The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-30

milarity Of manners and language, and the a
buses ofpower and British officers. causes
the impressment Of many Of our native citi-
liens. sf -
In considering this part of the subject, ]
deem unnecessary to investigate the justice
OF the doctrine for which G.. b. contends,
or how far 1T corresponds with the abstract
right of man ;" speak of the fact. 1t is
lenoaSh torus to know that these pretensions
exist --aavc long existed, and will noe be a.
oauioned. We must be conscious that we
cannot tSfose onr hrincihtcs on other nati-
ons, with whom 1t is our interest to cultivate
good undcrstanding-bu that Oh every
subject where our rights ~ pretensions may
Conflict, both parties must cherish u spirit
OF Cancellation and concession, us the only
mode by which we eun be brought together
to prevent collision from which neither can
'erive any substantial benefit. The auesti-
on is not what we want, but what under all
circumstances it is possible we can eet-I
have, therefore, long since thought that our
government ought to abandon the high pre-
tensions OF Attending security TO every per-
sen (even aliens) who should not sail under
ou, hag-nnd propose some arrangement
ito q. b., which, while, it gave protection to
our own native citizen, would prevent. our
merchants from employing any other dur
ing the present war. Ii these stipulations
were reciprocal, every substantial object
would be answered. Should G.. b. refuse an
overture SO manifestly just, it would afford
additional cause of complaint, and then we
might indulge in the bitter iuvect;ves which
have been uttered against her. 49,
From what have said it will be appar.
ent that do not oppose this measure on the
ground that there is not ample cause of war
against Great Britain. The reverse is ex-
plicitly admitted. But shall the blood and
treasure of this nation be avished against
the orders iii council, as SO much paper
or are we Contending for some substantial
good, which We should otherwise enjoy, and
OF which their operation depriyes us. / pre-
sumo there is scarcely a man in this COun.
try, however infected he may be with the
war mania, who could act so madly, as to
propose warfare to procure the mere no
niinat repeal of orders in council-when it
was evident, it would be unattended with
single practical benefit. No ! the nominal
repeal OF the orders in council is not your
object. 1t is the substantial commercial
benefit which you conceive will follow that
act, that forms the essence of the controver-
sy. The unmolcsted commerce to France
and her dependencies is the boon for which
you are going to. war. This is the real OBJ
lJect, disguise it as you will. And it is not
the commerce which we formerly enoyed
is in controversy. Your export commerce
to France now consists of our own products
only, as appears by the letter of the French
minister on your table. ! say our ozon hro-
Idnefs--beCause l suppose the privilege
which has been graciousiy extended to us,
OF exporting other articles in certain cases
| under French licences, will scarcely be i'm
sisted Oh as being any thing else but an in
dignity. The municipal regulations which
have been substituted for the Berlin decree,
SO Tar as 1t respects the practical effect,
nave destroyed by far the most profitable
and important branch OF our trade to the
French empire-which consisted in the pro-
duct and manufactures of other countries
Our merchants were in the habit of export
| ing to The West-Indies our -four, beef, pork,
live stock, lumber, &c. for which they re-
cclVed IN return the products of those Islands.
The surplus beyond the consumption of this
country, was exported to the continent of
Europe for which we received in return
French wines, brandics, silks, German lin
ems, and bills on London. DISC much more
Importance, was this export trade to us,
| than that of our own products. that in 1907,
before the British orders in council existed,
the domestic exports to France, (iucludine
Belgium) amounted to about two millions Sc
ven hundred thousand dollars only-while
the amount of exports to the same country
or foreign manufactures and products (Chef-
ly coloniaD was nearly ten millions. In the
same year the whole Of our domestic exports
to every part of the world, amounted to a.
| bout forty-eight millions and half-ol
which the amount have stated, was ex-
ported to France, and about twenty eight mil.
| lions to Great Britain and her possessions
| and dependencies, in the four quarters of the
globe Since that time she has acquired
the French West-lndies, the Isles of France
| and Bourbon in the Indian Ocean, the Cape
OF Good Hope, the Dutch possessions in Asia
and America. To these countries in 1907
| while under their former dependence, the
exports OF domestic products from the Uni
ted States, amounted to upwards of four
millions OF dollars so that estimating orr
exports to u. Britain and her present pos
| sessions and dependencies-as they stood in
1907, the amount would be about thirty-twc
milllons--about two thirds of the whole a.
mount OF our domestic exports to every part
| Oh the world. Thus while we are about
engaging IN war for commerce, VIC aban-
con the greater, absolutey-and contend f.,
the lesser. We rclinquish our commerce
with u. Britain and her possessions at the
threshold for during hostiities | presume
we shall have none) and go to war fo1- 4vhut
7ve can get--of the commerce of France. l.
tally, Holland, Hamburg and the Hansc
| Towns-I leave Spain and Portugal and
the American provinces out of the cues
ton. as the fate Of those countries bangs in
J suspense. RIO be continued }
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