Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-06
CONVOY PRINCIPLE.

CONVOY PRINCIPLE.
Mr. Eppes said it would he recolIeefei,
that on former occasion. he had expres-
sed Willingness to abandon the restric..
i've system for the purpose of PROJECTING.
our property by an efficient force. Not.
outstanding all that has been said about-
restrictive measures, said Mr. E.. il il;
a faet that they have had considerable eff.
tect that they amelioraled the situation,
lot the U. II. and that we stand on a high.
er. far more exalted ground than we.
should have done had they never been a..
dopted. What was the situation in. which,
the United States were placed at the time.
the embargo was iaids At that tim. bv,
The DEGREES of the b lligereats our whole.
commerce was Frustrated; by a. single
bow our exports had been reduced from,
do8 millions to z millions annually. But,
not that alone. American produce was.
subjected in tie frst place to sro to Creat-
Britain. and in the next place to paw = We.
ry heavy transit duty. Aad, sir although,
gentlemen have said tina! the restrictive
system produced no effeGt, what was The.
fact In the year in which trade with,
England was wholly interdiGed Great
Britain lost in her exports fourteen million,
pounds sterling. And it is believed to be
fact that even at the present moment
Notwithstanding the unprincipled conduct
OF that nation, three.flnrihs Of her for
eisn trade is still carried on by Ameri.
can vessels ~and this may &c reason.
why the American merchants have afEsa-
ed 10 view with Indifference what few
years ago would have been the greatest
boon th=y wocld ask. Whatdid In. hill,
passed by this House propose? TO give
TO our merchants the exclusive Carrying.
of all The trade OF the country, aud way
do they .rejeet il! Because they are more,
interested in carrying British goods than.
incarrying the produce of the r o w coun,
Try. They had rather carry these fur.
teen millions sterling to add 20 the strength
Of G. Britain than be employed in the;
carriage OF our own produce.
The DEGREES of G. Britain have been,
varied since the embargo vas laid, AID their
pressure much lesseaed --but wnat e the
actual and practical operation of them AZ
they now standl Tne DEGREES of Franc.
consider as equally iHiquitous, but tota "
lneffectua ii as to us as they are as TO G. re ac
Britain and therefore do not take the
into account. speak Of that system wsrlch
u Britain can and does enforce, aud which.
goes to the destruction of my interest as an,
agricultural man. The principle of the
November order is as completely abandon
ed as it it had never been issued. What
was its principle To force all our co n.
tnerce into her ports and make il pay tri...
butte. What is its principle now! That of:
olockades which gentlemen on the otler
side OF the House themselves opposed in,
1898, which IN the administration of WASH
ington was considered daring aud base.
attack on the rights of the country. OF the
tobacco which is made in the southern COM.
try, $4,000 hogsheads ara consumed m En.
gland, the remainder in Holland, Germa-.
ny, France &c. That part suitable for the
English market must be of peculiar nua-
lily. All the second quality of tobacco
which is called light aud dry, fiads a mar..
ket only on the continent. What IS the ef..
feet OF this circumstance on the planter ?
Why, at the present moment, the tobacco,
TO suit the British market has sold al nine.
and half dollars per hundred weight.
whilst that of secondary quality is worth,
nothing, The Maryland tobacco brings
only foar OF i've dollars. owing TO the bloc.
kading system of q. Britain, which keeog
from market 5000 hogsheads Of to3scso.
annually, or compels 1t to take an unnatn-
raj course througe @ Britain OF through
the Northern ports. Cotton and -four, dr
y. said, we're IN nearly a similar situation.
he SAID he saw IN Submission TO this prIn..
eipie the ruin OF the agricultural intepesE
OF the u S--nay. more he saw the ru ~
OF the mercantile interest also, and wonder
ed that the merchants themselves dad not
see u. What have we beard Of the hSsti..
lity of Southern men TO. Commerce asked
Mr. &c. Britain has only 70 except from
the operation OF her blockadsng system Coz
merchant might, but that of the planter
would not, be affected by submitting to H.
8uc have never acted on that principle.
have always been taught that goVeinmens