Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-30

mead Let me ask in turn, Sir, &c the gem
tlenan's proposition. is not submission !; not
indeed, while the rod is suspended over our
heads but while it is applied with the most
severity to our backs ? | WAS
really hurt, Sir, 20 see that any gentleman
could make AN observation which would be lr
the most distant tint of an apology for Great
Britain; and L cannot conceive how any
gentleman can reconcile it to himself, when
he reflects upon the many outrages commit
.ed by Great Britain against the u States,
before even any attemp. was made TO do
ourselves Justice-and that these outrages,
were increased, in proportion to our patti
ence under them.
lhe gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Lloyd expresses his fears of some design
TOR the destruction of commerce. He tells
US, our commerce has grown TO an enormous
size and warns us that it is not to be trified
with. The gentleman from Connecticut,
100, tells us, that the avowed, was not the
rear OBJECT OF the embargo laws and that
ne SO prophesied at the time of passing them
-tnat their real object was to encourage
manufactures, at the expense OF commerce.
l ms Charge of insincerity is a serious one.
AZ Is or nature to impose restraint upon
the feelings, against making the merited re-
ply 1t his excited my surprise more than
any thing ever heard fall from that gen
tieman and the only apology L can find for
IL, Is, that he unfortunately prophesied it.
II Is painfal effort of the mind TO admit
ourselves false prophets. BY this time, it
rs impossible, but the gentleman must be
convinced. that this was a false prophecy.
lie reminds me oftwol! in Hudibras:
a man convinced against his Will,
rs of the same opinion still"
10.
retains the same opinion SIR, whether 1t
be suspicion, or a jealousy, or whatever
deiusion the gentleman is laboring ander, /
Iperemptorily deny the existence of the fac
he has insinuated. How has il happened.
that the commerce ofthe United Safes has
become so enormous; but from the foster
ing and protecting influence of the fedora!
government WHAT act of hostility against
commerce, has ever been shewn by the GO
vernment l challenge the gentleman to
name one, or a single act from the southern
members unfavorable 10 our commercial
prosperity. Ga the other Eand, have we
not always cOncurred in the stimuli given
to commerce oy discriminating du>ies, both
on tonnage and merchandise, by the draw
back system ? and many other acts not ma
terial now TO mention 1t has been from
these causes, added to the enterprises Of
our people, that commerce has arrived TO
such pitch of prosperity. They certainly
do not warrant the charge brought against
the government.
But what has excited my surprise, more
than any thing else, respecting this sugges-
ton is, that the delusion upon the gentle
mans mind, should be so strong as TO ban
ish his recollection of the local interests of
the different states in the union. He seems
TO suppose that the southern are manutac-
turing states--This is not the fact-Fhe
tact IS, that the commercial are, also, the
manufacturing states. The sou hern states
are agricultural aBd commercial, not ma
nuf1ctnring, except in the household way /;
and that is not the species OF manufacturing
that has excited the gentlemau's alarm.
The peculiar organization of society in tIis
southern states. will, for long time, for.
bid large establishments OF domestic manu-
features. This is the kind which gives the
gentleman somuch alarm and, in this kind,
the southern states have no local interests
whatever. They have, however, an essen
tai interes IN commerce, although, gene
rally, the merchants carrying 1t on, may
not reside within them. The agricultural.
lists know, that a prosperous commerce Is
essential t. good prices, and, therefore
they have always contributed 10 its protec.
ton and prosperity. In this state of facts
the gentleman may find perfect secur. y
against his extravagant, and unfounded jea
lousies. But the gentleman is alarmed, be
cause he has discovered in the President
REPLIES to sundry addresses from the manu-
facturers, expressions Of satisfaction at Their
prosperity aud improvement in the manu-
featuring system. But the President has n
where expressed an animation or a wish
that this improvement, or prosperity, should
lbe encouraged and promoted at the expens
OF commerce. And if he were to indu &,
so extraordinary an inclination, he coul
not expect TO get n vote south OF Potomac
in favor of the system. Suppose the mer
chants had addressed the President, in th
/, days OF their prosperity, would he not hav
depressed his satisfaction at the circum
stance And would such expression hav
been j st ground, or any ground, of ALARM
and jealousy 10 the manufacturer Certain
ly not, SIR. Every patriot must rejoice a
J the prosperity of each, and every class c
citizens. Indeed Sir, did not the gentlema
himself, in the course OF his observations
= with a laudable animation, express his hig
= satisfaction at the doiugs of his own legisls
F., ture, giving encouragement to COlon'
y Humphries, in his attempts at introduCin
! manufactures into the state Of Connecticut
Il Proceedings highly honorable both to II
leg slature and colonel ItumphrieS; an