The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-10

know That the average annual importation
used ia be so odd millions ~
| > But to what is this rrty6 pross owing p
Vrscisely to the circumstance. that the sur
! ny IS NOT equal to- the GrHAal. Less is in
I; tae market taan il re9uiics.
/ But this is not the f,.aic ot anu one mer-
chant. If all the letters al the Alphabet rad
Imported goods, the profits at A OF !, would
have ben diminished hut it is no, ths. f.ui;
cf A CT Is. that * 4 lid not import az well
as themselves. Had u,sse merchants by a
ny Species of Juggling duped their brethren
INTO Inactivity AMI prevented thar imporra-
tions with 4 view of enhancing their own
profits, we should have been the first to nulc,
,heaLseverely for their sing.
| True there is no such misconduct
bat there is Il serpice rendered"
And have the Un.,ed States in all similar
cases demanded an eqi.i> a!ent for the set
vice?
When our Embargo enhanced .she value
OF our articles then in Ens!aud, did we
call upon the Fortunate merchants who
owned these articlys for an equivalent?
When Our f'oa-In!Dortation law raised
the price OF Rritish goods ia. this country,
Tue holders we're in no way whatsoever. tax
ed per csntase on Their extra profits.
His princ;pie las not then run through
this Case, So.
Erfre pc,tiis h&re, no doubt, been made
but are they SO ve.y excessive as have been
supposed 1--we rely upon TIE Eran,iua-
lion ofihe bteytdaits, these extra profits
arc not more than from to 10 per cent.
Ahe eTsra fr.sts, already made, arc
perhaps the ,uost considerable. The arti-
cics i'll nn.sst request. sell otf first and best
Are we to take these as the standard of the
rest}
Again--sone OF the articles imported, as
cottons and tickings. ere i'll some places SUI
perceded by our cwn wares. These may not
even yield an ordinary profit Is this to be
an item Of deduction from the extra profit
OH others
There is another difficulty in this case
growing out of the manner Of sales,-If we
believe the northern merchants, the iD,hor-
ter has generally sold out 1T an ordinary
profit, to others ; and it is the Cd or Sd
lc9LS sup 9Hsm ouM 'sLsiUSp Uv,sL 10 sseIo
extra profit. Now is it equitable to make
the importer pay the equivalent, when the
Jo66er pockets the profit
1T any part of the extra profit is to eo to
the u. D., the plan will be most difficult of
execution. The Secretary OF the Treasury
will scarcely be able, though Mr. Gallatin
himself were that man, to settle all its COM
plicated dctails--there are Is millions of
dollars. at stake; how many separate claims
will exist First, he is to discriminate, in
each case, as to bona iide American or Bri-
fish property--then as to the average or
binary profit on each article in each city !;
and next as TO the present profit on each
Is he to admit the interest Of the capital
vested IN the goods which have been LAYING
Tor months in England the merchants
honse-rent Tor two years past, while he has
been doing SO little business the losses sus-
tanned by privateers; as SO many deducti-
ons from the extra-proit In our humble
opinion, Congress had better appoint board
OF commissioners at once.
On the whole, we wish to see the United
States above the bidding expedient of shay
ing the bonds OF its merchants. We should
think 1t tar more magnanimous course to
say ;" We cancel your bonds take them,
and use your funds to the benefit of the ma
ton"
These sentiments are expressed, not from
any respect for the Merchants, as a class );
We look to the bold yeomanry'' as their
. coun,ry's pride. The merchants have
very frequently erred in their ways, seek
ing to promote their fleeting Interests, at the
expence even of their own more lasting in
tcrests. a. well as the rights of their country.
We must judge, however, of each case
by its own raerits-and the present furnish
es these equitable considerations Which
should clain respect to every class of citi
Eens.
NVs Will net urge, with Mr.. Cheves, that
rctnsai to remit would ALLEVIATE the MGR
chants--becausc We ahould make no sac
ritces to them, against the rights of our
couhtry-but it is certainly fact, that such
! would be the effect.
The sentiments above expressed apply
exclusively 20 6onafde American property,
There may be a few cases of gross and
intentional infringement OF the law of the
land--fhese shonid form an ercehfion to
the Documents laid down.
- THE MILITIA.
HE events, which have transpired on the very
threshold Ut the war are calculated To teach us
dsagreeabc, but useful lesson--The cowartlice
OF the militia at Niagara where one third of the idle
men might have saved every thing the reluctan &c
of the troops under Hopkins, and now the militia
under Dearborn who said to have refus ed to
cross the line, compelled him to retire to winter.
quarters these things call upon to open our
| g.yP s tt our true situafion