The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-04-04

Cotton, value In dollars~-hve millions. "
Tobacco, do. three millions two hundred
and t&en,y thousand. E 81.
\ Provisions, two millions one hundred and
= s@nAy th09s&nd
Ltubor, naxst stores, nd etathcses
Z ~ One million five huntred ana pn
seventy thousand.
All other articles Of dotnestick prvducN
Nine <Aundrcd thopsand.
From this ststement if astentiyeIy consid-
cred, it will spnest, that the middle and sou-
thefn state ssipp(y Greas Britain with domes-
tick produce 10 the value Of eleven S'miiions,
seven hundred and seventeen thousand dol.
lars, and the Ncw-Englsnd states and state Of
New-York witis not more than amounts TO
one million vUn hundred and twelve thous-
and dollara,
This last mentioned sum when divided ins
to portions between the New England states
and state Of New-York will not very logically
aud automatically prove that the northern
states are more interested than the middle
and southern states in commercial inter-
course with Great Britain.
Il Is, Sir, far from my intention to dero-
gate in the lcast from the commercial impor-
iancc Of the northern states---nor Is II my
intention TO make in,itious comparisons
have been reluctantly compelled 10 sitt, to
analyse the dogtna-, which have been So often
pronounced with confidence en- this focr, lnd
TO yindicatc the character of the state have
the honour in part 10 represent, from tic
charge Of being hostile 10 commerce, and
particularly with Great Britain. trust, Sir,
that have shewn that Virginia sas produ-
cling state is interested in commerce. equally
with her sister states but am sstisfet shst
| She win be among The laAt,,to surrcndos one
| national right iGubsAm = uisefxklt plitance
| Of cp,nmerce. !.
Much has been said, Sir ION the subject Of
| revenue, and many have deplored, IN . man-
| ner not to be mistaken, the dininution Of the
| same. h becomes important TO understand
! The state OF the treasury and the causes
| which have contributed to lessen the rsceipts.
| Every man who considers the situation Of this
( county, In sober, and temperate manner,
l must perceive that the fiscal operations Of
I the United States have not been injured By
\ any act Of the government. As most Of our
+ revenue is derived from commerce, any de-
/ preston which the latter suffers must have .
l tendency TO decrease the former. Our CONF
L mercc with foreign nations is ihdspendcnt
l Of the control Of this government. Zach na~
/ tion has the right and the power of regulating
Il the same within its dominions. "A revenue
Il which depends on commerce must ncces-
sarily be Sccrtain and cap,icious. 1t may
be great to-day~-to-morrow it may Be less by
half than ON the preceding day. The arhit-
rary edicts OF governments are to commerce,
what the state of the weather Is to mercury,
in the tube of a thermometer !: it rises and
falls from the Influence oil CAUSES over which
there can be no control The war between
Great Britain and France is OF a character,
that has no parallel IN the history Of the
world. The law Of nations in all former
wars afforded some sort Of protection 10 neu-
trais, but now IL is a,dcad letter. G.. Britain
and France by orders and dccrecs prosiratc
in the twinkIing OF an eye the wiss and ven-
cradle monuments of ages. In their rage a.
gainst each other, and from the ins,igation Of
envy and jealousy atfhc prosperity OF others
they respect no law nor right. In the pleni.
tudc Of power, their will is the law. From
the convulsed state Of Europe, the u. States
just rising from the confusion and depressiou
Of long revolutionary Contest Tor indepen.
dcnce, had and still has difficult part TO act
Their policy has been to avoid being partie.
to contest which promised no advantage
And It will require all the sagacity of the
historian who records the events of these
times to determiee whether hostilitics or ALI.
snces have been most fatal to the nation whose
misfortune II has been TO take sides. Suffice
il TO say that the commerce Of the United
States has suffered much from tile order, unt
decrees CT the Bclligcrcnts. ~ =
| Can il therefore be Of matter Of wonde
that the revenue should experience scme al
minution which depends in times like ,les
on the prosperity Of commerce mo h,,l,
consolation is however derived from know ine
that though our embirsssmcsts hsrvc bee,
great, the revenue has been such, az nv AM
management to support t6egovernmens viii
out resor'ing to taxes, and tosvpsbls ths Re
pnbIicsns to pay large debts 6sntrsctc, =
tines of federal prosperity.