The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-06

and Gold opposed the amendmens--ail ap.
pearhng to differ from Mr. Bacon as to the
construction of the law.
The amendaent was, however. agreed to,
Ayes rs.
CONVOY PRINCIPLE.
Mr.. Ethes said it would be recolcctea
that on y former occasion lie had expressed
a Willingness to abandon the restrictive sys-
tenn Cor the purpose Of protecting our pro
perry by an efficient force Notwithstan-
ding all that has been said about restrictive
measures, said Mr.. +. il is a fact that they
have had considerable effect; that they anne
liorated the situation Of the y. ). and that
we stand oh a higher. far more exalted
ground than we Should have done, had they
never been adopted. What was the si:ua.
tion in which the U. S. were placed at the
time the embargo was laid? At that time
by the DEGREES Of the bel!igeren,s cur whole
commerce was prostrated; by a single blow
our exports had been reduced from los mil
lions to u millions annually. But not tia,
alone. American produce was subjected in
the iirst place to so to Great Britain, and
III the next place to pay a very heavy tran
sit duty. And, sir. although gentlemen have
SAID that the restrictive system produced no
effect, what was the fact. In the year in
which trade with England was wholly in
terdicted, G. Britain lost in her exports four
teen million pounds sterling. And it is be-
lieved to be fact that even at the present
moment. notwithstanding the unprinciped
conduct OF that nation, three fourths of her
foreign trade is still carried by American
vcssels-and this may be a reason why the
American merchants have affected to view
with indifference what few years ago would
have been the greatest boon they would ask.
What did the bill passed by this house pro-
pose 10 give to our merchants the eXciu-
sive Carrying Of all the trade of the country.
And why do they reject it? Because they
are more interested in carrying British goods
| than i'll carrying the produce OF their own
country. They had rather carry these
tourteen millions sterling to add to the
strength of Ct. B. than BIS employed in the
carriage OF our own produce.
| The DEGREES OF Great Britain have been
varied since the embargo was laid, & their
pressure much lessened-but what is the
actual and practical operation Of them as
they now stande The DEGREES of France
consider as equally iniqui,ons, but totally
Intellectual as to us, as they are as to Great
Britain-and therefore do not take them
into account. / speak Of that system which
G. Britain can and does enforce, and which
goes to the destruction Of my interest as an
agricultural man. The principle of tile No,
vember order is as completely abandoned as
If it had never been issued. What WAS its
principles 70 force I'll cur commerce into
her ports and make it pay tribute. What
is It's principle now? That of blockade,
which gentlemen on the other side of the
house themselves opposed in 1898, which in
the administration of Washington was consi
dered daring and base attack on the rights
OF the country. OF the tobacco which is made
In the southern country, Ia 600 hogsheads
are consumed in England. the remainder in
Holland, Germany, France, &c.
I That part suitable for the English market
must be OF a peculiar quality. All the Sc
cond quality OF tobacco, which is called light
and dry, finds market only on the cont.
ncnt. What is the e!fact of this circum-
moment. the tobacco to suit the British mar
ket has sold at nine and 3 half dollars per
hundred weight, whilst that of secondary
qualityis worth nothing. The Maryland To-
bacco brings only four or five dollars, owing
to the blcckading system of Great Britain,
which keeps from market &c, 600 hoSshead
of tobacco annually, CT compels it to take an
unnatural Course through G. Britain or thro
the Northern ports. Cotton and -four, Mr.
r. said, were in nearly a similar situation
/ He said he saw in submission to this prin.
cipie the ruin of the agricultural interest OF
the u. States may, more !; he saw the ruin
ed that the merchants themselves did no,
see it. What have we heard of the hostili
ty OF Southern men to commerce ash ed
| Mr.. &c. Britain has only 20 except from
the operation of her blockading system cot.
ton, tobacco and hemp-the interest OF the
merchant might, but that Of the planter
would not be affected by submitting TO it.
But have never acted on that principle
l have always been taught that government
was intended for the joint benefit of the COM
munity and so far as in my power, would
extend protection to all.
/ What is now proposed to be done, sir:
| While the DEGREES and orders remain in full
force, whilst as planter am cnt off from
a market Tor my produce---and although
the merchant under a British licence may
sail where he pleases, the expence OF that
licence comes out of my ,,ocket-an amend
ment comes from the Senate going to the
surrender Of every thing for which the ".
States have contended for the last five years
If it had come from quarter where motives
could be suspected, would not hesitate to
say, it was a traitorous abandonment of the
rights Of the country. l believe that body,
however to be pure as ourselves and can on
ly regret, that on this occasion their views
appear to differ so widely from mine. Whilst
the British DEGREES against our commerce
were IN force in 1898. they were remonstrat-
ed against in language as strong as possible
by man who has been represented as hos
tile to commerce and commercial rights,
and under the inspection Of Washington at
a time when he possessed not only the con-
fidencs ct gentlemen On the other side oil
| the House, but the undivided confidence of