Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-03-05

If it was true, that our trade was of so
much importance to Great Britain as TO
controul her measures, why are we now at
war Has not the restrictive system been
sufficiently tried? Bonaparte has shed O.
ceans of blood to perfect it and although
England is much distressed, her manutac-
turers do not seek their fortunes abroad,
nor do the government appear disposed to
relinauish one iota of her maritime rights
to coneiliate us. However powerful there
fore, the system may appear in theory, it
will be found in practice to be wholly in
adequate to the purpose.
Again, page SCI. Z" The primary mo
tive of these resolutions as acknowledged
by their defenders, is not the increase of
our agriculture, manufactures, or naviga-
ton. but to humble Great Britain and
build up France; and although 1t Is said
our manufactures and navigation may re-
csive some advantage, it is only mentioned
as substitute in case Of failure as to the
great object Here we see some of the
first fruits Of Mr. sIadison's promised de-
v9Son to France, which necessarily In
cludes hatred to England. In defiance OF
the sacred rules of morality, in defiance Of
the fundamental principles of liberty, him
self and coadjutors were labouring in con-
gress to compel our merchants to break oil
q II commercial intercourse with England,
with whose habits of trade they were best
acquainted, and whose credit had afforded
them capital they could not have acquired
by any other means; and to trade to France
under the disadvantages of want of Gre
dit or capital, and for manufactures of in
ferior quality Nor was it the least impor-
tant consideration in adopting this mea-
sure, that it would throw 500, 900 British
manufacturers out of employment: to avoid
which. and to conciiate the United States,
the British government would repeal their
navigation act passed in the reign of Charles
the Cd, to which alone they are indebted
for all thsir maritime greatness =!
The time also was, in the view of the
party, peculiarly proper for the commence
ment of commercial warfare with Great
Britain. Page $40, " II was only while
oar enemy was embarrassed with danger
on, foreign war, that we could hope for the
establishment of just and equal principles"
What just and equal principles were here
contemplated Were they such as we had
right TO demand No: they were mere
matters of grace, to be obtained as the
price of an exemption from the pressure of
orr restrictive system they were essential
to the prosperity, nay, existence of Great
britain, and parting with them would rem
der her navy of little use for the protection
of either hsr trade or territory Here we
have the idea suggested which has given
rise to our embargo, nimportation and
non-intercourse and here too is declara-
ton of the most proper time to try the ex-
pertinent, with any hope Of success. 1t is
unquestionable that Great Britain affords
the best market for our surplus produce
and as the revenue of our government is,
in time of peace, wholly derived from
commerce, we never can sustain COM
mercal conflict, without inealculable los
ses, which more than counterbalance all
the advantages that it is practicable to OBJ
tain by it, independent of the immortality
OF injuring ourselves to inhiet an injury on
them. ALFRED.