun-
try, if measures be taken really capable of
fostering our own trade, or at least leaving
our industry to itself, and letting that of o.
theirs alone, instead of those schemes, whose
only tendency is to stunt our commerce and
make American manufactures emulate our
own. ] only prove that it is in vain to talk
of this competition as thing impossible.
tell you that it is blind to say there is no such
danger; it is foolish to say that the poverty
and cheap land of America will prevent all
rivalship from growing up, do what we will
to force it. tell Won that it is an idle security
| to suppose that our preference in the Ame-
rican market, is of so steady a nature, and
will be of SO lasting duration, that no force
or change of circumstances can wrcst it from
us. By the testimony of those who have vi
sited that part of the world, and but yester-
day seen the most interesting spectacle of
growing nation that the eyes of man can be-
hold, 1t appears that its manufactures are
rising, and its capital accommodating. In ad-
ditition to this, it appears by the evidence
now upon your table, that you have forced 10
less than eight millions ofyour capital in D
the same channel, in order, as it were, 10
secure, to perpetuate the rivalry of Amer
ca, and while you exclude her from all inter
course with Europe, to render her more K
more Independent of yourselves. 1t is sure
ly not unreasonable to suppose, that under
such circumstances SHE will turn the part Of
your capital which YOU have lent her, nav
compelled her to keep in her hands, into
channels which may subvert our traffic both
;;>S: ::s::::;;!! shS; Gt the world
Again, beseech you, sir, to rcco!lect that
i do not say America will do all this natlI-
rally; if left to herself, she may for years &
years confine herself to agricultural pursuits ::
but have shown you her capacities for o.
Their cmployments. j have proved that she
is even on the brink of manufacturing in
good measure for herself; say she will do
so to any extent if you drive her to it and
here again warn you how you rashiy DO
that against your own commerce, which no
power on earth bat yours can ever effect
Nor let any one think that the rivalship,
which l am anticipating, would terminate
with the emergency that gave rise to it. f.
ven after that peace should be restored.
which some persons fondly dream of as pos
siblc event, 1t is in vain that you will look
for the re-establisnment of those peaceful and
prosperous employments which former trea-
ties have brought back to the country. The
whole continent may be subducd by the arms
OF your allies, and its commerce DESTROYED
by your fleets. You may cease to have ri
val in power, or in wealth, from one cxtre-
nifty to the other OF Europe. After debating
peace to the world, you will seek in vain
for the restoration of the trade which YOUR
vigour shall have suspended it is destroyed if
tits suspended. You will find raised up by your
Jealousy & violence, rival to your prosperi-
ty, OH the othersside Of the Atlantic: great
nation, filled full of capital by your measures,
and forced by them to be the first manufac-
tdrers in the world. You will then no doubt
be Immediately repaid those eight millions
sterling which the Americans now owe you,
for it is a common and just remark. that sue
cessful traffic produces honest dealings But
what will be the consequence OF having al
lowed that capital to accumulate, at COM
poun1 interest, by its employment in sucll
channels? Let rs think of this, sir, and look to
all these things, when we are confding in
our own folly, and blindly hoping that in will
fully cutting ourselves out of every line of in
dustry which has made us rich and pow
erful nation we shall still, God knows how,
preserve our influence and wealth!
Sir, it is now not for the first time that
this topic has been preached in the House of
Commons. The very same argument was
once before put TO you upon memorable oc- |
casion. In the spot where unworthily have |
now the honour to stand before you, there
stood some forty years ago. one of the great
EST men that this or any other country has G. |
YER produced. When the celebrated DIR. |
Franklin appeared in this place, by the de- !
sire OF the House, during the discussion re- |
ating to the repeal of the stamp act, vari-
ETY. of questions were put TO him, touching
he state OF manufactures in the colonies OF |
England. He was carefully asked his opini- |
On upon all those points which have fcebly !
attempted to examine OH the present occasi |
on. 1t was put to him again ard again -
. Do you think it possible that the Amer