The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-28

furious tn the interests, aud as derogstory TO the
character OF the goye rnmcnt, as the abandonment
pfany other. Once avow that principle. once
have 1t understood by for eiSn nations that voar
commerce Is abandoned 10 ITS fate, and its pros.
perity is Impossible, its destruction is inevitable
its very prosperity would produce its tlsstructi-
on, by inviting the cupidty and violence Of TO-
reign nations But, Sir, the attitude the GOV.
cfnment has taken upon the subject of revenue
forbids thr abandonment oi'cUnmerce. A,mo.,
your whole revenue is derived from com.n.rc.
iou have dispensed with you' internal taxes and
your Oily Internal resource is derived from the
s9lc OF your pubic Llnds. Whatever may he the
producuveness Of th,t fund hereafter, it is no,
now r;ore than cqu.., twentieih Of the. de-
iHands OF t'ie government. Heace Sir tl.. .roy.
erniaent mus. ei<er afford protection 80 COM
mere, or renew ne internal taxes. Can Won
dou',., Sir, which az these alternatives the poy
ernment would choosr We are told, Sir. .s,er.
are prejudices against navy know there arc
Sir and believe have partaksn of them AS
much a. any gentleman in the United States, and
stand AS mucn committed to the nation ON tia,
point But the circumstances of the country ar
the time ofdiscussing the question ofcrcatnc 2
navy, formerly < atthc present time are extreme
~ different. Our commerce then was compare
usely small TO what it now is The Dro,,ose.i ex
penditure upon the navy would have been nearly
equal to the whole annual product of the rcve-
ME derived from commerce. The revenue now
de::'ed from commerce is nearly quadrupied
and besides, at that time, our commerce WAS al
most exempt from 10, eign aggressions Its pre-
sent prosperity andunprotectcd state has invited
aggressio.ls from ABROAD and unless it il pro
tecteti, it vii. be DIES .royed
Whatever my preiudices or opinions NAV have
oeeh, or may aow be upon this subject, am not
so weak AMI obstinate. as to suppose that those
preiudices or opinions can controul the. nracticai
progression ct human affairs, nor tina, there is a
ny consistency IN applying The same opinions to
aihrrcnt state o. circumstances and events
'hese must ard will oontroul prciudices and o.
3"i'"ns MI President, notwithstanding all the
existing 2rcindices against navy, now conf
ueh'iy express an ofiiipn, that ifyou continue to
draw vour revenue through the medium OF com
merce-if that commerce should continue, Tn
prosper and increase, and if foreign cupditv and
violence Should continue to exist, you will have
a navyto protect your commerce. | consider
III" erect as certain as any other effect produc-
ei by irresistible causes When this efI;.c, r,,lI
't<e piare- w!Icn these prelutlices will be over
come, iVne'heT this year or the next or at some
more future Inc, will not pretend to say ; but
that II VIII happen ut some time, is as certain as
mat any other effect viii happen that is imDelled
oV rfeSis,ihle Causes The extent of this pro.
tection Will depend on the discretion of the gov.
ernnent, and the. IS a security against r.. he.
F carried too far v the great prcdomnatnc- in
huence OF the landt d and mechanical interests in
'"S C'bteNi ot-.tcs, The present measures die
t@t-a oy the present state Of things are in nv
jaahI"eh ut peculiarly favorable to he accelerate;
~ .! TINS II suit ; and | am surprised tha, our
'a'tefh trends, instead of encouraging them.
'"ouid or throwing o5struc,ions in the way. A
'sGii a, Az times SO desirable to them and so
wen Calculated 10 give them that weight in the
Sca'e OF Tie UNION winch they now seem to think
they do MOI possess, but which they have ~lately
i', ,,l great nXiety TO possess.
a" 'iiSt upon tins part of the subject, Mr. Pre-
'!d"ht, pei mt me to express my deep mortifica
tHA ana regret at ti.e unfortunate differences of
'pht"ii which exist between the eastern and
so"tiierh people respecting our foreign relations
L VIII not examine into the causes of these diff
iefehces o. op. ion, because il might excite I'M
pleasant feelings in some gentlemen which I
"'sn particularly to avoid. These difference.
yie '''e "a re 10 De wondered 1t, when we all
h"""' that our interests are common in that res
pect and that in relation to each other thew are
peculiarly mutual and reciprocal Never were
.here people whose occupations rendered their
interests more mutual and reciprocal than tbc
eastern and southern people of this union, whose
wants ana supplies were better suited to each
otiler, or presented fewer points of riv,ls,,;n
4 ne eastern people have ships and sesmen, and
deHSht IN employment upon The water /. the
southern have lands, and delight in ag-,cultur,.
iheiI productions too are bulky and heavy aud
peculiarly suited to furnish employment for the
eastern CARRIERS, not only coUstwIse, but for for
eiSh trade Ihe southern people have no de-
s"e 10 enter INTO The competition, but are per-
icctiy content To permit their eastern friends to
take thc trouble ot Carrying their productions to
tne markets OF their consumption, and 10 enrich
themselves from the fruits III their labors and
.neH SpecuiatIons yet Notwithstanding all
tnese things and notwithstanding we all know
tne horrible consequences OF divisions, we
sun witness alarming difference, OF opinion.
"ihcii have not only encouraged and invited The
interference ola foreign nation in our political
concerns, but have also pcrvaded social inter-
course, and even materially lessencd The eniov-
msht OF society. And after all, Mr.. Presidcot.
p'fhht me emphatically TO ask you to whose, or
10 "hlt good Why, Sir, our foreign adverse
RES may profit by our divisions, but they are e.
quaiiy destructive to the real interests of all nar
ties smD1Sst ourselves
on, Without pressing this subject, further, NAV
4 not be permitted To indulge the Aattering nope.
'nal "9en ,ness solemn trains shat be present.
ed 20 iiic serious reflection of all the peoDlc of
the CN.lcd States, IN every quarter and section.
mat they may be ,mPelled by sense of common
INTERESTS, ana coDiIHCp dangers, to unite heart
ana hano against our common adveisaries and
present appearance, that our
unfortunate d differences of opinion NAV finally e
'ehtuate IN renewed acts ofreciprocal kindness.
CONFIDENCE and friendship!
Permit nc now, SIR, to enquire into the pre
texts upon which the British rnInlslrv under
takc to 'nsiy these extraordinary otte in coun
CT, and VIII YcHture To- sssert, that they viii