Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-14

part OF his motion.
Mr. BursDeE said, this was proposition, it an.
peared to him, ofsuch importance, that the house
ought TO act with much caution in respect to it.
:, uie ohtteu states undertook 10 coiinterval the
br.tish colonial policy, it was i'm vain To SUPPOSE
tnat 1t would not produce collision with that ma.
tioh me subject of this proposition would ne.
SeSsarity AFFECT the consumers, and particularly
,ue aBrcui'urists OF every part OF the country
ne Course OF tins nation, on This subject, should
oePend much on the policy pursued by the other
nA'iohs Oh EUROPE in regard to those colonies. II
was was perfectly evident, Mr.. b. said, that the ef.
'ecH OIL these measures of the British government
must be to embarrass the nterco,ir with her co.
iohies, ana enhance TO the consumers in the is
fanus the price OF every necessary of life if the
Poi'cy OF the other owners of Islan,,s m The West
INDIES should be more liberal, Great Britain will
ose inc DEMENT, OF the trade she burthe,,s so hea-
Niiy' ana the evil will cure itself. England has
l,She 10 regulate the trade to her colonies as she
pieases and an attempt to c0erce her to change
her policy IN this respect would, he apprehended.
Ultimately prove the commencement of a new
commercial contest with England lie was, there
lore, desirous that no decision should be made on
ms proposition, Without mature consideration,
ana iuii information, particularly as TO the policy
or the oder powers OF Europe who have colonies
abroad.
Mr.. King spoke in reply, and in further SUP
port OF his motion. he SAID, he had intended to
have made this resolution more general TO coun
teivaii the restrictions and impostions, to which
our trade, with the colonial possessions of other
foreign nations, is subjected But as we have
yet mad no opportunity of forming any new CON-
mercih arrangements with other foreign nations,
not 1t best, tor the present, to omit them. g.
Britain too, of all nations in the world is bound
TO form with us the most liberal and reciprocal
commercial arrangements mean from the
mount and Kind of trade which she enicys with
us. Sne receives from us the raw material 10
keep IN motion great portion of her manufac-
turing industry and ingenuity, then sends large
p'oportion back in its finished state, as to manu-.
iacture, To be consumed IN this country Mr. X
further said, it m ght be feared by some that the
retaliation proposed would deprive us of some
necessary supplies. think not, SAID he it is
Tor the interest of the Islands to receive various
produces OF this country, in exchange for their
produce. 1t VIII be impossible 10 prevent a
traffic of this kind, through the possessions in the
west ladies of other European powers from
ihese possessions, then, and cur southern states
an abundant supply Can he Afforded. Will it not
ieAofo war with Great Britain 7 Just CONNER
cal retaliation can never be Just cause of war
when Great Britain thinks it for her interest 10
nave war with this country, pretext will not be
wanting. We are not 10 be deferred from any
JUST or necessary measure by any fear of this knd
1t is quite sufficient for US, that the interest of
our citizens, and the honor and dignity of this
| nation demand it
| MIR. WiIgh said, he was surprised at any on.
position beng made to the adoption of promo
siton TO enquire into this highly interesting SUBJ
yect lie desired nothing more than reciprocity
| IN our intercourse with Great Britain But he
| was not TO be deferred from counteryailng her
| commercial regulations by the fear ofnew COLI.
sions with her--and he hoped we should never
let her transgress the rules of a just policy to
wards US, without attempting, by corresponding
| regulations, to bring her to sense of Justice
/ He would give her a carte blanche, to inscribe
thereon what regulations she chose for her inter
course with us, provided they were exactly re
| cIprecal. He was glad his honorable friend from
| the East had introduced this proposition, and he
hoped 1t would be the means ofbrngipg the oues-
| ton fully before the house. He would not sup
| ply her Islands whit biscuit or segar, but on
| terms of reciprocity
! Mr. Lo7p,lsLes said Inc hoped the pen+l snan from
| Massachusetts, would permit such mod ,ficat,on
ofhis motion, as should include IN the enquiry not
only OF the policy of Great Britain but of other
nations lie could see no reason why the mea.
! suTes of France, SPAN, and Holland respectnr
the trade with their colonies should not meet the
same counteract'on. He could not, however, see
| the subject IN the serious aspect in which it had
| appeared TO the gentleman from Virginia. He
could not agree in the opinion that it would in.
voive us in serious commercial conflict with
England because il did no; propose an ATTEMPT
20 force on Great Britain an abandonment of her
commercial system. Some discriminating lu
ties might be adopted, not by way of retaliation
of those imposed by Great Britain, bur 10 induce
her, by considerations OF reciprocity and mutual
convenience, to abandon those regulations The
adoption by this country ofa policy which would
only burthcn with considerable duties the vessels
of those countries which exclude our vesseIs. &c
would merely have the effect of invitiue change
OF Their system. II would be merely offering
them an inducement to reciprocity. He could
see no reason, however, why distinction should
be made in this proportion between Great Britain
and o,her nations.
Mr.. King protested his readiness 70 rive the
enquiry the utmost latitude, although his object
had been more limited and was wiling to &C.
cePt any amendment proposed for that purpose.
Mr.. Lewades then moved to amend the resolve
by striking at the words " Of his Brfta,uIc VIA
jesty"
Mr.. UTlde said ne did not rise for the purpose
ofopposing the motion Of the honorable gentle
man from Massachusetts (NIr. King.) Tie bad
no objection 10 consider the resolution, and he
was IN favor OF the amendment proposed by the
gentleman from South Carol ma (Nlr IOwndes.
But as his friend and colleague, the chairman of
the committee Of foreign relations CHR Forsyth)
was not IN the house at the time the hon gentle
man from Massachusetts (Mr. King) commenced
his remarks, and therefore could not reply to
some ofthem which he had not heard Mr.. w.
thought il his duty to say few words in answer
to what bad fallen from the honorable gentle.