The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-01
Let US now enquire Into the effects Of the

into, .......s...... -,.- 81 ,,.lrl.t s. s.
Those felt by the merchant and,
Those felt BY the farmer and planter.
In. the case OF the merchant, there is in ge-
neral mere suspension of business. So far
as he owns articles Of a perishabe nature
there's apositive loss, and this is the case
with his shipping though it remains to be
seen. whether at the raising Of the embargo
the enhaficed prices paid for Shipping and
for the articles exported, will not amply re-
munerate his present losses.
Estimating the commercial capital Of the
United States ut leu millions, ard the Iper-
Camille profits at ten per cent. his loss from
not continuing his trade, cannot exceed ten
millions. IF to this be added FIVE millions OH
account of tile pefishable property of the
shipping, and an equal loss for the injury ON
other perishable articles, we have an aggre-
gate OF twenty millions.
AS. an Offset to this, it is but fair TO put
down the increased price Of foreign goods,
which, estimated at ten per cent. on fifty
millions, amounts to 5000, OOu
The increased price paid in 70
- fsign markets for his goods, sto-
red previously 10 the embargo,
which may be confidently COM
puted ats 5000, 900
And the increased cheapness ofli-
wing during the continuance of
the embargo, which may be es-
timated at 1000, 900
~ Making altogether : = 100000
e a., q. . ---
This leaves deficit of s,00b GOO which
will in a great measure be met by the. new
employment given by him to that portion of
his capital disehgaged from trade
1t follows that the injuries sustained by the
merchant will be inconsiderablc. Those, in
deed, acquainted with the principles of po-
iitical economy know how difficult it is ma
teriaily to injure this class of men, who draw
ing all their profits from the consumption of
the other classes of society, likewise saddle
them, With very few exceptions, with their
losses. $50
On the farmer and planter the injury will
principally fall. They will be either kept
out OF the value of their surplus produce for
a considerable time, or be obliged to sell it
at a reduced price. Happily however, they.
are generally in such circumstances, that
unless the embargo be of unlocked for dura-
ton, they will have the means OF retaining
their produce: forsal until more propiti-
Gus season shall arrive. In the mean time it
is difficult, if not impossible to estimate with
any precis,nn the amount Of pecuniary loss.
But it will be manifest to any man, who re-
fleets on the subject, that it will fall far short
of fifty or sixty millions, which we have seen
would be the increased annual expence of
wnr. This is evident from the whole amount
OF our domestic exports falling considerably
short of fifty millions, and frc!:. the loss az
tually sustained beitg limited to the value of
the articles which shall perish before the
embargo Is raised, and 20 the eventual Simi-
mutton of the foreign demand for the residue
The actualloss cahhot surpass the amount
OF these two items, Which itself will in ali
probability form but All uncomfortable part
OF the Whole; as the tobacco, the cotton, the
rice. usually exported, may be Kept uninju:
red Tor several years, andFas these ARTICLES
constitute the larger portion of our exports.
2. The second view, worthy of notice, is
that the embargo, though the cause of much
individual distress will produce little natl
onal loss OF wealth, while war would most
extensively produce both.
The degree in WHICH war would produce
a loss OF property almost defes calculation.
Our whole commerce might be swept into
the possession OF our enemy at blow, there
by enrichipg her at our own expence by ia
KING Its full value from the national stock.
ne embargo has the advantage of secur-
ing sle whole mass Of national property of
concentrating our means and of preparing.
us for the day of danger
3. The, embargo will necessarily produce
an economical expenditure of the public mo-
mes; war would not fail to produce lavish
disbursement of them. Ali that can be re-
CURED under the former is moderate pre-
paration tor defence while under the lat
ter. more extensive preparation for
defence would be indispensable, and the in
fnitely more expensive means of offensive
preparations might be called for. At pre-
| sent, under the embargo, an extraordinary
expenditure of three or four millions has
been thought sufficient once engaged in war,
the extraordinary esspences would not fall
Short OF, twenty millions. If these were
drawn from loans they would not fail to clog
our future growth and if from present t.xes
TO operate most oppressively.
4 The embargo withdra&s us altogether
from "a POLITICAL association with foreign na-
tlons war would bind together our common
destinles. Is there any thing in tie conditi-
on OF the foreign world generally, or in that
OF any one state in particular that onglft to
tempt us at any price whatever, to embark
our interests with theirs If there be not. is
this rs the decided conviction of our conntrye
men, they ought to consider war as among
the greatest curses that could befal nc. and
not to nfurmur at any lesser evil that saves
them from it. ..l
o. ne embargo protects not only our
trade, but likewise our political institutions
! from injury or ruin, by withdrawing us from
all collisions With foreign powers.-zyVar
Would PxnoSe oif, rol;.;c ii ;,e.;,,u;. 1