Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-04

rather highly. The principles which !
have actuated Us, may be best recollected, !
by following our practice up to its source. |
The course of the first waters may easily |
lead US to the fountain.
The American war was no sooner sue. |
cessfuliy Terminated, and the peace of YER
sai les signed, than the merchants in En-
gland and America suggested that some.
thiog was necessary to regulate the trade
between the two nations, far that England
aad America were necessarily unitel in
pmnerce, though severed in soyernment
thai America was The great buyer, and
England, as a manufacturing nation, the
great seller; that England in fact was the
store, the magazine, whence the cultiva-
tors in America were to be supplied with
whatever was necessary beyond their own
immediate produce. In this representa-
tion the merch lnts had reason on their
side; tor IT there be one principle certain
IN political economy, il is that m,nutac.
turing nation is the natural market of sup.
ply to an agricultural one, AMI thas the
first civil graduation OF every people is az
ricuiture, during which stage they must
take their manufactures from others.
1t seems equally Certain, that as the po-
pulation OF America must increase in the
proportion of her cultivation in the pro-
portion of the lands brought into tilIage
that her demands upon England for ma.
nufactures should keep pace with this in
creasing culture, AID that the Improvement
. o. America becomes thus the extension Of
thu English market.
According to this reasoning, England
has a common interest in the prosperity of
America. The prosperity of America
is the prosperity of her best customer. In
proportion as America is rich, is thriving,
increasing in cultivation, and in produce
lin her demand, and in her means of
supplying it by paying IT'S price; in the
same proportion is America rich,
thriving, solvent customer 20 tae En-
giish manufacturers. On the other hand
Whatever cramps American culture, or
American Improvement whatever substi.
tutes the sword for the ploushsiare, and
converts her merchant slips into priva.
teers; the effect of rnis system, we say, is,
s!iat by cutting OF the sources of demand.
1T cuts off tae demand itself II ruins, by
one and the same blow, America as buy
er and England as a seller. America does
not want to Guy where she Cannot sell, and
demand must necessarily stop, where ma.
ton remains stationary in it's culture and
population.
Such would seem to be the mutual rela.
lions between England and America and
such any dlspasslonate government would
have acted upon.
The English ministry however. instead
OF following these views, seemed to ACT on
ly upon those impalscs and those passions,
whish were naturally enough excited by
the successful reb :llion of America. Ua-
der these feelings, Consulting rather their
Indignation than the Interests of the state.
they enireiy overlooked the menorials o,
the erCnantS. ia ~, a,r -
commercial intercourse with America es
tabiisnei it as fundamental poiat, that
America having ceased u b. British, as
not entitled to any British favor; tina, her
commerce should be restricted rather than
encouraged, and that she should b.. regar-
ded on the footing of nation and people
no. merely alien, but as nearly hostile as
was consistent WITH the possible Ia ante
nance of the actual peace. 1t was evea O
penly argueItnat II would be meannsss. &
"A want OF due sense OF our own dignity TO re-
ceive America in the character of a friendly
x independent nation that am )ngst nations.
as amongst individuals, there were degrees
OF arfty, and that America was certainly
not to DC ranked IN the highest. That A..
nerlca least of ali nations, had any risnt
to expect fdyors.
These principles were accordingly ,v,w
ed ann acted upon. ami thu com ne"ci If re
gnlations we're III exact conformity to the
spirit which dictate them. Ia. nlv.patt.
Oh act WIS employed as an alldi,joo !,
source of argumsnt to Justify tn. iesi,n.
and spitefal policy. Under the pretex, Of |
this act, measure Was shortly afterwarl, |
introduced iato parliament, by wh,ca "a
Anericans were prohibited fro n cortinu
ing to supply the English Wesc Ida
isaniS. SUCH islands. it was argded. and
the suoply nj the n, being the exclusv,. |
right Of English subjects, and that A.nerj
ca should not retain, as n successful rsb.l.
a trade in which sh. had formally partic,-
p1ted as n ember of the British epp,r-
twas IN vain rspied To these aryu.ne,rs
that the West India islanis conIl not ex :
wIth1ut his supply; thit the articles br,'t
from America we're too bulky To Day far
freight It fetched IRON a greater ,iiisa',,e
tn 1t the planter could not affJrJ % n1y /.
pound for log OF wood, nor ten pounds for
a sack OF four that Eng AMI moreover
could not supply these islands; tiat The
winds woa!d NJ. always serve, and In ,tthg
quantities required, however cventut!ty ne
cessary, were noS Sufficient to cois.itn.e
that ex,ent of trade, in which the Sc
arrival of one hees, m,g,. CO nysns lte the
delay OF another.
These Arguments we're urged in vain, an
the act Of prohibition was passed. Tue