Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-28
liz 1-2 Gents Single.

force of the continent of Europe What but
commerce has given to a pc ion oil our
own country, not equal in extent of terri.
tory, 10 several OF these STATES, and Ger
1 taihly inferior in climate and so |, nearly
one third of the population and wealth Of
the United States! The prosperity of
commerce and agriculture are intimately
connected; they must stand or fall togeIn-
lev. ms exped'ent is worse than chat
which Great Britain offers US she will
allow US to continue our commercial inter-
course with her, and to be the carriers of
our own produce; but this expo dient would
not only give her markets the mon0po!, Of
our supplies, but confne its trauspa
To British bottoms, Is she has driven from
the ocean the vessels of every other coun~
TRY.
Late in the session, it was proposed in
Congress TO repea. tlis law laying The en-
oargo and caicu ations were made, 10 snev
that the bulk VI our produce might be ey.
ported free from danger. This was in eff
iect proposing tame subm. ssion to all the
outrages committed by Great Britain, aud
that instead of resenting the various insults
and Injuries she had done IL, we should re-
Sard her with the IN >nop iyof oul commerce.
sooner than would accept a CONNIE roe
to which any nation should attempt to lin.
It US, would abandon the ocean. Are we
such miserable slaves to our ease and to-
false ideas Of our interest! Are we so de-
based, that for the advantage of Carving
on our commerce with G.. Br. tain, we will
abandon the commerce of all the world
Are we to be bribed by England with he.
oner OF allowing us TO trade with her, to
give her the monopoly of our comm rec 7
we Will not sell our rig is and our soye-
re gnty, for all the wealth she is mistress
OF. What she could not deprive us of in
our infancy ty arms, it is madness and
folly 10 expect We W Ii now, In the strength
and vlgor of manhood, lay at her feet i'm
consequence OF the injuries she has done
Sc
Dut it is not true, we could continue rbe
comm rec with Great Britain, that we have
hitherto Carried on with her. Upon that
mmerce there was balance against US
OF seventeen millions of dollars we were
enabled 10 pay this by the profit OF our trade
with other countries, and by. the profit a.
rising from our navigation (our iabour i'm
that Way is supposed to produce from ff-
teen to wenty mid ons of dollars annualiy.)
We import from the Brit ISL, light or teir
ill'ons OF dollars value. when we export
and derive profit on; all these sources
OF wealth wou be los, to us. 1t is known
that Great Britain affords us a market but
-hour, pork, beef, rice and tobacco: four
hsh we are not allowed TO sell IN Great
arltain; they are our rivals ia that trade y
ana however large'the export of any or AFT
.hese articles may be to that country, bus
IA small proportion OF them are there con.
sumo but they have been shipped
mere is row, however, jan end TO that. as
she has not access to the countries in which
they are consumed, and they must perish
| enere or at home, under the OF RAJ ions of
their orders IN council, and The French de-
crees. illustrate this by the situation ne
tobacco trade would be placed in Under
this commerce, which t is said we ought
to give our independence to enjoy. When
we have good crop of tobacco, we make
10000 hogsheads Great Britain consumes
annually l2,OOO the remainder is consua.
ed on the continent. If we are deprlN d
OF all intercourse with the continent, direct
and indirect, where five-sixths of our to-
bacco IS consumed, what are we to expect
! to get for 1t i! beg pardon for having en-
tered into this cons deration of the subject.
am convinced II was unnecessary. No
temptation OF gain, no prospect of wealth.
can induce the American people to part
with their sovereignty and independence,
which they will do, whenever they permit
ANY nation to deprive them of all CONNER
cial intercourse with the rest of the world.
Alter having taken a station among the
nations of the world, with the most certain
presages, that il we are true to curse Ives
we shall at no very distant day rank among
the most powerful will we, Tor the mere
prospect OF wealth, which can never be
realized, bear the degradation and disad-
vantages OF being again in a colonial state /!
Sooner than submit to this, if one spark Of
the spirit OF seven,y-six remains, we will
secrihce our lives and our fortunes.
(To be continued.