The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-06-24
sing our common enemy. From such men,
what can now be expected

Whdt: anu would even rms latter class OF
deiuded men mcanly consent to surrender our
high-minded and illustrious privileges for
! the miserable remnant of a shackled COM
merce? Would they meaniy re- echo the
lhumlliating sentiments of the usurper ofthe
seass Would they say to his Britannia Ma
llesty :" oire, we admit your prctensions.
Proclaim your rights over the ocean and
we shall submit to your commands. 1t is
true, there are some visionary fools among
US, who think that we are completely a So
vereign and independent nation who point
to the blood OF our heroes shed in battle, and
to the treasures spent in opposing your mca-
sures; and who ask us, why all this blood
and treasure wasexpended, but TO secure
our national independence But excuse
their mistakes, Sire; they know not what
they do. These men are ignerant that we
have secured only one half Of our indepen-
dence that we have the absolute right of
jurisdiction on land but no rights OH the
seas; no privileges of foreign commerce, but
by thy special permission. 1t is thine TO de-
prive us of all commercial intercourse with
the rest of the world; it is thine to make us
pay Tor the scanty privilege which you choose
to leave us. 1t is ours to submit without
resistance to thy sovereign sway
These may not be the words or the inten-
tons OF some OF the opponents of the embar-
go; but such is the spirit, that nearly per-
Va6es their measures. They would have us
submit to All encroachment, which will cut
us OH from commercial intercourse with the
rest OF the world. but at the sovereign will
OF another nation. Whit is this but to re-
sign one OF the moEt valuable germs, of our
sovereignty and independence What is it,
but to sink once more into the degradation
OF colonial servirude?
But the heroes of rs did NOT sink be-
meath the similar Entertainments of the
same power. What was their great ground
OF resistance The splendid history Of those
times will tell us that it was principally the
nsurpation OF right tolay ajax Or stamps
and colours, glass and tea in the words of
the Declaration of Independence
" FOR IMPOSING tares on as zvi.hout our
o7vn consent"
But is not the very same usurnation prac-
tiscd now? Had G. Britain contented her
SELF with taxing that part of our trade, which
I, was bound to her own ports, we should have
had no cause of complaint We might e.
ven have retsliated But when she attempts
to tax our trade to the continent, it is the
height OF usarpation. What is it to us, whe-
Their G. Britain attempts to lay tax on
stamps or this species of tax on cotton .
They who would inculcate a submission to
either of them, must be very profound ca
suists indeed, who could point out a very
perceptiDle distinction betweenthe two cas-
eS.
But 1t is not in this respect alone, that we
have now to complain of repetition of the
very aggressions, which led to our revoluti
on. There is another article OF complaint,
recorded on the Declaration of Indepen-
tienee, which now also exists. 1t is:
Fer cutting of our trade with all harts Of
The zvo7id.
Little ingenuity however will show that
our colonial situation in this respect wss even
better than oars would have been under the
British Oorders of Council.
Those who are conversant with tine mis-
tory of British expressions, will recollect,
that distinction was made in the colonial
exports between enumerated and non-e1u-
n1erafed commodities. The first, which de-
rived their name from having been erume-
rated i'll the navigation and some other sub
sequcnt acts, were confined to the market
! OF the mother country alone The last
might be erf'orted directly TO other countries
iii British or Plantation ships. Among these
last, were some of the most imhortant pro-
ductions OF this country as grain of all sorts,
lumber, salt froUiSionS, fish &c. No thanks
to Great Britain for this privilege; be-
cause it was dictated by no regard to the
interests of America, but by mercantile
/ Jealousy lest most of these articles should
interfere too much with the produce of the
mother country. This jealousy was carried
so far, that III the ordinary state of the law,
the expectation to e. Britain of all grain,
except rice, and of salt provisions, was &C
tualiy prohibited.
| AT first, the nom enumerated commodities
could be- exported to all parts of ohe world
But by the 9th OF George s., So, they were
confined, as to the European market, TO the
countries that lie South of Cape Finisterre.
Those parts c. Europe" says the shrewd
a. Smith, " were not manufacturing coun-
tries, and we were less jealous of the colony
ships Carrying home from them any manu-
features which could interfere with our own. -
Now mark the superior disadvantages of
our present situation. The British orders OF
council recognize no distinction between the
enumerated and nan enumerated comftodi
ties. The whole commerce of the United
States to Europe, except to Sweden, must
pass through British ports and in several
instances 1t must purchase that privilege, by
| paying tribute to the British Treasury
1t is surely unnecessary to press this sub
jcct any further. There is no light under
"hich NC Can contemplate It's relations &c
orr national character, in which we do not
see that character disgraced by u suspense
ON OF the embargo previous to a revocation
OF the British Orders of Council So that
whether we consider this measure in regard
\ q, Ygz.-a