The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-09


estimated ON a larger scale. not only will
tnat part OF our own State which lies on the
hanawha and on the Ohio, receive their
supplies and send much OF their produce 20
market through James river, but an i'm
uense tract of fertile country. a great part
OF the States Of Kentucky and Ohio, will
most probably give their commerce the
same direction. Ill that part of the State
of Kentucky which lies above Louisville, &c
all that part OF the State of Ohio whose
trade would pass through the river of that
name, might reasonably be expected TO
MAINTAIN large portion Of their CONNER
ciai intercourse with the Atlantic States,
through the James or the Potowmac. Ger
ta,nly, in a contest for this Interesting
prize, the States thro' which those rivers
run nave geogra phicai advantages, the bene..
hts OF which they can lose only by supine-
ness III themselves or by extraordinary ex-
ertlons IN Others. 1t is far from being i'm
possible that even the south western parts
OF pennsylvania may look down one of
these rivers for their supplies of goods
manufactured in Europe.
Let the Importance attached by men
best acquainted with the subject TO tho
commerce of the West attest its value. The
eXertions which other States appear to be
making to secure it will probably awaken
the attention of Virginia to that part of it
which should naturally bolong to her.
There is still another aspect in which this
subject deserves to be viewed
mat intimate connection which general
~ attends Tree commercial intercourse, the
strong ties which are formed by mutual in
terest, and the interchange OF good Offices,
BIND together individuals of different coun-
ties, and are well calculated to cherish
those friendly sentiments, those amicablc
dispositions which ut present unite Virginia
to considerable portion of the Western
people. At all times, the cultivation OF
these dispositions must be desirable bat, in
the vicissitude of human affairs, in that
mysterious future, which is III reserve, and
rs yet hidden from us, events NAV occur to
render their preservation too valuable to be
estimated in dollars and cents
he advantages which may result to Vir-
ginia froT opening this communication with
the western country viii be shared il COM
mon with her by the states of Kentucky 6
Ohio.
Considering it. as medium for the intro
ducton OF foreign articles into those states,
IL mas claims to their serious attention
The proposition that nation finds its true
interest in multiplying its channels of i'm
pertation, admitting them to be equally con-
venicnt, is believed to be uncontrovertible.
In addition to those arguments in SUPPORT
OF this proposition which belong to every
case, the situation OF the western states
selves, and which well deserve their cons;-
Iteration
The whole of that extensive and fertile
country. a,country increasing in wealth and
population with a rapidity which battles
ejaculation. must make its importations up
thc Mississippi alone. or through the At
iahuc states When we take into view the
certain growth of the country, we can
scarcely suppose it possible that any COM
mercIal ~,
Keep pace with that growth, and furnish q
supply equal to The demand. The unfriend-
mess OF The Climate to human life will rem
oer TINS disparity between the commercial
ana agricultural capital still more sensible.
lt VIII tend still more to retard a population
OF that sound mercantile character which
would render some great city on that ma
jeSuC river, safe emporium for the west
ern world.
In times of profourd peace, then. the
states on the Ohio would make sacrifices IF
no ihconsiderable magnitude, by restricting
their lmportations to a single river. But.
IN time of war, their whole trade might be
When it is recollected thar
the Mississippi empties itself into the guIDh
OF ioI1da which is surrounded by foreign
teTritory; that the island of Cuba and the
coast OF East Florida completely guard the
passage from its mouth to the ocean : that
the immense commerce Sowing down lis
stream holds forth irresistible allurements
TO cruizers, tic opinion seems well founded
tlat scarcely vessel making for that place
could reach it's port of destination.
But the length of the voyage up the Mis-
sissippi and the Ohio must be attended
win delay so inconvenent to persons en-
gagged III commerce, as to render shorter
route though not less expensive, more eli
g,ble. For the importation of many arti-
Giles. there is much reason to believe that
a decided preference would always be pi-
ven to the transportation through the Uni.
-, ','"tcs, were tnat transportation rem
dered as easy as it is capable of being
made.
he export trade during peace, so far
as the articles exported were DESIGNED for
a foreign market, would most probable
pass exclusively down The MssissiDpi.--
But those articles which are Consumed i'm
the United States, AS manufactures Of
hemp, would find their way to market thro'
interior and shorter channels.
1T the direct route through the Atlantic
states, would, for many purposes, be more
eligible than that thrO' the eulph of Florj-
Ga, which must be often connected with
coastlng voyage 60 or from an Atlantic
port, then the multiplication OF those
routes, 1t in Themselves equal, by presen-
ting greater choice, and by accommodate
ting more territory, must be desirable.