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

III so doing, and in tine same breath, and at the |
same time. t. tell them there are no causes of
war, that they must wait for further injuries an,.
insults I have so much confidence in the in !
te!ligence and patriotism ct the people in every
section of the Union, that do not believe such |
language would be justified or even tolerated I'm
any part OF the United States. No, sir, the peo-
pie of Boston, enveloped as they are with prey
.iices, would repeltbe degrading expos,u.ation II
1t were fairly presented to their view end coDsi
deration But, sir, Ipcopose 10 press the exami
nation os this subject still further propose To
selccttwo or three Of the most formidable and
ino'erablc acts OF outrage from tie disgusting
catalogue, and to bcsiow on them . more critical
attention. These will be acts Of TIC present eli
crgetic administration. suppose that other gen.
tlemen cann". understand the orders Of council
as do IL they did, it weuid be impossible for
IN American to offer - apology for, even
ptlliation OF ttcm F.iey shall, therefore, ,e
ceve my first attention F;rst, $ they effect our
rights OF national sovereignty Secondly, rs they
affect the different occupations y; comuerce, a.
gricu'ture aud Gshrg Thirdly lhe pr.tex,s up
on which they sre attempted IL be justified.
The orders OF council now reduced 10 the form
of law, abridge national sovereignty, in I'M
dertaking coercively TO regulate commerce. in
DEF nee OF our own laws and tt t laws ofiations
and in sub ,eciing it to heavy taxes or tribute
The power to reguiats the tou merce of the u
States with foreign nations, is ;yei, BY the pco-
pie to Congress. These orders Of council un.
der;ake to regulate it lay force, aIl in defiance OF
The laws of Congress. Indeed, the orders extend
their regulation Of il further than Congress is ALL
thorsed to do by the people for they have char
ge6 our experts with heavy duties, which Gem
grcss Is prohibited from doing by the CONSTITUTE.
on. Great Britain may, by municipal regulations
lay any she pleases upon the exports of our
productions from, Great Britain, but she has no
rigttto force commerce into her ports for the
purpose of collecting a tax from it, nor subject
ing it to capture AM condemnation for any dcpar-
ture from the rules she prescr.bes for conducting
it upon the ocean. Sulm ssion 10 these rcg,t!a-
tons, would be the surrender OF some OF the
most essential attributes Ofnation4l sovereignty,
ind would Justly exclude from tie family Of
nations, because we shoLd thereby consent 10 be
excluded from the exercise of some of the IS.
sential rights Of sovereignty, which iudispeD-
sable to the equality of nations. The result IS so
plan, That suppose that there can be but one O.
pnion respecting it.
But, sir, am the more disposed to examine
The operation of these orders upon the different
occupations of commerce, agriculture and fishing,
because have lately heard it said and repeat, Il.
that they merely affect the occupation IT com
merce, and IS 4 consequence resulting from this
Interpretation of them, Il is said tha' the NOR.
chants Tiiay So Git and take themselves
Tins, S.r, is an extremely fallLcious suggestion
and gentlemen, particularly aglicuturalists
ought to be very cautious in adopting it Thjs
mistake has probably arisen from tie want OF
due consideration Of the subject. Il has arisen
from the want of discriminating between the
right Of commerce, or Rather yiIe right of re.yu.
ung commerce, OF pr. slrbing t.e rules for con
ducting 1t, and the occupation ofthe merchant -
Fhe right Of commerce is nationakrignt IL u.-
longs 10 the nation coiil ctiyely The oe.ubgtiou
sr the exercise ST the right, oal, belongs 10 me n,ey
shelnt The right to carry on commerce does .lpt
hetong 90 Inc merchant exolusve ely any other
c'uzen may, if lie chooses, exercise the right
hu these orders Of council affect beth the risht
q -0tnnneTce and the occupation Of commerce
theH 'iso affect the right Of agriculture md OF
hsnng still more. They Effect tie Occupation of
coTn'Herce hy limiting its extent and objects but
t'e PrnciDic .! The orders admitted, it will
regulate the occupation of agriculture. and pro
'ahiy destroy the occupation of fishing If sub.
United -, 1t would probably lessen the value of
every farm IN the u States, as well the farms
upon the watc:, as the farms upon the land -
Apply the orders TO the articles OF either -four,
cotton, tobacco IN Ash viii select two articles
sly for tie purposvs of illustration but Tie o.
9aration OF tbs orders will appy equally to all
Take tobacco for example.
According 90 the orders, every hog.head of to-
5acco, exported from TIC United States, is 10 be-
Carried first into British port, then to pay an
export duty OF three dollars per hundred weight
before 1t can be perms,tcd TO find its way 10 the
continent OF Europe, where lis principally con-
sumed. The value OF the article to the grower
is upon an average about SIX dolls. per cwt The
merchant in purchasing the tobacco OF the grow
CT will tell him, your tObaccois worth ST., dollars,
gu can give you three only, because | am COM
PEELED to call IN Great Britain, and there pay The
other three to make up the price to the British
treasury, and besides TO incur all the charges Of
The ports and the circuty of the voyage, &c. &c
The same observations will apply with equal
force to every other article of agriculture Aud
thus, the principle ofthe orders of council once
submitted 20, will enable Great Britain as effee-
tusliy TO regulate the various occupations ola
gricnture, as IT she were permitted to say Ut
once, the coloHlsts may raise grain, &c but they
snail not RAISE tobacco, &c. Ii you permit hel To
impose taxes at pleasure, any of your producti-
oTS on their way across the ocean, to their market
o. consumption, she can in that way aseffectualiy
prohibit its cultivation, if she were authorised
to prohlht it i'll the first instance by a positive
Prohibtory regulation. The effect OF the princi-
PIE IN each case is the same, the oriy difference
consists IN the mode o. the medium through
which the principie is efectuated lis not like
iy Great Britain would discourage Tie cultiva-
ton OF gram, because she generally requires the
importation OF a certain quantity for her own
consumption. Bat If the orders Of council were
TO be submitted to, living in part OF the country
where have an election TO cultivate gram or to-
bscco, should certainly abandon the cultivation
oi tobacco altogether, because charged with the
present export tax, am Persuadedl 1t would al
lord Rothlng TO the grower.
Now. Sir. LET ego hn,,, tI,e.o o,.Ix... -