The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-10-28
Essay JUN1o.

the utmost unaniIrity Of sentiment through
out the whole extent of the union. AS the
cause in Which VIC are engaged is a cbmmon
one, as it in fact involves principles precisely
analogous to those of-the revolution, to the
triumph AZ which we consequently are in
debtea for our Independence, and by the
firm maintenance Of which our liberties Can
alone be preserved, this was certainly a IA
tional hope. The moment when tribute was
demanded, and much more SO when it was
actually eXacted in some instances by Brl-
tain, every wl,igyish sentiment ought to have
been reused, and should have dictated IN
immovahsc purpose OH 10 terms whatever to
submit, either to this degrading mark btvas-
salage, or to the equally iniquitous jnvasoas
of our undoubted rights by the French de-
cfevs. l. -v.
'Fhis patriotic expectation has been Com
pletely realised in the whole western and
southern country, and generally in the mid
die states; but has, unfortunately to great
extent been disappointed in the Eastern sec
tion OF the union.
To what peculiar caases is this to be as
cribedI To solve this enquiry is the object
Of the remarks that follow. The field of re-
Election, which the object opens, is very wide,
and pertinent remarks might be easily rami-
fed TO almost any extent; but our present
purpose is merely to sketch an outline, which
may at any future period be filed up by our
selves or others. In the mean time, we re-
commend our present notice OF the subject
to the particular attention of our Eastern
brethren. 1t goes, as we apprehend, to eX-
pose the root Of The political etil that exists
IN Now England and 70 show the claims
which the cause now at issue has upon the
virtue, the vigilance, and the eXertions of
her citizens.
We consider the mass OF the people Of the
Eastern states as truly republican in their
convictions as the people of any other quar-
ter of the union. We believe they are as
purely American as any other of their fellow
citizens, and that they are as free from TO-
reign predictions and as indignant at TO-
reign wrongs.
We believe, likewise, that all the impor-
tent interests of New England are as repug-
nant to foreign political connections, or to a
ny thing which shall impair, much less ami
hilate, the federal ties that now bind the Sc
veral parts of the union together, as it's
possible for them to be.
What are those interests,
They are commercial am. manufacturing.
From climate, from Habit, physical as
well as moral, from position, and from vari-
GUS other causes, New England is but little
of an agricultural state. For her present
and opulence she is principally
indebted to the daring enterprise that carries
great portion of her citizens in quest of
gain into every sea and every cline, and to
the frugality and ingenuity that enable a still
greater portion of them prohtably to employ
themselves in manufactures. II TO these
sources we trace her f,'escst prosperity,
how much mere intimately will they be per-
ceived to be connected with it, when her
numbers shall have greatly increased; when
the relative area ofher cutivabela shall
bear much more inconsiderable proportion
to her augmented population.
The great interests of New-England then
clearly depend OH her navigation, her COM
merce and her manufactures This is in
deed so indisputable, that all admit it.
How are these great interests best adran-
ccd'? We reply by firm maintenance of our
commercial rights, and by an mistaken adj
herence to union BY the former her navi-
cation and commerce will Continue to be a
source of great profit, and by the latter she
will long remain 1nrivaled as the carrier of
the rich productions of the southern states,
and as the artificer for them of a great pro-
portion ofthe fabrics they require. To what
hitherto has her wealth been principally ow-
ing, but to trade, consisting chiefly in the
carriage of the valuable productions of the
eouth, and in their exchange for miscelane-
Gus cargoes of foreign goods, which have
Dccn III part dlSDOSSC OF DIT foreign markets,
and in part consumed among ourselves p
This is the very trade of which England, by
her present orders, would deprive us of by
far the greater part. For New-England
then to submit to those orders would be viz
tually to abandon this abundant source of
opulence. Nothing but firm resistance
can prevent England from snatching this re-
s ource entirely from her. In navigation, COM
merce, and manufactures, England is, and
even will be, the inveterate rival Of New
England, and just in proportion as she shall
succeed in her scheme OF taking to herself
the trade of the world, will New England be
peculiarly depressed. The southern states,
not being commercial, and raising products
essential to Europe, would comparatively
suffer be, little from the total monopoly of
trade by England. She would take off their
produce or nearly the same terms with the
Eastern merchants, and would bring back
supply of foreign goods. AS the dependence
Of the south is not at all on the profits of trade
the loss tn them would be trifing But to
New England it would be every thing. The
pre- sent cause then is emincntlv tile cause of
New England. 1t is emphatically herinter-
ests that the government is defending IF
this cansc should be abandoned by the natl
ton, her greatness must be impaired or Pc
rish.
She, likewise, is most peculiarly interest
ed in the continuance of the union. The IT,
Mon OF the states can alone give us the pow
pT If t)rOteCtinr Cur commercial riphte -