Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-04-06

1922
intercourse It can never benefit thenation
lit is nothing more than apart OF that NIL
SCRABBLE musqueto system, which IS TO sting
and irritate England into acts OF hostility.
i have no doubt she sees the object, and she
will take care not 10 give us the advantage
which would be derived from war being
commenced on her part. But / ask what
will be the effect of non-intercourse see
no other than that it will require two yoy-
ages instead Of one to transport our produce
to the markets of the interdicted countries.
You carry your merchandise to Lisbon, ana
there deposit it; and from thence it's, car
ried in foreign ships to England and France.
Who will pay the expence of this circulty
of transportation The q. S. twill be
deducted from the price of your produce.
Canthe gentleman contriye no system which
will operate wlthless severity upon ourselves
than upon those whom he deems our enc
mics If the resolution has no design, but
what is apparent on the face of it, it is evil
dent that its sole operation is against our
selves. Its inevitable effect will be to re-
duce the profit Of what we have to sell, and
to increase the expence Of what we have TO
purchase. | can perceive also, sir, that 1t
will be aneasure Of unequal pressure upon
different sections of the country, and that
its weight will fall heaviest upon that part OF
the union already too much CALLED to suffer
any addition to its burthen. The lumber,
the live stock, the fish, and the articles OF
common expectation to the eastward will
not bear the expencc Of double fleights.-
VIII they thank you for repeating the en-
barge, and adopting substitute which CON
tinuss 60 shut the ports of the north while
1t opens those OF the south. VIII they
thank you tor measure which deprlves
them even Of the miserable consolation OF
having fellow sufferers in their distress. If
this resolution be adopted you do nothing
to heal the wounds which YOU have inaict-
ed. 1t New England loses her trade she
WI derive no comfort from lis being under
a non intercourse, and not under an e1nbar-
go law.
1t is part OF the resolution, that we are
70 import no produce or merchandise from
England, or France, or THEN colonies. Do
you expect, Sir, that law to this effect
could ever be executed in time of peace
As to the manufactures of any country in
Europe; she VII give you the exact marks
and stamps, and packages O. any place to
which your trade is open, AMI she viii dery
you TO distinguish her fabrics ON those
hey attempt toinitat Bat, sir, the col
S quence Gil fly to be dreaded from such
a measure, would be the practice of smug-
= ng, 70 which 1t would certainly give birth.
Y n you expect in one moment to change
the habits OF whole country? We know,
sir, the power of habit: it is second ma
ture. Can an act of congress instantly
change your nature? No, sir--they who IN
afford 1t, will have what they have been &C
customed to; they will pay any price for
articles, without which, perhaps, they can
scarcely exist. Smuggling must follow
and will follow with forgery and perjury IN
Its train. 1t is the honor and character OF
your trading people which now protects you
from smuggling. Break down this synsi-
ment, habltuate them to perjury, destroy
the disgrace attached to his violation of
your law, and YOU lose half the security &
means you have in the collection of your
revenue.
ne complaint has been made, that while
we Ind fault with the measure proposed W.
refuse to point out the course we would
have the administration to pursue. Ihave,
sir no hesitation on my part to disclose my
opinion, or to offer the humble assistance Of
my advice on the subject. In few words
will tell you what would do Place Eng
land and France upon the same footing, BY
repeating the non-inportation act, rescind-
ing the proclamation, and repeating the en-
barge. Then ask for, and INSIST upon ade-
Oaate rAnaraticp fo-. tLa ,N,;, of H. rL.co