The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-24

, -
nish, Portuguese, and British vessels / ap-
prehend not-for it will unquestiouabiy be
tine policy OF the new government to favor
sheir own navigation, and that of the British
nation, with whom they are in alliance, in
preference to another.
And let me tell you, by this moment, their
markets have been glutted with foreign pro-
duce, by the English, who are convenient
ana nave themselves super-abundance.-
but nave You any assurance the present sta tie
OF things will continues? Suppose youc ves-
Seis were to clear out for ports of Spain and
Portugal is there any certainty YOU would
not ind them occupied. by French troops .
And IN that case AN unPrihcipled confiscation
OF all your property must be the Immediate
| consequence. BESIDES how do you know
! these countries are not within the scope of the
orders of council9 AN you Know upon this
subject, Is conversation said to have pas
sed between some merchants and Mr. Can
| ning. He tells you, to be sure, it is not i'm
possible some relaxation of the orders not
| Calculated to impair their rgor, but to ac-
commodate them TO neutrals, my take place.
| You understand pretty well from expert
ehce, what those favorable notifications
mean-i shall presently have occasion 70
speak of them. You rely then upon a con-
| versstion in which a British minister has un-
dertaken to do-What' to regulate tie
.iade between this country and an indeher-
denf nation-(tor it must be considered in
dependent until subdued) He tells YOU.
that you may carry direct your own, and the
produce of the Spanish and Portuguese colo
MES, and bring back the produce of those
countries in return. This boon, seized up-
on here with avidity, is stamped with an as
sumption OF authority, subversive of YOUR ma
tlonal independence. If it rests with them
q re a.
what pledge have you when it conflicts with
their interests. they will not curtail it. How
are you to satisfy the scrupulous conscen-
ces OF the admiralty courts-that the sugar
you carry was raised in Cuba, and not in
Martinique or Guadalupe. And if you sue
coed in this, thousand pretexss will be
found by the learned crafts of Doctors Com
mons, to rob you of your property. When I
talk OF the security of our trade, talk of
non-entity. It's regulated by the single dash
Oh pen, and that not OF your own govern
ment, but of foreign power
But, sir, gentlemen may attach some sta
bihty to this indulgence, from the ex-
ception of the Spanish and French colonies
In the orders of council They have often
advcrted to the fact /; and the British po.
vernment itself has not failed to press it np
OH you as proof of her favor, and a new
CLAIM upon your gratitude. The truth is,
she was pursuing her own interests. she
was more concerned in the trade to the Co
ionies than you were yourself for which
your merchants exported only four or five
millions in native products. They became
factors OF the British, and circulated nearly
twenty millions of English goods, which
Gould not otherways find entrance into
those ports Is it not easy to discover what
was the policy of the permission to trade to
these that he.
terests, not yours. were promoted by it
NO, she would uot even permit you to seek
market for your indemDi6cation after serv-
ing her. Now she can 80 there directly and
sell her goods without your assistance
what follows Does she consult your inter
est by permitting you to carry on the trade
open to her own merchants No, sir, and
II any doubts remain, let me call your atten-
ton to the late proclamation, bockading
the French West India islands We have
dispatches from England down to the 25th of
september at that time there was no in
timation to your minister, and not a whis-
per in the political circles of this thing-and
suddenly when it was supposed in England,
I'm the language of the gentleman from
Massachusetts, "that We must take OF; the
/ embargo, you see a proclamation dated on
ly fifteen days later than the latest dates
from England, declaring that every vessel
going to the French West-India islands,
shalf be- liable to seizure and condem
nation. What language does il speak
what policy does it evince To my mind
| 1T presents train of reflections, to which ]
am unwilling to give utterance, and apply
the appellation which the transaction de-
serves. 1t is insidious ard hostile to It's ut
most extent. Suppose the gentleman had
moved to take off the embargo the first of
the session, & had succeeded by the TEMPT
ing promise OF this trade. You well know
the french islands have been literally ruin
ed by the embargo They have not
been cike the islands of his majesty
supplied by the iufractors Of the law, lprin-
clpally British agents,) through Canada and
Nova-Scotia, with provisions. Every YES
sci laden with -four and provisions would
have shapsd her course to these islands.
where there was the greatest scarcity, and
the greatest probability Of profit and b
this HnIortnHdte concurrence" between til e
removal CT the embargo, Gas was expected
III Epgiand,) and the proclamation of block
abe, all your commerce in that directi on
would have oeen swept off and DESTROYED
ms blockade is of old standing, at least as
Old as the petitions Of the last summer: il is
dated the 18th Of Oct. delayed six days, g.
sent by express for our notification about
| ten days after the meeting of Congress, al
which time it was supposed the EMBARGO
would be raised. It is said this express YES
sci met British vessels going into barbadoes
as She came out, from whom the instructions