Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-13

| eicis " Tue aiiitnQment, HinCn ne lnSrelOf'
accepted as part Of his motion.
Mr.. Burwell said, this was a proposition
1t appeared to him. of such importance
tilat the house ought To act with much eau
| ton In respect to it. If the United State!
undertook to countervail the British colo
NAL policy, it was in vain to suppose thai
1t would not produce collisions with that
| nation. The subject Of this proposition
would necessarily affe the consumers and
| particularly the agr.culturaliSts of every
| part OF the Country. Tie Course Of this
nation, on this subject, should depend much
| on the policy pursued by the other nations
| OF Europe in regard to these colonies. 1t
was perfectly evident, Mr.. b sid, that the
effect OF these measures OF the British go
vernment, must be to embarrass the inter
course with her colonies, and enhance to
| the consumers in the islands the price of
every necessary of life; if the policy OF
the OTHER owners of lands in the w. Iudies
should be more liberal, Great Britain will
lose the benefits of the trade she burthens
so heavily, and the evil Will cure Itself -
England has q right to regulate the trade
to her colonies as she pleases and an at
tempt to Cocrce her to change her policy
! IN this respect would, he apprehended, Ill
tlmately prove the commencement of a ne W
commercial contest with England. He was,
therefore, dcsirous that no decision should
be made on this proposition, without ma
ture consideration, and full inform alton,
particularly as to the policy of the other
powers of Europe who have colonies a.
broad.
Mr.. King spoke in reply, and in further
support or his motion. He said, he had
intended to have made this resolution more
general, TO countervail The restrictions and
impositions, to which our trade with the
colonial possessions of other foreign nations,
is subjected. But as we have vet had no
opportunity OF forming any new CONNER
cial arrangements with other foreign ma
tions, though it best, for the present, to
omit them. Great Britain too, of all ma.
tons IN the word, is bound To form with US
the most liberal and reciprocal CONNER
cial arrangements j mean from the a
mount and kind of trade which she enjoys
with us. She receives from us the raw
material to keep ia motion great proper
ton Of her manufacturing industry and in-
genuity, then sends a large proportion back
in its finished state, rs to manufacture, To
be consumed IN this country. Mr.. K. fur
Their said, 1t might be feared by some that
the retaliation proposed would deprive us OF
some necessary supplies. think not, said
he; it is for the Interest of the Islands to
receive various products of this country. in
exchange for their produce. 1t will be i'm
possible to prevent a traffic of this kind,
through the possessions IN the West Indies
of other European powers from these
possessions, then and our southern states,
an abundant supply can be Afforded. WIN
it not lead to war with Gre 1T Britain p
Just commercial retaliation can never be
Just cause of war. When Great Britain
a.. - g., 4, 4.
this country, preteXts will not be wanting.
We are not to be deferred from any Just
or necessary measure by any fear of this
kind it is quite sufficient for US, that the
interest Of cur citizens. and the honor and
dignity of this nation demand it.
MIR. Wright said, he was surprised at any
opposition being made to the adoption of
proposition to inquire into this highly inte-
resting subject He desired nothing more
than reciprocity N our intercourse with O..
Britain. But he was not to he deferred
from countervailing her commercial regu-
lations, by the fear of new collisions with
her-and he hoped we should never let
her transgrcss the rules of Just policy to-
wards us, without attempting, by CORES
ding regulations, to bring her to a sense of
justice. He would give her carte blanche,
to inscribe thereon what regulations she
chose for her intercourse with is, provided
they were exactly reciprocal. He was glad
his honorable friend from the East had in
tro1uced this proposition, and he hoped it
would be the means OF bring ng the ques-
ton fully before the house. He would not
supply her Islands with biscuit or a segar,
but on terms of reciprocity.
Mr.. Lowndes said, he hoped the gentle
man from Massachusetts, would permit
such modification Of his motion, as should
includr in the Inquiry not only the policy of
Great Britain. but Of other nations. He
could see no reason why the measures of
| France, Spain, and Holland respecting the
| trade with their colonies should not meet
| the same counteraction. He could not,
| however, see the subject in the serious as
| pect in which it had appeared to the gen
| tleman from Virginia. He could not agree
| in the opinion that il would involve us IN "a
serious commercial conflict with England,
| because it did not attempt 20 force Oh G..
| Britain an abandonment uf her commercial
system. Some discriminating Gu-ies might
| be adopted, not by way ot retaliation of
those imposed by Great Britain, but to l..
| ducc her, by considerations of reciprocity
and mutual convenience, 20 abandon those
regulations TIE adoption by this country
OF a policy which would only burthen with
considerable duties the vessels Of those
countries which exclude our vessels. &c.
would merely have the effect Of inviting a
| change ct their system. It would be merely
Offering them an induccment 70 reciprocity.
| He could see no reason, however, Why a