The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-23
T II F. TIM E S.

" IHese are the fines that try mems souls"
PAINE's CRISIS.
We are arrested in the prosecute n of orr
subject, by the present views of the Congress
OF the y. >. The froictS which have been sub
mitted to the II. of r. by the committee on
Foreign Affairs, are such as most imperi
ously to demand the attention of the people.
These furnish q subject of the most terrify
ing concera-and if this is the only stand
TO be taken III the cause of our rights and
our honor. the thunders of public indignant
on should not sleep.
Will the 11th Congress initiate the imbeci-
lity OF their predecessor! Will Mey abandon
the rights and independence of our country /?
VIII they bind our bleeding and mutilated
honor on the altar Of British injustice. The
10th Congress displayed such want of
hrmness as compelled us to abandon the OH.
ly measure which could have preserved to US
Peacs without the sacrifice of national rights
or honor Is the present Congress prepared
to follow their footsteps? The committee
On Foreign Relations, have reported Bill
for excluding the public and private ships of
the oeiiigerents-repealing the non inter
course law as to our own citizens-and per-
hitting them to bring in foreign goods in
their vessels-and empowering the Pres-
dent to remove these Powerful restrictions.
u
And is this the only substitute! Are these
the only means of resistance to be employed .
Is this the only stand to be taken? Is the
Congress OF the United States to be So deaf
to the interests and honor of the nation, as to
employ no other expedientsI Are we to
become ths laughing stock of Perceval-
the butt of Cummings jokesI Is there NO
attitude of defence to be taken. No arma.
| ment! No letters of Marque & Reprisal, in
| case other means should fail No more au
thoritative language to be held out to the
asgressor' The pride, the patriotism of an
American, the pure blood shed from the vein.
oil the heroes ot the revolution, would forbid
such an lndigDity. The genius of our co,in
| try would blush for such a degradation. /,
is impossible that such can be the views OF
our present representatives Some other
expedients must be in agitation. And t.
these we shall eagerly and anxiously look
| But let uS view the present proposition, as IL
is--independeuty Of the efficient means al
! RESISTANCE, which yet remain behind in En-.
bryoi in the Committee of Foreign H Citations
| IL is as plain as the way to Parish
Church." that the proposed arrangement i,
infinitely weaker than our original Non In
tercourse law, If that could have been strict.
ly enforced. Both systems are alike, al far
| as they exclude the private and public YES
sells OF the belligerents. but the former
system interdioted all intercourse between
them and the United States---the prescn;
renews it, TO our own citizens in their owr
vessels. That is, we may directly sup
lply Great Britain with our materials, anC
purchase her mannE4ctures for our con
sumption. What benefits then are we t,
expect from this weaker measured VIVA
Inducements Joes it furnish to G.. Britain Il
reScind her orders and respect the rights @
the United States
" But higher duties are to be levied ON he
imported manufactures for the encourage
nsenf OF our owDf" Admit that tins cense
quence can result from duties, which ar
rated so higAa as no. 90 encourage smHggLn.