Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-14

PiorinS and securing sources of trade
whereby to support them. Ia short, we
nave been more ambitious of the empty
name OF military nation, than OF coIl,-
mercial one and hence some of the most
brilliant prospects that ever beamcd on the
enterprize of British subjects, have lite
rally been unimproved.
Among these, most assure6ly, arc the re-
sources OF the American wilderness. we
are now giving up by our announced Com
merciai Treaty with the u. States for be-
sides taking from us that political conse-
quencc we have hitherto retained over the
aooriSines OF the country, the restrictions
proposed will deprive Canada of her fur
trade, viii curtail her vent for goods, and
Cut OIL from England valuable ingredient
IN her exports to China. The last war has
iaught Us both tho Importance of Canada
and Of the lakes the former as channel
of supplies to oar Wess-Indies for her TO
rests, fisheries, and political situation with
respect to the neigh5ouring Republic, and
the latter as Commanding position in the
very heart OF the principal American
States. by our possession OF Canada and
control OF the inland waters, we CONSEQUENT
~ establish chain of connect ton ~ it'll i'm
mense ranges or country, which promote
the purposes of trade, and further our po-
litical views and If so, it is very natural TO
suppose, that the North Americans would
DE extremely happy to b,eik every Ink,
nor could they in any way more effectualIy
do this. than by undermining our friendship
with the Indians. and monopoizing theis
supplies. This is point the Americans
have long been seeking to attain, as may
be seen by all the former diplomatic trans
actions on this subject, and is they do at
tain. IT will here after prove one of the most
fatal results of that impol;tc war into which,
we rushed without plans, without local
knowledge, in short, without those essen
tial requisites that could ensure success.
and which has oniy tended to aggrantlise
our competitors. This we consider as a
subject that cannot be too frequently i'm
pressed OH the minds of the British public
for besides an immense loss Of blood and
treasure, and besides also a sacrifice of
character III theeyes OF Europe, we are ac-
tnaliy trying TO rear the pillar of American
greatness higher and faster than otherwise
would have happened, by giving UP to
them the resources Of the American will
derness, by regulations more favorable 60
their trade than ours, and more especially,
by improvidently allowing them to connect
themselves early with the revoI;ed prov,n-
ces OF Spanish America, suffering the lat
ter to owe their Independence to the United
States rather than to rs. These are points
On which VIC shall hereafter severally offer
some reflections but, in the mean time,
we shall pursue our observations on the
consequence of British traders being depri-
we'd or intercourse with Indians residing
within limits claimed by the u. S. which
nearly amounts to All exclusion from al the
range OF trading country worth being con-
nected with, as we shall undertake fully TO
demonstrate.
Under the third Article of the Treaty of
1894, it was cxpounded that Indian traders
have right to resort to, and trade with
the tribes within the limits of either par
ty, with the exception of the country COW
cred by the charter OF Hudson's Bay Com
pany.
This clause has ever since been an OBJ
ject OF jealousy to the American Govern
ment, from the influence its operation gave
to the British fur companies, and because
they thereby greater share in the re
sources of the American wilderness, to
which their nation stands entitled for so
many reasons. Notwithstanding the unli-
mitcd duration of this stipulation, the u. s.
Government sought to annul the Clause,
and in its instructions given to Messrs.
Monroe and Pinkney their pleniputentia-
ries in London, Mr.. Madison, under date OF
May 80, 1906, directs them to try to con-
fine the Indian trade to the respective Inn
its OF each party, and ADDS " that perhaps
in moments Of liberality and general ad-
justment, the British government may list
en- to such an amendment"
The principal grounds on which the A
mericans rest Their complaint is, that the
intrusion of these foreign traders, disturbed
harmony and good order, by cIandestinely
introducing ardent spirits, &c. The Indian
trade from Canada is carried on by res
pectab'e cor panics, and of known pT obity
and credit, whereas that OF the Americans
is prosecuted by Individual Adventures, o.
yer whom, at that distance, the govern
ment has scarcely any control. If the "a
borignes of the American wilderness have,
in any degree, been induced to quit their
savage habits of life, and learned the adj
vantages Of industry, it was by the early
exert'ons OF the French, and their example
has been followed by the Br fish since they
took their place, and even more enlight-
ened policy has been adopted. The Gov
eminent of the u. States has certainly de-
vised many humane and enlightened plans
for the benefit of the Indians, among which
its endeavors to diminish the ravages of
the small poX ought not to be forgotten, bat
the general character of the American
backTvoodSnlen, and of those who actually
come III contact with the In1ians, is by no
IN ans suited To prevent their extorton,
and the consequent evils resulting from
force exercised over weakness. The Ca
madam is not of this stamp, of whom Judge