Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-10
From The Ciarleston CRY Gazette.
REFLECT. BEFORE YOU
C OVID T. N NJ"

TfDHt the ChdTteSfoH Cry Gazette.
REFLECT. BEFORE YOU
- C OND f. N m"
/ - (cowcLUDED)
Many OF the observations already made
apply to. the subject of total prohibition of
the. expectation of our produce. / feel no
inclination 70 enter upon the wide field of our
restrictive system. Our papers have long
/ femed with observations on that subiecr,
csaanating,both from private pens, and from
the debates III Congfess.-Some late remark 9
however, delivered by Mr. Calhoun, upon
that subject, are worthy the attentive perm
sal Of those who admire the enlarged views
of an able statesman. That part Of the re-
strictiye systcmOnly, which relates to our ex.
ports. comes PropsSrly within the range of our
present subject.
Money has been emphatically denomina-
ted the sinews of war 1t is the vivifying
principle which sets in motion the resources
ota country, 1t is in vain that we possess
men, and all the necessarics for belljgcrent
operation, it our government cannot com
Inland that which alone can give life and &C
ton to the mass. Taxes must be raised /:
and, in order to RAISE them, the yeomanry of
our country, the wealth, strength, and best
hope OF our government, must be permitted
to dispose .of their produce. Agriculture
must be encouraged, and the public mind res
cued from tliatstate of lassitude and sulJine
ness which Pervades a people who have no
thing to induce them to labor, aud which
draws after it dependency and vice.
Could the evils of privation be confined
to our enemy alone, there might be some
small inducement TO subject ourselves TO the
certain ihjuries that would follow from such
a measure. But our friends, (if we have anv)
at least the enemies of our enemy, might
tee1 the pressure OF such measure. The
regolted provinces OF S. America might feel
1t, and who would wish TO be cut off from
the possibility of relieving them in their
| struggle!
But why prevent our enemy from purchas-
| ing our prodGce? Whilst we take nothing
| from him in return but money, we cannot
do him more certain injury, or at least one
| from which we should ourselves derive so
great proportionate beaeft.-The nation
| that buys all and sells nothing, must in time
be exhausted and her ruin will be more ac
| celebrated than if she purchased nothing
whilst selling nothing If the articles with
which we supply G. Britain could not posi-
| bly, be procured by her from any other quar-
ter, the measure would unquestionaby be
wise. Bat unfortunately for us, there are
Countries enough and people enough to pro
/ auce every article necessary 70 her subsis-
tence and manufactures, whenever sufficient
| Inducements held out for their cncSurage-
| ment.--Let us beware then how we force
her to raise us up rivals, whose agricultural
improvements may do us more lasting iniu-
| ny than even the piiiaging of our commerce.
| Great Britain wants but time, and by her in
huence, her ships, and her capital, she will
| obtain from other quarters, all that she at
| present receives from US: and from quar-
/ ters from which, by means of the exchange
OF her manufactures, she can purchase with
| greater, Convenience to herself Whilst our
| produce is thrown upon the market, the price
and demand cannot rise to such degree as
| to induce the planters of other regions %
: quit their old habits, and adventure on new
7, objects of cultivation. But let it once be shut
/ up III our ware houses and left to rot on
( our hands, and the coasts of Africa, South
/ America, and even Asia, will soon pour out
endless supplies of articles which they
scarcely yet know that their climates can
| produce. Witness the indigo of India, the
cotton OF the Brazils, the coffee of Cuba,
and the stock of the West India Islands.
But it is more than probable that such a
state Of things is fast Fastening, as rem
ders it very immateriaI whether neutrals are
admitted to- our trade or not The proba-
bility is, that in a very short time, excepting
the revolted Provinces of Spain and the
Barbary and Asiatic powers, there will not
be neutral in the world France will Ger.
talnly eblige Sweden to take part in the war
and the y. >. must anticipate q. Britain II
taking possession of st. Augustine and Pensa.
cola. Independent of which, there is ne
doubt but the Regency Of Spain AID the Por.
| tuguese Government must and will act to-
wards us as the British shall dictate so tina
what commerce is carried on in our produce
will be under the auspices of fast sailing ant
hard fighting. In fact, it is not improbable
that nations will soon be reduced 10 a stat,
of savage nature upon the occan-a state. al
the advantages and privileges of which, on
enemy has for long time past arrogated e
herself.
The intent and object Of the rem Amin,
two sections of the act under cons. iera,ion
viz. the 9Th and 9th, are too Of y-ious tn ,d
NIT OF doubt.-The 5th is ar instance of ma
tional magnanimity which we cannot but an
plaud, though our Enemy should not initial,
1t. The 9th vests power in the President
winch 1t IS Go DC presumed he viii not cxer
cIse but III pursuance of some carrespondin,
concession ON the part of our enemy. 1t vii
oeooseryed, that the act does not express
" authorize it if he thinks proper
As 20 those vessels belonging 60 the sub
jects Of G.. Britain Which had assumed IN,
neutral flag before the passage of ills act
as they are liable to condemnation mo, ,,
neral principles as enmy's plopertv. II is I,
be hoped that they will reward the zeal n
our gallant tars, or the prying industry of In,
NSi''h' oihcsr DECIUS.
NoRFoLE, August s.
1 -.