The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-09


to hector over his neiyhbcrs as he has done.
Can 1t then be pretended that we arr, actin y
the part OF honest andimpartial neut,als in
carrying the French, Dutch and Spaniartls
cofiee and Sugar when they could not get A
pound without our assistance? | imagine
DIR, II you were engaged with one at iisty
ours ana bystandcr were every now and
then TO ply your antagonist with a dram.
you would hardly consider him an indifferent
spectator: and if we WILDE bottlc-holdcr to
bonaparte we must take the coi,,covencc.
ihus, Sir, l think | have demonstrated
Qf there IS certainty in law. or truth IN ID
glc) that, so ,ar from our having any Just
cause OF complaint, we arc in fact the ae-
gressors in every instance, and that we have
been practising the sale trick OF being the
hrst to cry thief. But Great Britain, Since
she mas had ministry of more than ordinary
sagaclty, seems to have found us out, and the
AWFUL day OF reckoning is rapidly approach
ing. ne din OF arms may be ALREADY heard
rom afar, and soon we may expect to see
war, grim-visagcd War, with Begparv and
Na&cdness, Robbery and Murder at his heels.
stalking over the land , and carving every
where waste and desolaticn. This alarming
view OF the subject has set me about devils
ing some plan by which our difference with
Great Britain may be amicablv adjusted. and
ki
discovered one, which, if promptly adopted
may restore our former good understanding
and longpreserve it uninterrupted and inim-
paired
Let the number of seamen required for the
British navy be apportioned between that
country and this according to the number of
their inhabitants respectively. Let an esti
mate Of our seamen and shipping be made
to determine their relative proportion, ard
let every vessel on entering our ports be re-
CURED to deliver to the collector her full quo
ia, properly secured by handouts, and on
pain of forfeiture of vessel and cargo. AS
soon as the whole number are raised, let our
Executive notify the British government of
1t, know Of them how and when they will re-
ceive the seamcn, and request of them that
ali further impreSsmentS of our men should
cease. There is every reason to think that
Ireat-Brltaln would accedc to this regulate
on, Tor by receiving the men she wanted in
large numbers, she could distribute them to
more advantage, and moreover be spared
tile trouble Of lying in wait for our vessels
and picking up only two or three at time
And we should be still greater gamers bv the
plan. For we should probably not be re-
CURED to furnish many more men than are
now taken from us, and our vessels would
not be left short-handcd on the ocean. as has
often happened OF late. And it would be a
Kind OF voluntary tax, for YOU know, Sir, if
the owners OF the vessels did not wish to part
with their men, they need not come into
port; and as to the sailors themselves il can
make little difference whether they go to sea
IN one ship or another, but so far as there, is
any, 1t is in favor of the largest and strongest.
as men or war commonly are. Besides, if
there was any Inconvenience in this levy, it
would be felt chiefly the first wear, as it
would take number comparatively small TO
I'LL up the vacancies OF those who died in bat
tie, by tiogging, home sickness, on other ma
tural accidents.
The next regulation would propose is 20
put total and immediate stop to all coun-
tries az war with g. Britain This. sir. I
consider as master stroke Of policy. 1t
would be killing two birds with one stone for
by condensing our trade within a smaller
compass we should have a redundancy of
seamen, and consequently be more able to fur
nish our stipulated quota to the British. and
we should get rid of commerce which has
been the most fruitful source of our disDutes
1t Is pleasing TO remark how admirably these
regulations play into one another, since by
taxing the seamen from the merchants we
shall compel them to curtail their trade md
by restricting our trade we shall find it east
er to get men. wish ] could always see the
different parts OF a law pull together in this
way. by conlnng oar commerce to a sim
gle channel, VIC should acquire that expert
ness and skin which an undivided attention
gives in every thing. At present we trade
with every nation in the world and in every
species OF commodity, tho the folly and a,k
wa"dness of a J0ck Of all trades has become
even prcverbial. Besides, sir, as G.. Britain
no longer trades with any other nation than
this, 1t is as little as we can do to shew her 2
similar preference.
Such, sir, are the features Of the scheme
would recommend to nay countivIncn for a.
verting the evils of war. Its adoption would
putus in better situation than we have ever
been III before, and am persuaded that G.
Britain viii never make q trcatv with us but
upon some such basis. I may be deceived J.,
a parent tondness, but have saneuiue horc.
that 1t viii meet with the appreciation and
support Of the sober and thinking part of th.a
commonly, and more than one able advocate
IN Congress, tho | confess ] have he'd my
doubts Of that body, since they slurrcd over
that saitpetre business SO shainefullv.
q >Tro.k SOLOMON SNEAKING,
-~---- EE.
h%fraet T a iefer ficDs q n7e7tbsr At Congress Il
a S-nI man IL This city, doted WGshirgi1a, tn
naarg ), 1903
No nomination Of President and Vice Pr,si