The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-10
go. 81.

ot foreign gsodS, wilt to a certain extent,
einbarrass the trade OF our enemies, and ty
refusing TO hold any intercourse with them
upon the odio!s terms offered MS, We at least
hold out an opposition, whiCi, | trust will noe
be diminished 1 feel satisfied that a little
reflection ard experience will demonstrate
to every part of the nation. the deep interest
they have in resisting the professions of En-
gland and France and that our whole
strength will be combined to resist them. 1t
cannot have escaped the mcanest capacity
taat the happiness and tranquility of the
United States, are materially il, the power
OF foreign governments; they have been ac-
customed TO rely almost exclusively upoii
them Tor supplies of every kind, andlhowe-
yer much insul1ed, they must either pocket
their Injuries. or submit to privations render
ed necessary by habit and custom. May VIC
not then aHgur some good in the end, from
the interruption of our commerce : Shall
we not be compelled to devclppe the resources
OF our own country, and apply them to re-
lieve our own wants?- 1t is a fact that we
raise articles and send them to Europe, and
afterwards purchase them manufactures at
an extravaganza price, when we have money
anc could easily procure machinery. to make
them ourselves. The products of our labor
have always been exchanged upon the most
unequal terms, and now that shey are res
tricted and limited by the edicts of France
and England in their circulation, we shall
ma 1t particularly our interest to supply our
selves with homespun. / do believe the real
independence of this nation depends upon
the establishment of manufactures
surate with our wants; the experience OF
late has proven that a portion OF our coun-
trymen are unwilling to suspend their trade,
and unite In the maintainance of national
rights. After discovering TO the world thai
VIC are incapable of submitting to tcmpoI ary
privations to procure permanent blessings,
may 1t not be expected they will compel us
to make further concessions? Under these
Impressions, i am consoled by the progress
which has been already made in many parts
OF the union, in the establishment of domes-
tic manufactures ; the present unsettled con-
dltloh or the world, the insecurity OF proper
" on the ocean, and the certain profit of en-
p.oying capital in ;his way, are sufficient
pledges of their extension ard success. The
vast advantages and immense profit of our
neutral trade, could alone have diverted the
wealth of The Country from tiiis channel
a general peace, or the adjustment of our
differences with either of the bcl!igerents.
would exclude from employment in COM
merce a great portion of the money accuInu-
iated during the present war, and the high
price OF foreign goods, the cheapneSs OF the
raw material, the superior advantages in
tins country, would al once give the surplus
this direction. This result appears to have
been anticipated, and hence some of the
greatest capitalists in the Northern States
nave wisely formed companies and invested
their funds in manufactures. The most ac-
1--WE preparations are making, particularly
In Connecticut and Pennsylvania to furnish
COTTON and woo.len cloths, and every article
OF necessity to the great body of he con-
munlty surely after Congress have disco
Vered the tenure upon which the real indie
pendence OF this country rests, they will not
iall 70 foster and encourage these patriotic
efforts. The Causes which have interrupt
cd the commerce of the United States, and
perhaps prematurely changed the occupa-
ton and gwen a new direction to ,he labor
OF the people, cannot be too much deplored :
but L think, in this as | do in other instances,
the injustice of CT. Britain will recoil upon
herself /; she will force one of her most va
liable customers to abandon the use of her
manufactures. There never was in the his
Tory OF the world, so remarkable a proof of
infatuation 1t will scarcely be credited, that
the peace and harmony of the two nations.
20 iiappily ci~rctfnstanced for mutually sup
plying the vans of each other, should be-
destroyed by the avarice of one uf them.
The public debt of the United States ON
the lt of January, was ~ffty-six and an half
millions OF dollars the revenue in the trea-
snry on The same day, applicable to the re-
ENDORSEMENT OF principal, payment of int
rest, and the expenditure of the government,
was sixteen millions of dollars. 1t was cal
culatcd by the secretary of the treasury suf-
hcicnt to meet the contemplated expenses of
the present year, and leave "A balance OF three
millions this balance will be augmented 10
a considerable amount. BY the importations in
return tor that portion of our produce which
can be sold under existing circumstances, it
is impossible to conjecture TO the precise "a
mount very much will depend upon the
Changes ifrEurope, limiting OF, extending the
advantages of trade, and the practical eff
iect OF existing restrictions upon it. IN any
event | hope it will nearly ,nfics for tae or
binary peace establishment, but this must
depend upon the extent to which our produce
can be sold. In the present miserable state
OF the world, when every social blessing has
been driven from the earth. by the mad and
destructive combination Of despots-when
the feeble have been enslaved By power, and
the strong by intrigue, II ia Wonderful we
should not profit by experience With all
the examples of Europe before US, we SAT-
Ter ourselves to be misled by suspicious a.
gains each other, drawn from the true con-
sIderations of policy, and every question is
tested ratherby the motive in which it ORR
glnatUd than lie real hpartnO ToOt, 10 tive