The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-01-21

suiy ID bankrupt, ana It's credit prOStrate.-
| Sod plorable is tie state of the finances,
| that those who feel for the honor and safety
osthe country, would be willing TO conceal
| the melancholy spectacle, if those whose in
| tatua ton has produced this state of fiscal con-
Germs, had not found themselves compelled to
myeil 1t to pablo view.
IL the war be Continued, there appears no
room tor reliance upon the national govern
| Inent Tor the supply of those means of defence,
which must become Indispensable TO secure
these states from desolation and rum Nor
is II possible that the states can discharge this
sacred duty from their own resources. and
continue to sustain the burden of the national
taxes. Inc administration after a long per-
severance in plans TO baffie every effort of
commercial enterprlzes had fatally succeeded
| IN their attempts Mt the epoch of the war
Commerce, the vital spring o. n. fSaslani's
prosperity, was annihiiated Ernuargoes.
| restrictions, and the rapacity of levenue-otii !
Gers, had completed it's destr-.ction the va
rioas objects for the employment of produc-
| tive labor, III the branches of business de-
pendent on commerce, have Disappeared
HE fisheries have shared its Iate.--Manu-
factories, which Government has protested
an intention 10 favor and TO cherish, as an IN
demnity for the failure OF these branches of
business, are doomed to struggle in their in
fancy with taxes and Instructions which
cannot rall most seriously TO affect their
growth. The specie is withdrawn frnm Cir
cuiatloD. The landed interest, the last TO feel
these burdens, must prepare 10 become their
principal support, as all other sources of rev
enue must be exhausted. Under these Cir
cuInstanccS, taxes of description and a
mount unprecedented in this country, are IN
a train of imposition, the burden OF which
mast fall with the heaviest pressure upon tie
States east of the Potomac. The amount of
these taxes for the ensuing year, cannot be
estimated at less than five millions of dol
lars upon the New-England States, and the
expences or the last year for defence, in Mas
sachusetts alone, approaches 10 one million of
dollars.
From these facts it is almost superauous
to state the irresistible inference that these
states have no capacity OF defrayins the ex-
pense requisite for their own protection, and,
at the same time, of discharging the demands
cf the national treasury.
The last enquiry, what course of conduct
ought to be adopted by the aggrieved
States, is in high degree momentous. When
great and brave people shall feel them
selves deserted by their Government, and re-
duced TO the necessity eitherof submission to
foreign enemy, or OF appropriating to their
own use, those means of defence, which are
indispensable to self-preservation, they can
| not Consent to wait passive spectators of ap-
| preaching rum, which IL is in their power to
| avert, and to resign the last remnant OF their
| industrious earnings, TO be dissipated in sup
| port OF measures destructive of the best inte-
rests Of the nation.
| Ihis Convention will not trust themselves
| to express their conviction Of the setastro-
| phe TO which such state OF things inevita-
| bly, tends. Conscious of their high RESPONSE
billty to God and their country, soiicitous for
the continuance Of the Union, swell as the
| sovereignty OF the States unwilling to furnish
| obstacles to peace, resolute never to submit
| 10 foreign enemy, and confiding in the Di-
vine care and protection, they will, until the
last hope shall be extinguished, endeavor to
| avert such consequences.
With this view they suggest an arrange
| ment, which may at once be consistent with
| the honor and interests Of the National Gov
eminent, and the security of these States
| Ihis 1t will not be difficult to conclude, if
| that government should be so disposed BY
| the terms OF 1t, these States might be allow
| ed to assume their own defence, by the mill
! tia or other troops. A reasonable portion,
| also, of the taxes raised in each state might
be paid into its treasury, and credited to the
| u. D but to be appropriated for the defence
| OF such states, to be accounted for with the
| O.S NO doubt IS entertained that by such
| an arrangement, this portion of the country
| could be defended with greater effect, and in
| mede more consistent with economy and
the public convenience, than any which has
| been praCtised.
| Should an application for these purposes
made to Congress by the State Legi. ,atures,
De attended with success, and should peace
| upon just terms, appear to be unattainable,
the people would stand together for the com
mon defence, until a change Of Administra-
| ton, OF q disposition in the enemy, should ia
| cIlitate the occurrence of that suspicious e.
vent. 1t would be nexpedient for this Con-
ventlon to diminish the hope of successful
issue TO such an application, by recommend
ing, upon suppostion Of a contrary event, ul-
| terror proceedings. Nor is It indeed within
their province. In a state of things SO solemn
and trying as may then arise, the Legsla-
lures Of the States, or Conventions of the
whole people, or delegates appointed by them
orthe express purpose in another Convcn-
ton. must act as such urgent circumstances
may require.
But the duty incumbent on this conven-
ton will not have been performed, without
exhibiting some general View Of such mea-
| sures rs they deem essential to secure the ma
ton against relapse into difficulties and dan
gers. should they, by the blessing of Provi-
dence, escape from their present condition
without absolute ruin. To this end, a con-
else retrospect Of the state of this nation, un-
der the advantages Of wise administration
cortrasted with the miserable abyss into which
~ ie ~, t,.on;oo~.s o..J Gil.