Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-19

/ mitted to do, for this rea.on-1 am told
BY some, that the declaration of war on
our part, in the mean time, superseded
the necessity Of it; then I contend, for
that Uery reason, our government should
permit this merchants to get home their
property, mere especially as it was then
in the hands of the enemy; and by do.
ing so, it not only benefited the mer-
chant and the government, but have also
been a very essential advantage to the
community, whose interests Mr.. John.
son seems $" tenacious Of; for in my
humble opinion. had i, not been for the
late importations, our produce would
not have brought US half the price it
has, ef course it was an advantage to all
I would ask, what would have been the
situation OF our country. had those good.
not have come in? No, only ourselves
in a great measure, bur cur soldiers
woald have been without c!oaths, and
our government without revenue,
either external or internal If that had
been the case, we should have been
compelled to resort to direct take, i'm.
mediately. and we farmers and planters
in that event would have to paw our part,
and as coed citizens, in Justice are bound
ard are willing to contribute our pro-
portion. Judging others by myself. we
do not want any other class Of citizens
oppressed to relievs us. Calculating,
that every class is wiling to bear their
proportion of the expences Of govern
ment, snd at the same time foudly hope
that our government will de nsthing cal
cuIatcd to widen the difference Of opini.
on that has existed amongst US, but on
the contrary rather strive to unite US at
this all important crisis. and secure to
itself the prop aud support OF all its CT
tizens, and devise ways and means, he
morally to raise revenue. Thank Pro-
violence and the >enterprising spirit OF
the merchants, fer the late importations
by which government will receive a
handsome revenue, and the merchant,
(if their bonds are remitted, Which in
Justice think should be do1c) will be
acting their own ! understand with a
good profit, and am sure they deserve
it, for the rislnss they run those hazard.
Gus times. But cannot think that they
make the great profit that Mr.. Johnson
shows they make !; where he has taken
the sales in Baltimors for his standard
he says for ! lee sterling in ordinary
times, thoy get l. 24o Currency, this yea,
/ sOo-the difference is Sc, which is
certainly 70. 90 per cent rs have
been q piece Of a merchant myself, |
still retain some little idea OF such cal
cu.ations, and | consider that as onlv
| l. 60, made on LAO, which if rightly
calculated, is only IS per cent. convert.
eA to sterling it is l. S sterling on the
!. lOO.-now deduct the double duty
witch Air. Johnson acknowledges OF
l. ls-then should be glad 20 know
where the extra profit would be over
ordinary times? If any person will
point it out 70 me, | will acknowledge
him better calculated Tor a merchant
Il! an / ever was. | a,n therefore in.
clined to Judge, from all the information
can get, that after laying aside the dis
count on bills, and paying the double
duty, the merchant viii have no great
deal to boast of, taking his less of time
and extra charges and cxpcncss into
consideration, and then to enforce the
payment Of the bonds, would be, in my
opinion, unjust and rsinous in its nature
1t would not only tend TO destroy tn:
comfortable circumstances OF many, bu
the confidence of all, that great chair
that links the whole together. and b,
that means dry up the fountain fron
whence have Aswed the principa
SOURCES of revenue for several year:
mast. Such an act as this would rcmIDe
me of the boy in the fable, whose goose