The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-13

their injurious edicts should remain in force
Mr.. >. said he would state his ideas on a
objection which lie lad understood TO b
L: de to this plan, VIZ tia, il would operate
1 injnr.ously on the farming interest, because
there would be a Redundancy of prcduce in
| the market, TO the crrri&ge os which the
| ton sge of the United states would not be
equal and tina, therefore there would he q
depression in the price ~ produce He pre-
sumed yhae a Contrary e;gact would follow -
| There wese abroad. he said, IA number OF
American vessels trading, not with the Uni
ted states bnt between foreign ports, or
engaged in circuitoas voyages. Now, the
direct trade would certainty be most advan-
tageous all The vessels thus employed would
Immediately rcturn home to engage in the
direct trade.
| 1t appears to me. at all events, said Mr.
Sletfry, that the bill is worthy of consdG-
ration. 1t energy dc wanting the passage Of
the bin vii. aot preclude il, but wilt DC cou-
ltinuing The existing state of things to the
lgreateSt advantag. anil that state is Cham
lged. Ii the gentleman from North CAROL
.u1 (tr. StwYcr) means raising army *
li-Ssdins Canada, as he intimated, l most
icordtaiiy ,.isapprCvc of it. 1 will not ;.lteS
the Course we '.ave ut present taken, Ga
the other hand co7>,slcr ,hat we are not
indebted To France or En.;;,aa. and there
fore should not act towards then i'm ~ same
| spirit As II we had been fairly AM iu-,,r
dealt by. Ii they would exercise lberality
| TO us, would act Correapondently towards
them. 1t VIC had received any liberality at
their hands. it would be improper TO exclude
their vessels from our ports But as it is,
commerce and navigation will be promoted
! by the bil--that commerce and navigation
which must continue So long as our character
OF agricultur:tlists aed merchants is not con-
verted into that of manufacturers. an event
winch for one hope never to sec. 30 iung
as this nation remains in Its present state.
so long ought we To give 10 our citizens all
the advantages that CAN be derived from
commerce. Independently Of this if any
thing be done, it ought to be promptly done.
ne merchant doCs not a. present know tn
what pores to go; but if you OPEN 20 hin tbe
right to goto France and Ei.Sianti, yeur ace
will not only operate advantaseously to him.
! but viii augment Inc prize uf produce liz the
planters hand.
| Mr.. Bur7;rrH said he did not suppose that
| this qncstic.' Involved Il discussion OF The de-
tails of the bill and he did not therefore rise
| to discuss them but he deemed il hi, duty
| 20 say thatin lis opinion the Course proposed
| to be pui SUI by tins dill WAS the pepper che
| 1t will not be denied (sdil. he ihai ave al
waYs been favorable - The system OF COM
merciai rcs'riction AID that have given
my approbatltn 20 it s, long az there WAS the
smallest productivity ot il, operating @dvauta.
geousiy, and 50 long as tii people Of the u
states expected good tfccts fro IL this course.
| But ] AIN Of opiitiou that il has been fairly
abandoned, and that any further attempt 10
cnercc by contmercia! res lrjctions would be q
| futile and ridiculous. / believe the present
situation of The worid IS fsVorabie 20 tue as
serton of cur rights against ct.c VI ,he beiii-
| gercnts, Gre&t britain But, sir, I
/ thulS ihat the spirii OF the nation is evaDara-
ted, and We nave been 80 long triCkcd by her
articles, that / despair of taking any mea-
sure III the kind at this imc which would not
meet with such opposition AS 90 make il use
less III effect single fact viii! suffice 20
awake the attention ut the house to our pre-
sent situation the erect OF the non i,its:r-
coarse law is to sink to the lowest price me
value "t our produce and to raise SUI rigler
thai o! artIc'"S oi fOrer, T"uwth ~ M gnu-
facsule. Ii is "a face perfectly no; oi'ious mat
the country isaS fall Of foreign articles Us it
has been tor years past, and that the pro-
duets OF the southern Country have been re-
duccd 10 the lowest state of deprcssion-2n
whoa it is obvious that, so far from produ-
cIg effect abroad the non intercourse IS
no; regarded at all ask why pcrsevcle IN
it, when against Vour-own interest? Wy
opinion is tnat IT should be removed; aad,
when removed, stall either enjoy such
commerce VIII give vent to our surplus
produce, or We shall discover the true cla-
racter OF the edicts in farce against us. II
II Ne found max all the evils complained Of
Is flowing from our own government proce ii
-ac ualiy from the 5eiiigefen; DEGREES. tn:
nation Will unite III SEAPORT of our fair con.
mCrcc.
1t will be rccoilected, said Mr. that
oiierc4 a. o her day resolution c%li,aK up
on IA PRESIDENT for any nfarTnaiU.. ne NAV
! posse IS relative to thc p,.,Cy OF >ie nos bern
po"ers Ii appears u M that we ough, tt
trade to ever, country whose ports are open
/ to us. To illustrate my idea if the powers.
! III tue north OF Europe are willing 20 receive.
cur productions * exchange th'irs al'naigr
fthc british by their order. i'll cOunciI aud the
French by their blockading DEGREES may ia
tcrdict oar entrance, think every American
here and elsewhere would force commerce
under those cirCumss anCeS. wn;t.ever i;Iay
be the consequence. For my own part, as
respects France and England confess that
think the honor OF this country receives a
sIlvo from the conduct of these nations; for
such 1t the present is the unsettled state Of
commcrce, although We might conf pei chem
to Temporary relax tlUn, tie same system
would again be resorted TO when opportunity
Oilercd. And until there snail De reasouA-
bic prospect that justice or political morality
shall be- adhered TO. j am clearly OF opinion
! that we ought 10 go to war with neither OF
them, bat MAINTAIN peace if possible So
! i0nS as any nation permits TO us reciprocal
commerce, am one of those who are will