The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-27

the country.
On all these points, the republicans have
rendered. as much service to the CONNER
clal interests as the federalists and the
merchants are indebted to them for the dis
eliminating duties, and for the whole COM
merce of the Mississippi. And
7thly. The eNpences of foreign ministers,
agents. c%onsuls, &c. &c. the navy. establish
ment, relief to seameri, lighthouses. &c.
&c.
This class of the aids. and assistance afford
ed our merchants shall receive a fun Geyel-
opement.
BY a critical examination of the laws of
the United States it will appear (as Ihave
found :that exclusive of three or four acts
OF appropriation, passed to defray the ex-
,pense of calling out the militia, that were
not touched, as the militia were not called
into service, there have been appropriated
TOR the civil list. the payment of pensions,
the notifications of ports and harbors, the
commercial interest, and the war and navy
departments, the sun of sixty-nine millions
Jour hundred and sixty Thousand six hundred
and eighty one dollars * eighty three cents,
under the Administrations of Washington,
Adams and Jefferson. Of this sum, there
have been paid for the navy department, the
navy, naval ornaments, light houses, bea-
cons, buoys, &c. foreign intercourse, com-
missieners to liz uidate commercial claims,
commercial agents, relief of seamen, and
as tribute, and to humble the pirates of a.
trica-all of which expenditures, except
four questions OF foreign intercourse, which
related to territorial concerns, were for the
relief and Benefit of commerce., the sum of
twenty-eight millions forty four thousand
seven hundred and seventy seven dollars and
ninety-nine cents. Leaving the sum of for
tH-one millions four hundred and fifteen thou
Spn1 nina hnnI,a1 an1 tk,an InlI-, c ,rI
cighty-four cents, for all the other expen-
ces of government, except some small sums
for Indian treaties, and occasional grants
for former claims. the payment of the inter
est and principal Of the national debt, and
the purchase of Louisiana.
Is there a reasonable man who will say that
this expenditure of more than twenty-eight
millions of dollars, for the support of a class
in society, embracing not more than one
sixth or our free population, does not eVince
a liberal attention to the commercial inter-
est?
But government have not stopped here.
There have been expended out OF the forty
one millions four hundred and fifteen thou
sand nine hundred and three dollars and
eighty-four cents, two millions one hundred
and eighty-three Thousand six hundred and
hfty-tour dollars, to fortify our ports and har-
bors. These Notifications were never de-
signed to prevent the entering of an army in
to our territories-their only use is to pre-
vent a fleet from appearing before our COM
mercial towns, and laying our merchants I'M
der contribution. This sum ought therefore
to be added 10 the expenditure in favor of
the commercial interest, and it increases
the charge against that interest to thirty mil
lions two hundred and twenty eight thoii-
sand four hundred and thirty-one dollars and
ninety-nine cents, and reduces the general
expenditure to thirty-nine millions TWO hun
dred and thirty two thousand two hundred
and forty-nine dollars and eighty-four cents
Here another consideration presses upon the
mind. The commercial interest, in COM
mon with all the other interests in society,
has in all cases received an equal, and IN
some a superior advantage from the general
expenditure while the other interests nave
received no direct benefit from the expen-
diture in favor OF that interest; though they
have doubtless derived many and great adj
vantages from the prosperity of our COM
merce. 1t is just then to add to the direct
expenditure, in aid of the commercial inter
est, one-siXth of the general expenditure
The result is, there have been expended for
the Commercial interest, which comprises
one-sixth of our free population, thirty-six
millions seven hundred and sixty seven thou
sand one hundred and forty dollars & TWEEN
ty-nine cents, and for the residue, being
five siXths of tine nation, thirty-two millions
six hundred and thirry-nine thousand five
and torty-o dollars (; d tfty-four
cents. Surely the people OF New England
will not require higher evidence Of the atten-
ton of government to tn eir INTEREST,"
There are those who will be astonished
at this view, among whom many may be
found inciining to the belief that government
has bestowed an undue proportion of its at
tent III and revenue on OF this
number 1 am not ne-th policy has been
useful, liberal, and digniiicd, and in my O.
pinion will he continued.
But the opposition tell us that m
was fostered by Washington and Adams,
and that it has been neglected and even
strangled by the republican administrati-
on.
1T is possible that their passions in this,
as in most other cases, may have led them
into error. 1t is possible they might have
been more useful to their country, if they
had devoted more of their time to obtain a
knowledge of national proceedings, and less
in Eliminating denunciations.
A comparison of the expenditures under
each of the administrations, will conclusive
" settle this question. il will shew which
of the administrations have bestowed most
attention to this interest.
Pursuing the classification of the expen-
n. - - -