Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-12

what tue buyer - WiuHS 10 Sivs Ao' ~
What effect, pray, therefore, can the
merchants appreciated losses have on
the prices of the late importation, when
the farner's will is, in the nature of the
thing, the sole measure of the value OF
the commodities imported. The mer-
chant, when he came to price his goods,
would indeed have regard te the posi-
bic enforcement Of the bonds, and would
FIX his prices at rate to indemnify him
in event of payment Of the bond, and, at
the same time, yield him profit. But
this profit being wholly determined by
the quantity Of merchandise at market,
and the demand, it is evident, the de-
mand remaining the same, that ths i'm
portation might have been SO large as to
reduce prices to- the half of what they
are, or even depress them so low as not
only to yield the importer no profit, but
not even bring him first costs. Can any
thing therefore be clearer than the i'm
possibility Of governments having any
agency in this extraordinary price and
profit of the importer on his merchan-
die, except the injustice and absurdity
of the claim founded upon it. For cer-
tainly if government have any claim on
this profit, on the plea of this agency, it
must, by parity of reason, have held it.
self bound for any losses sustained by
the importer, in case the market had
been glutted an assertion, on which
even the hardihood and rapacity of To-
ry merchant will scarcely venture.
If, then, Mcssrs Editors, the present
increase of prices, so far from original
ing in any act Of the government, arises,
in truth, from the common relations and
fluctuations of trade, this claim of go-
,vernment on the merchants profit is not
more unfounded in Justice than in fact.
But the assertors of this claim are arm.
ed, it appears, with two edged argu-
ment, and tell US, that it is the part of
the government to relieve the farmer Of
the burden which the avarice and exter.
ton Of the merchant would otherwise
impose OH him by forbearing to tax him,
and supplying the deficiency in the pub
lie revenue, by the enforcement Of the
bonds /; an admirable principle, truly,
and worthy of the political regeneration
through which we are passing. The
merchant is then to be deprived of the
gains of legal, honest trade, because
they are greater than is convenient to
the farmer; ting good old principle Of
our laws, which secured to each citizen
what he legally acquired, is to be ex-
changed for the Spartan system of an e.
qualizotion of property, while Congress
and Mr.. Secretary GalIatin are to off,
ciate as high priests in this grand ma
tioaal purgalion, and calculate for the
merchant how much of his over
flowing riches he is to offer up on
the altar of public zeal, and compassion
for his less fortunate fellow republicans.
AS the first fruits, of my conversion to
this truly republican system, beg leave
to call the attention Of it's promoters to a
part Of the plan which has unfortunately
been entirely overlooked.
The farmer, SO far irom experiencing
any reduction in the price of his Aour,
has sold it since the war at very high
rate, and, tor some time past, at eleven
dollars. As this price exceeds that of
ordinary times, the appreciation can on
ly be ascribed TO the anticipation Of an
embargo, or prohibition Of British IL
cences. Now, as the farmer owes the
increased price of his flour to "gevern-
mental regulations" and cannot be sup
posed less patriotic than the tory mer-
chant, it is highly incumbent on Con-
gress and Mr.. GallatiD TO extend the
privilege, which, by all accounts is to
be granted to the importer, of sacrificing
his profits to the public, to the honest,
farmer, who will render up, with the
greatest cheerfulness, the difference be-.
tween FIVE dollars, which may be stated
as war price for -four, and eleven,
which IN that he bas heen receiyinr for