Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-18
No. I.
AMERICAN MANUFACTURES.

~ thC W"TS SftiST foreign or do
nestle, which have asitated Europe
for the last twenty years whilst Goa
iiiions and treaties os subsidy O.. of
peace, have succeeded to each other in
rapid, though inconstant succession !;
whilst the victors and the vanqui shed
have been equally ruined by the Gala
mites that are incident both to victo-
ry and to defeat; by enormous expen-
ditures of public money, by decrease
Of population; and by the destruction
OF their towns and manufactures this
country by observing rigid and i'm
partial neutrality, endeavored to pos
sess itself of those blessings, which
How from peace, to the extension of
It's commerce and its agriculture to
the ameGoration Of the condition and
Increased numbers of its people.
But the DEGREES and orders in coun-
Gil OF the belligerent powers, under
pretence of distressing the trade of
heir enemy, debarred US the right of
oisposing OF the produce of our com
ttry, and the fruits of oar industry.
hey conhscated our property, impo-
seu tribute upon our commerce, vio-
lated our territory, impressed our CT
tizens, and finally, attacked one ofour
national vessels. thus, az far as in
them lay, by the destruction Of our
trade, and by coupling insul, with in-
justice, they endeavorel to draw us
from that neutrality TO whose observ-
ance we were So strongly inclined both
by interest and inclin3tion.
Under such circumstances, whilst
France declares England In 4 state of
blockade, and England declares France
in turn whilst our merchants are not
merely discouraged by their losses du-
ring the past, bat by their apprehensi-
ons of the time TO come; whilst the
orders of council have been ver6aHy
recalled, though they are still retained
to every purpose OF oppression whilst
we are entirely shut out from those
ports of Europe which purchased our
produce and whilst our trade to En-
gland if it can escape the cruizers of
France, is still subjected to that de-
probation which is ever consequent
upon species of monopoly where the
sellers bring more goods into market
than the purchasers want when
the latter possess the exclusive right
of buying and sellers are denied the
right of selling elsewhere: and when
besides, we are deprived of the sales
of twelve millions Of our commodities,
which we were in the habit of selling
RI the blA Il, ,I..1 r>Orro 0F tba
OF Europe; it behoves us to take eve
ry measure that will render us indepen-
dent of European manufactures, to en-.
cure ourselys domestic supplies in case
of q war with any OF its powers. and by
diverting portion of the capital which
now flows in the insecure channel of
foreign trade, and which now gives
support to the subjects of those powers
from whom we have experienced In
justice, to the erection of domestic
manufactures, and by this means to az
ford EN- ploy ment to those amongst us,
who either from debility or age, are
unqualified for the more laborious pro-
fession of the agriculturist. Such a
measure would bring into action the
individual capitals of our fellow-citi-
Zens, supply our particular wants and
augment the general stock Of the coun-
Try.
1t is true that the northern ports of
Europe are still left open to us; but
have we any certainty that they will
long remain in this situation Resides
our trade thiiher was always Of an IN
direct kind. As our exports to Eng.
land and France were always greater
than our inports; and as both these
countries carried on an extensive trade
with the ports in the north of Europe
hence, we were enabled to purchase
commodities in those countries by bills
ofcxchange drawn in our favor by Bri.
tish and French merchant. OF the
commodities which we purchased
there, some we disposed Of at good
market in the south Of Europe and
others from the cheapness Of the ma
huiaciures, We transported to- the Uni
ted States. But at present our trade
with those countries must entirely
cease. They do not want the natural
productions Of our country. MANY of