The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-31

must bel paid for III ready money, and is chiefly.
tor the rich and the few. How is the multitude
supplied, dispersed over that vast continent, and
| atlconsiderable distances from the sea-, Sir, by
the same means, and necessarily so, as are
practised in most countries of these Kingdoms.
There are two kinds of manufacture one active
and systematic, collected under a superintehd-
ance, and brought TO the markets of sale. The
Iother is setentary and domestic, obscure but
! large, could the small and scsttered parcels be
gathered up for consumption, as may be male
of the former from the records OF public marts
The latter lies among the wives and. children of
rural, OF rustic families is applied to domestic
use, and rarely sees market for sale. In the
same mode the American yeomenry are furnish
! ed among themselves. The domestic manufac-
ture must in course be large for the use of such
numbers, the active for sale is far from mat,iri-
ty s,nong them, but necessity, urged against
them, may extend the arts and materials, alrea-
dy Individually possessed and enthusiasm may
stamp ON their home-spun all tire value. all the
pride of ornament.
Sir, foresee thes difference with America
vii be composctt, and how---'There silence
becomes me best---It will be SO late, that Great
Britain must receive wound, which no time
can heal-A philosophical sense of dignity must
step in, under the shape of consolation.
This reflection wish to obviete, and will
state a strong question from the other side. Adj
m ting, if please, the practicabtlity Of the
|coiloniSt supplying his wants with his own home
| " manufacture, irnprcveable too by time and
Experiences yet will not an interruption to the
went of his own produce, and to the profits of
his trade be a loss of such magnitude, as may
\ quickly, and With an Intermediate staguation too
ishort for us sensbly to feel reduce his mind to
4 state of huniliation2 The interruption, al.
How, will be loss TO individuals, large 20 some,
lsmall to many, and operate in degrees proporti-
lonate to situations and tempers. The trading
class foresec il already, and arc huinblc0 enough
fN StllSn ~ Nyhn EeNn
them in awe, the multitude of small, but hide
pendent propricfors Of land, may feel then part
OF the loss so light, not to relax the resuf spi
rit, which they have manifested down to this
day; and may be strengthened by truth too OBJ
Ivious, that America, a, public, must be gain
er by such interruption
| She always hath beer, and is now largely IT.
debted to the British merchants proof, that
the nsat value o. her annual produce, ana remit
taIlces through the crcuition. of her trade hath
ever been short of her purchases here. Sc far,
"a this difference reaches, whether strsn large
SO far as she substitutes more of her own labor
in the stead of ours for her own wants Just 80
much will be on general balance a clear profit
to her community, while the intercourse with
,ours is stopped and loss TO Great Britain ire
lcoverable so far, during the melancholy inter-
val the arts of manufacture may be better csta-
lblishet, and more extended it that continent I:
but if extended beyond frugal uses, The yeomen-
~ there will sink into futile and enervating enjoy
ments, the sovrcc Of venality and discord, and
in their turn verify celebrated axiom in pe!itics.
] that discomfort, rn,!rTnurs, profusion and out
ward shew are the sure signs OF a state in decay
| Sir, you have repeatedly heard before this day
Of the large dehtf:fG the cc!cnists ~ cur Iner-
chants AN tincontrovertible ruth 90 the per1na-
nent amount Of millions GrieveG, SIS humanity
must be, at any occurrence, which puts such
property, and 40 many rleritorious subjects in
Iperil, or even under a temporary anxiety yet
SUCIh Of HAT trul he a{ra
ct q Voluntary conduct, public policy hath cause
TO rejoice, at the same time 10 acknowledge "A
high, though unsought obligation to the merchant,
who by this practice holds in his hand the princ-
! psf bond of colony dependence, ensorccs the act
| OF navigation, and becomes in the public behalf
the true guardian of that half divine law, the
! work of penetration and wisdom equal to the
| great mer, who framed it. Illic; traffic is com
mon to all regions and governments, not to be
avoided in any, but by strict care not to lead
into temptation Upon the whole no CONNER
cial regulation hath been more accurately obser-
we'd, than the act of navigation, to winch the A
meriean Congress most inteiligibly submits, and
which in their deprivation of capital privileges
and liberties, enjoyed by their teilcw-subjects
here, cOmprehends their contribution for protec-
! ton an act, which hath generally been we'll o.
beyed by them, and the merchants 1T home hath
made it their interest. A foreign correspondent
! might account most justly for the neat proceeds
tof tobacco, rice, sugar, &c. but will not give
credit for silver more and for that reason doth
not receive such consignments eren from The less
scrupulous observers of the law The British
/ merchant 4 hundred pound, ne&ted from
consignment, readily supplies the Americans
| wants far hundred and twenty, thirty, how far
! is iTnnaterah This accommodation he hath
I not, and though long habit doth not try to have
from any quarter out of Great Britain, ard there
fore chooses to send his produce through her
channel; nor will few exceptions invalidate
the argument: and till the awful volume o: earth.
iy vicissitudes shall disclose the fatal page,
, where that Omnipotcnt Hand, which hath lifted
rp and cast down the prOutlest dominion of old,
may have written the designation of empire to
the child; till then the merchant of Great Bril-
tain will keep the ebildin all possible dependence
on the parent
| Sir, after all, though my fellow subjects rise
more and more in the iiattering confidence, that
! the colonies will not adhere TO their arguments,
! do not commit myself in asserting the CONTRA
/ ry do not pronounce, that they will I only
suggest that they may, and on that supposid-
! OF, have attempted to- w, what England, Scot.
| land and Ireland stake on the contest; nothing
| less, than long approved and successful system,
embracing every circumstance of national stsbi-
| ltv, prosperity and ustre. For wha. this is put
in hazard, humbiy hope, is question too Sc
rious for casuistry; and, humbly believe, sole
ly to be measured by exPedency aud practicable
| ty under the direction of that great council,
which holds tie guardianship of three King