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

congress-. Indeed, the orders extend their
regulation of it further than congress is
authorised 10 do by the people; for they
have charged our exports which heavy
duties which congress is prohibited from
doing by the constitution. Great Brit
aim may by municipal regulations lay any
tax she pleascs upon the exports Of our
productions from G. Britain, but she has
no right TO force our commerce into her
ports for the purpose Of collecting tax
from it, nor subjecting it TO capture and
condemnation for any departure from
the rules she prescribes for conducting it
upon the ocean. Submission to these,
regulations would be the surrender OF
some of the essential attributes OF national
sovereignty. and would justly exclude
IFS from the family of all nations, because
we should thereby consent to be exclud-
ed fiom the exercise OF some olthe essen
tial rights.of sovereignty, which are indis-
pensable TO the equality of nations. This
result is SO plain, that ! suppose there
can be but one opinion respecting it.
But, sir, ann the more disposed to
examine the operation of these orders up
on the different occupations of commerce,
agriculture, and fishing, because ! have
lately heard it said andrepeated, that thew
merely affect the occupation of commerce,
and as consequence resulting from this
Interpretation of them, it is said the mer-
chants may so out and take care OF them
selves. This, sir, is IN extremely ialla-
cious suggestion, and gentlemen, partic-
nhrly agricuturists, ought to be very
cautious in adopting it. This mistake
has probably arisen from the want Of
discriminating between the right Of COM
meree, or rather the right Of regulating
commerce, ,oiprescribing the rules for con-
ducting it, and the occupation ofthe mer-
chant The right efcomncrcc is ma
tional right. Ii belongs to the nation
collectively. The occupation or tie ex-
ereiSc Of the right ony belongs 10 khe mer--
chant. The righ, to carry OH commerce
docs not belong to the merchant exclu-
sively any other citizen may, if he
chooses, exercise the right but these
orders Of council affect both the righfof
commerce and Me0ccupation Of commerce;
they also affect the rights Of agriculture
and Of fishing still more. They affect
the occupation of commerce by limiting
its extent and objects but the principle
of the orders once admitted, it will regu-
late the occupation of agriculture, and
probably destroy the occupation of fish,
ing.-lf submitted to, it would probably
lessen the value Of every farm in the u
nited States, as well the farms upon tic
water, as the farms upon the land. Ap-
ply the orders to the articles of either
-four, cotton, tobacco, or fish. Twill Sc
lect two articles only for the purposes of
illustration but the operation of the or
ders will apply equally to all-Takc to-
bacco for example. According to the
orders, every hogshcad of tobacco, ex-
ported from the United States, is to be
carried first into British port, then to
pay an export duty of three dollars per
hundred weight, before it can be permit
ted to find its way to the continent of Eu-
rope, where it is principally consumed.
The value Of the article to the grower, is
upon an average about six dollars per
hundred weight. The merchant in pur-
chasing the tobacco of the grower, will
tell him, your toblcco is worth six dol
lars, but ! can give you three only, be-
cause | am compelled to call at Great
Britain, and there pay the other three to
make up theprice to the British treasury,
and besides to incur all the charges of
the ports and the circuity of the voyage,