The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-08-04
UNITED STATES rs ENGLAND.
FROM Bells LONDON MESSENGER.
GAN oPPosIrIoN PRINr)
Ms. ERsKlNE's NEGocIATIoN.

It would really seem as if fatality attended
the relations OF England and America, and that
America and England, in the absurd language OF
the day, were natural rivals-that the one is des-
tined to act control on the other, and that by
these means, each is to keep the other down.
This political jargon, a new ranhihcation OF the
old system of the balance of power, is at once
acted upon in practice, and denied in doctrine.
To what else can be imputed the extraordinary
conduct Of every English ministry towards A
merica A conduct CONTRARY, not only to
sound policy, but even the grOssest common pru'
dence, that it is impossible to characterize 1t, Sx-
cept as the result of the passions of the nation.
In order, more fully, to understand the extra
Nordinary features of this part of our foreign sys
TEN, we shall take UP the subject rather highly.
The principles which have actuated us, may be
best collected by following practice up to its
source. The course OF the first waters may east
ly lead us to the fountain
The American war WAS no sooner successful
DIFFERENTIATED, and the peace of Versailles sign
ed, than the merchants in England and America
suggested that something was necessary to regu-
late the trade betweenthe two nations, for that
England aud America were necessarily united in
commerce, though severed III government--that
America the great buyer, and England, ASA
manufacturing nation, the grea, seller; that En-
gland in fact was the store, the magazine,
whence the cultvators III America were to be
supplied with whatever was necessary beyond
their own immediate produce. In this represen-
tation, the merchants had reason ON their side ;
for If there be one principle certain IN political
economy, it is, that manufacturing nation is The
natural market OF supply to an agricultural one,
and that the first civil gradstion of every people,
is agriculture, during which stage they must take
their manufacturers from others
1t seems equally certain, that as the populati-
on of America must increase in the proportion
of her cultIvation-in the proportion of the lands
brought into tillage-that her demands upon En-
this increasing culture, and that the Improvement
of America becomes thus the extension of the
English market SCI
According TO this reasoning, Englan', has
aornmon interest i'll the prosperity OF America.
The prosperity of America is the prosperity of
her best customer. inproportion as America is
rich, is thriving, increasing in cultivation, and Ill
prodUce--in her demand, and in her means of
supplying 1t by paying its prce-in The same pro-
portion is America rich, thriving, solvent
customer to the English manufactures. On the
other hand, whatever cramps American culture,
or American ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS substitutes
the sword for the ploughshare, and converts her
merchant ships into pryateers-the effect OF tIis
system, we say, is, that by cutting Off the sour
ces of demand, 1t cuts Oft the demand itself. Il
ruins, by one and the same blow, America as a
buyer, and England as seller. America does
not want to buy where she cannot sell, ard de-
rHand must necessarily stop, where nation
mains stationary III It's culture and population
Such would seem be the natural relaticns
between England aud America-and such any
dispassionate gc'cinmcht would have acted up
on. g..
The EaglisIf ministry, ho viewer, instead OF fol-
lowing these views, seemed 10 act only upon
those impulses ana those passions, which were
naturally enough excited by the successful re-
beilion of America. Undsr these feelings, con-
sultng rather them Indignation Than the interests
of the state they entirely overlooked the memo
4 - Il AZ b. IL
commercial intercourse with America, establish
ed it as a fundamental point, that America lia-
wing ceased to be British, was not entitled to any
British favor--that her commerce. should be res
tricted rather than encouraged, and that she
should Le regarded on the footing OF ination and
people MOI merely Aiic', but IS nearly hostile Us
was consistent with The possible maintenance of
the actual pc ace Ii was even openly argued, that
it would be meanness, and want OF due sense
Of our own dignity to receive America in the
CLsracterof friendly and Independent nation
that amongst nations, as-amoASst individuals,
there were degrees OF amity, aud that America
was certainly not To be rankedin the highest
That America, least OF ali nations, had any right
to expect ftvors
These principles were accordingly avowed 81
acted upon, and tie commercial ~, ,iatlons were
In exact conformity TO the spirit which dictated
them The navigation act was employed as
additional source of argument to justify the lea
this act, measure was shortly afterwards intro
duced into parliament, by which the AMERICANS
were prohibited from continuing to supply the
English West India islands. SuchIsiands, it was
argued, and the supply OF Them being the cxciu-
sivc right OF English subject, ahd that America
should not retafn, successful rebel, u trade IN
which she had formerly Participated as a mem
Der of tie British empire.
1t was III vain replied to these arguments, that
the West India islands could not exist without
this supply that the articles brought from A
merica were too bulky to pay Freight, If fetch
ed from greater distance that the planter
could not afo-d to pay pound for a log OF wood,
nor ten pounds Tor a sack of -four that England
moreover could not supply these islands that
the winds would not always serve, and that the
quantities required, however eventually necessa-
ny, not sufficient TO constitute that extent of
trade, III which thc safe arrival OF one fleet might
compensate the deiayOi another
These arguments were urged in vain, and the
act Of prohibition was passed The conse quence
was as had been predicted. The Americans sus-
tanned an important loss, whilst the West India
Islands lost their means of sustenance. A gene
raj famine occurred, and half the negroes in the
islands persisted
The English parliament became wise by ex.
perience, aud after these palpable and substaBti-
al proofs Of its mischief, the obnoxious act was
repealed, aud The trade again opened to the Anne
IIcans.
The repeal of the act, however, was single
measure, Compelled by fatal experience OF its
most misclIievoas effects. The spirit continued
The board OF trade most rigid!y acted up to its a.
doptcd systeIn-a circumstance the more extra
ordinary, as the members OF that board were
then Of ndoubted ability. Lord Auckland in