The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-29

agricultural community for the purpose OF
protecting this e1traneous commerce> ]
ask if the people. of the west, of the Allan
tic, OF the middle states, or Of any other
portion of the american people, will be
content to be taxed to support navy for
the protection ut commerce in foreign
produce, by which but few individuals in
the nation can be benefited. The re is no
commerce to protect, unless it be that
which exchanges specie for the productions
OF the East Indies. and benefits no part of
the community. Having no valuable COM
merce now to protect, the object of adding
vessels TO your navy. must be to fight your
battles at sea.
ltyou would prepare a navy as a means
OF carrying OH war, bend your resources to
that object. We have been told that the
trident or Neptune is passing into orr hands.
But, Sir. the sovereignty OF the ocean is not
to be acquired by four ships of the line and
five or six frigates. You can have no legi-
innate object In building such vessels as
proposed, unless to carry on the war; If
that be your object, make your means
commensurate to the end you have in view.
Do you yet pretend THAI the object is to
protect Commerce9 Your commerce is not
worth the cost9 And who would pay it |?
The merchants No, sir they will pay
only their proportion. l rcco.lect, when a
boy, to have seen little book, in which
admired the pictures more than the read
ing, in which were represe atations of king
priest, a soldier, ard farmer-a label
issuing from the mouth of each contained
those words; the king says. govern
ALL" the priest, :" pray for all - the SOL
der, {" fight for all :" and the jarn,er,
hay for ALL" This, sir. is perfectly
true as regards the American farmers
they hGy for ALL. And what advantage do
they derive from it ? What advantage arc
my constituents to derive from the expen-
tliture of this money
know it will be said, our naval officers
have fought we'll. They have so but in
no instance have they done more than. was
expected from them. 1t was always .ex-
pected, when they came in contact with an
enemy, that they would either conquer or
make good fight. foresaw, at the last ses-
sion, whether our navy was successful or net,
that 1t was necessary consequence of the
war that we should have a navy. If they
had been unsuccessful, they would have
fought well. The argument in that case
would have been Here are your seamen
! captured-your flag PROSTATE on the main
viii you not stretch forth your hand to re-
lieve them from disgrace % 1 scarcely
know how could have resisted such an ar
gument- No man doubted but every por-
ton OF the American people, fighting in the
cause or their Country, would fight bravely.
| hey are brave but that is no reason why
our great agricultural interest should be
taxed tor the interest of merchants trading
with specie to Abyssinia or China. The
| American agriculturalists must pay nine
senths OF the tax which this expenditure
will create. Do they derive equal advan-
tage from it with the merchants No OF
what advantage is it TO the people of the
middle states, whether ship loaded with
Spanish miiled castings is taken or gets safe
to her place of destination The loss is of
so much capital, but adds nothing to the
proht or prosperity OF the agricultural in
terest, any more than as the gain of an in
| diyidual promotes the general prosperity
| IL IS unjust to tax the people OF the west
10 build ships OF war TO protect the coast
| Each portion of the United States, the At
lantc, the Western and Middle States have
their rights and we have no right to tax
one Tor what can be of no benefit to it
hen, sir, If these vessels are to be used as
means OF carrying on war, erect an esta-
5lishment adequate to the object 1t will
be SAID, perhaps, we have not money to
build fourteen frigate5. Our present ex-
pences, we find, require loan of twenty
millions. The passage osthis bill, it is said,
will only make it IS millions. The build
ing OF II ships Of the line instead of four,
| Will only add ten millions to that sum.
| 1t would be, indeed, an interesting object
!; to the people of this country to see Great
Britain humbled at our feet. You are not
to do it, sir, by four ships Of the line, though
you may do much with IA. | wish it to be
distinctly understood, that do not mean to
vote for any increase of our navy !; but if it
rs increased, should be in favor Of fourteen
ships OF the line. wish it also to be under
stood that at the last session | committed
myself to lay taxes to carry on the war. /
consider myself bound to vote for them
But 1t you thus expend money on these CHI
merical objects, state distinctly | will not
vote for taxes. Other gentlemen may dc
as they please but will not is such case
vote tor the taxes, lccause / never will tax
my constituents to defend commerce Oh the
ocean. If it be not competent to its own de-
fence, it is high time to give it up.
Mr.. MI I'M rose to set his friend from
Kentucky right as to one or two points
/ lie ships to be built are not for the p:otec-
ton ~ commerce, bat to be put under the
direction OF the government, to protect our
rights Oil the ocean, and also to aid in the
security Ct our territorial rights. They will
re employed IN conveying our commerce ;
III repciling ships of war from our harbors
IN destroying the commerce Of Britain ON
the ocean IN order TO force her 70 come IL
terms with us. They will be so employed
rs the government cOnceiVcs the interest OF
the nation to require. The gentleman has
! drawn distinction between commerce and