The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-12
to British subjects. The circumstance Aas

Ievi0en tr"m ne rate Of exchange between
the twH Countries. If he tact was undenis
Die that all prsper'y imported for some
tue 20 Come would belong to American CT
tizens, and it was he object of the motor
to recommit To relieve our own citizens. Mr..
b. asked. where was the necessity of con-
necing that subject with another which
would Consume great deal of time and SUBJ
Ject our citizens to great inconve nience -
Such would be the Case. because by the in
struchons of the Secretary OF the Treasury
the collectors are directed to consider thu.
prohibition OF importation as commencing
this day. 1t Congress did not speedily utter
tere,the merchants would be exposed to great
Inconvenience and the officers to vexatious
suits, &c.
AS 20 the non-intcrcourse system, Mr.. b.
| sad he was perfectly aware that it was one
which could not be executed to the extent
ana IN the spirit contemplated by govern
ment that 1t is system which tends to
diminish the revenue, and demoralise the
merchants, he might perhaps say the people,
| OF the country. But he conceived that at
the present stage of The business, his aues-
ton did not properly come into considerati-
on. For, although he might not be able to
satisfy any gentleman that the relations be
tween the u. States and e Britain were of
the na'ure OF a contract yet, in his own
MIND, 1t was very evident that we had en-
tered into stipulation which we are bound
TO respect. provided France fulfilled it with
good tath--he laid with good faith; for ne
was dete' mined never t. vote f., its continu-
ance unless 1T was executed with good faith.
ne SAID he had never paliated her conduct
ne mad no idea thai we could ever Consent
| toabandon the property she had seized with
Out shadow of ACKNOWLEDGMENT ON the
restoration OF which it appeared to him eo
Vernmen' ought to insist wi IN pertinacitv
never to be relaxed. Our affairs with FIR nee
had been III such state Of ince,ti.ude from
tne commence ment of the session that he
mad not been able to make up an opinion ON
| them. When he looked to The correspon
| oehce' MT. b. said he was struck with this
view thai instead Of procuring from the
| r'e"Cn government clear definite expires
SION OF eheir intentions in relation to the Sc
| !u' Hered pr Pelty, we are left almost en-
ureiy IN The dark on the subject. He was
not disposed to carry the non-ntercourse in
10 enec unless the sdpulations on the part
OF OF france were fairly Carried into effect.
MS must be the opinion of every man.
A>o hah would continue a measure one
ra''hs against one only of The beIligerents
wien ne was convinced that nothing but
pune iaith was to be expected from the n.
| ther. VIC u
M d. begged gentlemen TO permit the O..
riSihai question to be taken on recomm;t-
n's"'' ana let the present motion lie over for
a DAY or two. 1T the non -intercoprse conld
not now be repealed without disrepard Of
OUT iai'h, why take step which would ;eo-
Paralze all our property in the ports of the
continent! This consideration deserved re-.
nection he feared, do as they would that
| ms property was not secure. H. Confessed
II ne were engaged In commerce, under Dre,
seh' circumstances, he should lie on his oars
~ Tue same 'lme no measure ought to be a
dop ed which was likely TO produce lose ~
property abroad. In the presen, state of tbe
country 1t must be an objec. with ever, gen
'ehah III the House. that our farmers If i,
~ Pracucaoie should enjoy the benefits
loi ne coniinen,a al market for il was vii
known that 'obac1o and aImoo, .,,., 49,.
article we exported found an extensive saIa
on the continent OF Europe. The export n
England OF Gotten and tobacco, cxcept of the
hncst quality OF the latter, had been tend
ed with serious loss to the merchants enpae-
ed IN II aud many of the failures taSins
place IN the u. STATES arose from the return
81 oiiis drawn on the faith of these shipments.
Every gentleman n'mst be convinced thai
our trade. II confined to G. Britain, would
aH'fa very little encouragement to agrcul
turallsts. IL must therefore be an nb;ec,
with every man by all honorable means + n
secure rade with the continent; though
much as the individual interest of Mr.. r. and
OF the Country at large would be promoted
by IT, property on the continent was and
W uid be In such state of insecurity that
he did not anticipate any very important adj :
vantage from keeping that trade open
AS 10 the protection of our merchants. Mr.
b. SAID he did believe that hey mus. AL;
| macy be permitted to run their own risk
and, II they encountered ruin abroad totake
| the consequences. If such was the stare of
Europe that we could make no impression
there, we must submit to this state of things
Mr.. b. alluded to remark made by Mr..
Macon at the last session that the beIlire.
rents appeared to be fighting every one but
themselves. Did we not now get French si,ks
wines and brandies thr' ugh England And
was net our tobacco sent to the continent, N
the same way Whist we had been inter
dicted by each from trading with the other
they had been carving on an ex,ensive
commerce with each other. Mr.. B. said he
h'Hed forward to the total extinction of com
merce' lie said it could not exist under
such system OF rapine as had been pursu-
ed we must wait for some change in E.u-
rope IN which we Cannot be Instrumental m
enable as to act; until which it would not Inc
proper to take any stepin relation to ether
of the beligerents.
Mr.. Il. took another view of the sub;ec,
lie said he had not the smallest doubt # the
French DEGREES were found to BE- practicable
repealed that the Britbh would repeal the
orders IN council. He had NJ doubt in bie
own opinion that the British government Xvas