The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-17
% U tn Z ~ II ME- RICA
BALTIMORE, May IL.
Communicated by mercantile friend. !
CARTHAGENA.
Translated for the Whfe.

AfHNotHECu /OF me WHfP.
CARTAAGENA Feb. 2y.
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE GoyERNmE
OF THIS PROVINCE
we have already said in another nlsce
tiiai the force otpubliC opinion is ,rresisti
Die, and government which finds itself
well established on it may reckon with
certainty On triumph over its enemies.--
Without doubt it would have been A crime
TO attempt any thing against he revolution
IN July and August last, when the peoDle
were proceeding rather by sort of in
sunce than by knowledge of heir in
terests and rights; but even ignorance the
most stupid, blindness the most gross. were
aols TO plan great things, at a time in which
'hey probed the tyranny of the past govern
ors 20 me bottom; at time in which the
people began to feel the salutary influence
OF the new government which they them
selves framed; in which they saw them
selves raised to the dignity they sought; at
time when they operated by reason. by
principles. by an inward conviction of the
justice OF tkeir cause, If the brevitv off;
allowed me, and the scanty limits of these
rchect,ons, this woeid be the place to mar.
ifest the inestimaolc advantages which the
new government has secured 10 the Dro
vince OF Carlhagena in few months The
increased expense and what The expedierts
OF ten years would have cost under the tor
mer system, are the least important of the
various dispensatIons which have tended Ia
beneft the people.
VIII not speak of the wise rules which
1t mas prescribed, that the people may free
y eieCV Tue deputes who are 20 represent
t"en III the supreme Junta nor of the in
centiVe and life which it begins to give "a
commerce and agriculture, e5ofsIiae and
the inlhosy8 with which dAsno-
tism had checked these two founteins ~
pubic prosperity; as little shall / ,ouch on
tHe lesser or those happy results which
Nhe must draw from 'he new arrangement
az oehenciai as we'll combined ~--l.rt il suffice
10 inform the Citizens. that the regulation NJ
the iotn December, has alone freed them
from thousand evils and vexa,ions the
most grievous and degrading. With IL is
plucked up trom the roots the causes of
smuggling----it has also eXuuguished the
revenue laws SO barbarous, so iaiouitous so
ihPoiitIc; and the officers paid with the
swear of the people, for their ruin. that
"olh OF the state those enemies of aeri-
culture, of commerce, of industry ard arts
that plague OF spies which lay in wait at ev
cry entrance and outlet, every street of the
Guy winch pursued the merchant and har
rasseo him even IN the sanctuary of his hab
ration. Such were the means EMPLOYED tn
sacrihce the people who we're to cultivate
the soil, which could not be maintained Q
ven oy the substance of the untortunate
whom the tyranny Of the government com
Peiled TO fraud. "Insauable depots. saws a
poiiuclan, will you never understand, that
II you lay duties on that which you offer 10
the stranger, (eXports) he will purchase
the cheaper, and will only give the price
which will be demanded by other nations ,
---Even though your subjects might be the
sole pIoPrietors Of pr ducts liable to taxes.
they should never dictate the law because
in that case, they would purchase in small
Ter quantity and the surplus (remaining on
mandy would force them to lower the price
to nnd Consumers. The value of the uer.
chandize which your empire receives
IRON their neiGhbors, being regulated by the
concurrence of foreign nations, thew will
be your tributaries who should pay these
duties"
Extensive speculation and sublime theo
ries are not necessary it is enough To DOS
sess Commop sense in order to forcsee IN, ct.
tects which the reduction of duties on i'm
ports and exports must produce, With the
impulse which Commerce has received. az
FIculture will flourish, and from these viii
spring arts and industry what benefits are
we going oreap by the benignant influence
OF our liberty well understood Oar insa
tate enemies who whilst they disguise the
advantages Of government are always prone
I9 pursuade the ignorant that thess Al,