The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-04

OBJECT oil the britiSn government mtgnt be
attained by the substitution of SOME others
less sxceptionable.- AT any rate, if we can
rot. at present, have the offer of terms. that
can be considered by us az admissible. on
which to form the basis Of a treaty with the
British government; If we cannot. at PIE
sent, make any treaty 1T all with them, we
| ought not tn be hssty in going to war;
/ 1t is a plain dictate OF reason and to he
found among the precepts of revelation, that
amy nation even under the greatest pres.
sure, before they go to war. should count
the cost. We should estimate the los.es to
which war with the British may expose us,
as well as the amount OF our probable gain.
| as also the means in our power OF gaining
| any thing at all. That sentiment containsd
| in the Presidents message to Congress at
the opening of this session perfectly aecords
with my own, that in the midst ofthc wrongs
and vsxations experienced from external
| causes. there is much room for congratulate
| on on the prosperity and happiness flowing
from our situation at heme. and it may be
added that since. by the indulgence OF our
own government, our citizens have been
permitted to return to that commerce, TO
which they have been accustomed, and with
which they are SO much delighted, their eli
terpSizes have been rewarded by pretty am I.
pie returns of gain from abroad. AS an evil
dence of this we need only look into our great
sea ports, and view the hurry and zeal with
which our merchants are preparing and
sending their vessels to sea- fearing new
restrictions and embarrassments from our
own government, more than any orders or
decrsss originating in foreign countries
So that amidst all our difficulties, our de-
sres do not more exceed our enj6yments,
than these exceed those of every other peo-
pie in the world. To the loss of many, if
not all these advantages and blessings, a war
would expose US. And where would be our
gain? The worst passions of the human
heart would be called into action, and we
should have an increase of nothing but po-
verify and vice. But it may here be worth
enquiry, what are our means OF going to
WARP The philosophers Of our age and ma
ton have taught us to expect that the hap
Ply time would soon come when the unpro-
htable contest of trying which could do the
| other the most harm would Weld to the su
perior force of reason. Hence the policy OF
cur government has not been to make anv
! considerable preparations for war. Our ex
perienced warriors, though eminent, are
few; the rest remain to be trained to the
art, and perhaps to be born. The timber
| Tor rearing up an important navy is yet in
our forests and perhaps in the acorn. And
wish we might never have occasion to call
tor the former or procure the latter. Shall
we then in this situation so to war with a
nation, who, for centuries, have made war
their trade. Shall we undertake tocaptere
| the ships of a nation who have it in THEN
power efficiently to blockade all our ports
| from Georgia to Maine, and in the course Of
a few months to sweep from the ocean eve.
ry vessel we may venture from our har-
| bors?
| But ii we were to so to war with Britain
and could promise ourselves success in hum
bling the pride of that naughty nation
! should we not in Fastening her downfall, &C
celebrate the period when we should become
the humble vassals of the great master o.
the world; aud then the wrongs we shoulc
have to endure would no longer go under the
mild name oftresh asses. We should appl,
harsher term, if allowed TO give them an,
name at all.
1t may be enquired what then shall We
do? Shall we become slaves to Britain fo,
fear of the shackles of imperial France p
Shall we voluntarily submit to the unreason
able demands of the one under an apprehen
sion of the severe tyranny of the other p
| The answer must be, no. We will never a
gree to be wretched. We will give no quit
claim to any thing to which we are entitled
| But not madly refuse to enjoy any becaus,
| cannot now, with safety, traverse the ocear
every where at pleasure. shall we abandon
it entirely, and burn all our vessels for .ea
of losing them? This would be like til,
folly OF the man, who having had some tres
| passes committed on his plantation. shonlt
magnanimously resolve to Fly to the noun
,ains and give up the whole. ] would not
in madness. make voluntary surrender o
my cornfield, merely because my orchard
had been robbed. Let us make the most o
every advantage still in our power. IF it be
the policy OF foreign governments to Law IN
just restrictions on cur commerce abroad
let it be the policy of ours to see that it is no
shackled with too much regulation at home
leaving our citizens to the quick sightet
guidance of private interest, and they will
soon find the path to wealth. The wealth O
individuals viii become the wealth Of til.
community, to which they belong In thi
way we shall grow rich, nation. Rich
es will enable us to be richer still, and be
ing richer still, we shall have the power, ant
having the power shall not want the dispos
Tor to assert all our rights; so shall we be
come great and flourishing nation, and 81
may we continue until old time like Samp
son in his wrath shall pluck the pillars tina
support the world.
it IS because think, and think honestly
| that the adoption of these resolutions woal,
have tendency to bring on Il cloudy If No
stormy day, and deprive us of these delight
ful prospects, that i cannot give them tn
sanction Of my vote.
Debate TO be coneinued. }
DECEMBER %.