Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-23
S l3,Ooo.oOo

Leaving surplus of only three mill
ons ct dollars tor defraying all the expen-
ses tor Qualifications, nilitary stores, in
Crease ot the army and navy, or otherwise
incdent 10 = State OF actual war or prepa
rati ms for war.
LIE anhuAl appropriation on account OF
the public debt, amounting to eight
millions, and the interest TOR the year 1909
being less than three millions of dollars :
an authority to borrow FIVE millions would
only create new debt equal TO Inc prin-
cipAl OF Old deDt reimbursed during that
year, and appears sufficient To provide for
any deficiency arising from the extraordi-
nary expenses which may be thus autho-
rised by Congress.
1t thus appears, that wthstanding the
general warfare OF The beiiigerent powers
against neutral nations, ana the conseuuen,
suspension of commerce winch took place
IN tine latter end Of the year 1907 and not
withstanding the Increased rate of expen-
diture naturally arising from that state OF
thl"gs; the ordinary revenue viii have
been sufficient to detray all the expenses o.
the years 1903 and 1899, including for sos
a reimbursement of debt exceeding six
millions of dollars, and WITHOUT making
any addition to that deot in 1909. The
me isures necessary to be adopted IN order
e. make a timely provision Tor the service
OF the epsu ng years, depend on the course
which the United States will pursue in re-
latioa to foreign aggressions. And thai
De'n5 yet unascerta!ncd, it becomes neces-
sary TO examine the several alternatives
left to the Choice OF Congress.
Either the navigation OF the ocean will
be abandoned by the United States; or i,
win be resumed.
fhe II ST superstition is that of a CONT.
nuance OF the embargo of the vessels of the
United States, and admits of two aIterna-
tives.
1. Either provision generally forbid
ding expectations, may Continue to make
part oil tue system, IN which case, ithpor-
tations, whether expressly interdicted or
not, must, Tor want of the means OF pay
menI, be also discontinued:
2 Or expectations and corresponding i'm =
portat'ons may be permitted in foreign
vessels.
The second supposition also offers two.
ana only two alternatives. T. may indeed
be admitted, that the DEGREES OF France
can be enforced only in her own territo-
res, and IN those OF her allies shat how
ever efficient in preventing any commerce.
between the United States and herself.
those d crees cannot materially affect that
between her ENGINES and the United States,
and may therefore in that respect be dis
regarded. But Great Britain having the
the means OF enforcing her orders on the
ocean, the navigation Of that element can
not be resumed without encountcring those
orders and they must either be submitted
to OF resisted. There can be no middle
way between those two courses.
8. Either America must accept the
portion Of commerce allotted TO her by the
British ed. cts, and abandon all that is for
hidden, (and il is not material whether
this be done by legal provisions limiting
the commerce of the United States 10 the
permitted placcs,) or, by acquiescIng IN
the capture Of vessels, stepping beyond the
bounds.
4. Or the nation must oppose force to
the execution Of the orders OF England &
this, however done, and by whatever name
called, will be war.
vi those tour alternatives. the second and
TIA rd differ neither in principle. nor in
their effect on the revenue. AS both pIans
consist IN permitting partial expectations
and importations, il must be acknowledge
ed, that Objectionable as that course may
Dc ~ other respects, ii considered merely
m relation to the fiscal concerns of the n
mon, It will for the moment be attended
With less difficulty than either the present
system OF war. For however narrow the
limits TO which, on that plan, the exnor
'Asioas aud nhPorsations Of the U. States