The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-04-05

her own consumption. But If the or
ders in council were to be submitted to,
living in part Of the country .were l
have an election to cultivate grain or to-
bacco, should certainly abandon the
cultivation of tobacco altogether, because
charged with the present export tax, |
am persuaded it would afford nothing to
the grower.
Now, sir, let me see how these orders
are likely to operate on the American
fisheries, and American fish. believe
no American fish j. allowed to be consul
med in Great Britain yet all the Amer
ican fish carried to foreign markets for
consumption, must first call at British
port, and there pay duty. / do not re-
collect the precise amount. Gen. Smith,
ofMaryland, said ninety cents per quin-
tai. do not know the proportion thai this
tax bears to the whole value of the quin-
tal,butit Is notmaterial to my illustration.
Admit the principle, and the proportion
Of the tax to the value of the article can
be varied at the pleasure of the British
government. When you come to recol-
lect, sir, the extreme jealously entertain
ed at all times by the British govern
fnent of the American fisheries, the i'm
portance they attach to their own fisher
les, as the nursery Of their seamen, and as
almost indispensable to the prosperity of
their navy, would you not conclude, sir,
that the farms upon the ocean were in as
much danger from the operation of the
orders in council, as the firms upon the
land and beg gentlemen more partic-
ularly interested upon this subject to
give these observations fair and impair
tial consideration.
But, Mr.. President, this suggestion of
Withholding the protection of the gov
ernment from commerce, conceive
wholly i,admissible-For exclusively of
many other considerations, it must have
been the result of some very, cursory re-
Aections, or superficial observations, upon
the attitude the government has assum-
ed in relation to revenue, or an entire
miscomprehension of it.-Sir, the occu-
patton Of commerce is as much entitled
to the protection Of the government, as
any other occupation, and an abandon
ment Of it as injurious to the interests,
and as derogatory to the character Of the
government, as the abandonment of any
other. Once allow that principle, once
have it understood by foreign nations,
that your commerce is abandoned to its
fate, and its prosperity is impossible, its
destruction is inevitable, its very pros.
perity would produce its destruction, by
inviting the cupidity and violence offor-
eign nations. But, sir, the attitude the
government has taken upon the subject
of revenue forbids the abandonment of
commerce. Almost your whole revenue
IS derived from commerce; you have dis
pensed with your internal taxes,& your
only internal resourse is derived from the
sale ofyour publick lands. Whatever may
be the productiveness of that fund hereaf-
ter, is not now more than equal to one
twentieth OF the demands of the govern
meet hence, sir, the government must
either afford protection to commerce, or
renew the internal taxes. Can you doubt,
sir,which ofthese alternatives the govern
ment would choose Weare told, ,sir, there
are prejudices against navy. l now there
e,sir,& & believe l have partaken ofthem
as much as any gentlemen in. the United
States. And stand as much committed
to the nation upon that point. But the
circumstances of the country at the time
of discussing the question of creating
navy formerly and at the present time, ARE
extremely different. Our commerce