Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-13

ItanSPOltCu aS Snts Aoo1ssoS~A N~@6T
There is less force 10 this objection than
appears at the FIRST view. If Great Britain
consumed all her manufactures, there would
be great weight in this objection, but being
the workshop for the world, any additional
charge upon the raw material, is paid tor by
the consumer. The benefit arising from
her increased carrying trade, is positive,
! and accrus to her alone:
The exclusion of her manufactures and
produce is another part of the non. inter
course system, which cannot be fully ex-
posed until it has been tried. We are per"
suaded tina. this part OF the system will tail
ia it. object. At the commencement OF
our revolution, similar measures were tried
by associations animated with revolutionary
enthusiasm, and supported by an ordinance
Of congress, which subjected British goods
brought, from aoy country, and the vessels
bringing them to forfeiture. In less than
two years the private associations were tor.
gotten, and British goods were bought and
sold with as much publicity as they now are,
and their use was restricted only by thsr
high prices, arising from the hazard and
difficulty of procuring them. The ordinance
Of congress slept, until the last year of the
war, when the owners Of some American
privateers O. letters Of marque, acted upon
it, and made few seizures, not exceeding
in all ten, for the ordinance allowed private
armed vessels TO capture vessels, having on
board British goods. We have been in
formed by those who recolect tie history
Of these times, and the cases to which We
allude, that so far was it considered meri-
torious to execute the ordinance, :nat IN the
few instances which occurred, the ca2tors
were stiSmaused anu in ons instance
where an American vessel OF superior force
having British goods OH board, bid defiance
to one who had seized others, the act was
universally appIapded.
When we find that under circumstances
such as We have stated. Inc non-importation
failed, we have no confidence in it's sue,
cecdiug at this time. The more the pc nal
ties are increased, the more inducements
Ia A IL T., q ~,
system should continue lew years, Bri-
fish goods will find their way under the
accumulated injury arising from less OF
revenue which might be raised upon them,
and the baneful effects which will be pro-
duced upon the morals OF the people by ha-
bit. Of smuggling.
Whatever, therefore, may be the system
which Congress may adopt, we do hope thas
SYSTEM which does no harm to any nation
but our own, will b, aba d'ued. # We are
asked what system ought to be adopted, we
arc not prepared to say. Weksow that war
is said TO be the only means we have left
this we shall. not advise, but leave those who
have brought the country into that situation
for which there is no other remedy, to take
all the responsibility q! that and their other
measures-They hold The reins of govern
mer, they have all the resources Of the
nation at command, and if they employ
them for the honor anu in:erestof our coun.
try, we shall he among the foremost to ex.
press our appreciation.
Myf:A LeHger.]
ConsrsG Of M: Unslea States.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,