Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-03-17

Rritain and Fl ance,; as with the view of at.
for,ling you correct infer N alton on this all
important subject. 1t ~ moreover proper
that we should know the real cause of our
commercial difficulties, in order that an ap-
propriate remedy may in due season be APP
piled.
But the illegal blockades and commercial
restrictions, to which have alluded, are
complaints on our part ofvery inferior mag.
nitude to one which have not yet discussed.
We are, fellow citizens, rapidly APP
preaching a crisis, which, If the English
government shall persist in its late iniquit-
GUS schemes, will present to US a choice of
only two alternatives! Either we must re-
pair to arms in defence of that independ-
ence which we have inherited from our an
+ cestors, or become tributary to the british
tyrantr The parliament of Great Britain,
at the instance of their king, have enacted
4 statute for the avowed purpose, of taxing
your tobacco, your -four, your cotton, and
all the great staples of your country. Bril-
cain has decreed' that your produce before
It shall be transported to any other country
Except Sweden) shall, under the penalty
Of capture and, condemnation, pass through
a British port, and pay an average tax Of
forty per centum on its yalue!! Your to
tobacco before it can go to market on the
continent of Europe must pay.into the Bri-
fish treasury tax of nearly three dollars
per hundred: your cotton a tax of nine
pence sterling per pound, and other articles
tax in proportion. Thus upon tobacco &
cotton alone would "a tribute be exacted of
upwards of seven millions of dollars, and
the whole tax, -padinto the British treasu-
ry on American exports going to otherthan
British markets would, according to the
aforesaid act of Parliament, amount to
more than thirty millions |! a sum double
the ordinary annual revenue OF the United
States. = ~ 81, ~
Congress, by an act passed this day,
have authorised the renewal of commerce
between this country and all o,her nations,
except Great Britain and France; they
only having seriously violated our rights.,
Now, 1T whilst we are pursuing Lawful
trade with other nations, Great Britain
shall attempt 70 prohibit that trade, to force
our vessels into her own ports and toslevy
tax on their cargoes. there can be no
question but that war or national disgrace
vii be inevitable s cd grant that we may
preserve peace, but the American people,
trust, when driven to such an extremity,
will have no hesitation in selecting between
war or vassalqge. If we consent TO pay
tribute to Britain we shall be meaner than
their slaves. Whilst coionists, cur anccs-
tors preferred to encounter the calamt,es
OF long, bloody, and disastrous war, rather
than submit to the payment of a nominal
tax OF three pence per pound on tea, levied
by the Parliament of England. Shall we
then, who claim to be the only free people
on earth, when irisulted by foreign tax,
robbing us of more than half the fruits of
our honest labor. forget the glorious ex
ample of our brave and virtuous ancestors?
Heaven forbid it! Let it not be sad that
am partizan, or an enthusiast. In the
performances of most solemn duty, l have
dealt only in facts. If any one shall doubt
what have stated, beg of him to read
the British orders in Council of the 1Ilh
November, 1907, and the act of Farlia-
ment of the 18th of March, 1908, number
OF Copies of which ! have distributed
Throughout the district
But feel no disposition further to pursue
this subject. Permit me, therefore, now
70 present to your view, sketch of the
most important laws of the present session
OF Congress-.
i. An act authorizing the employment of
twelve additional revenue cutters. This
law was rendered necessary not only to
prevent violations of the embargo, but for
the better enforcement of our revenue laws
IN time of peace
2. An act'to' continue in force an act to
protect the commerce and seamen of the
United States against the Barbary powers.
ms act continues the additional duty of
two and half per cent on all merchandi-
yes imported into the United States, for
the purpose of raising fund to defray the
expense of the pa,iic ships we Keep in the
Mediterranean sea.
3 An act requiring Congress to meet on
the fourth monday III May next. THIS ex-
ira meeting Of Congress was suggested by
the extraordinary state OF our affairs.
a. An act vidng the Indiana territory
INTO two separate governments.
S. An act to enforce the embargo
laws. The evasions and violations Of
those laws are well known, and this
prevention of them was thought inn
.portant by Congress. To that end
was this actadopted. / am happy to
say that Its provisions have been very
generally complied with, and that the
government has been rescued from the
calumny that it was incompetent 10
execute It's laws.
6. An act for extending the terms of
credit on bonds due the u. States for
duties