Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-06-06

sure was simply this-many nations pre-
fer the purchase Of foreign lineGs 10 our
manufacture. We saw this, and said I'M
medlateIy they shout not be gratif d.
10 legislate we went, determined that an
act at Parliament, the very moment il re-
ceived the royal assent, should make TO
reign nations change their taste 10 please
us. What was the. consequence TWAS
this. That those very nations that far-
merry repaired 10 British markets for io-
reign linen, and at the same time 10 COM
| plete their assortment in British goods,
| the foreign linens operating as sort of
! Gecoy To the sale of our own nianufac-
| lures, all Al opreceased 10 visit our ports.
| They owed Tins country no allegiance,
| and directed their course TO Hamburger
| and Copenhagen, where they were ena-
| bied TO obtain these foreign linens at a
| cheaper rate than tney were III the habit
0f purchasing at III the British markell
| This latter advantage they were, howe
yer, lncl,nedto torrgo. Tue opportunity
| OF completing their cargo III British ;rii-
cles beng considered 10y them as tull
compensation. Tie transit duiy Was ms
| posed, and with 1t this val, able branchaf
l-o|t.--itade also Disappeared. Such
scn me Of perverse and Siiort-sis gifted po-
! hey would have correspondent with the
| state OF information that existed on The
| or al principle of commerce $50 years
agr. But what will the House or the
country say, Wen, after almost centuries
/ of experiences, after The full knowledge
that the events OF the last twenty years
Should have impaired vet, as late as the
| yesr 1910, Notwithstanding the utter ah-
surdlty of tenets such as these, they were
| made the ground work of our trading po-
hey, and were now realizing all their ma
l.. -,
trade, OH The export ofwhlclI duty of70
per cent. was levied, aRd for which, with
out such duty, we might find a market
in France, provided we would take her
goods in return. He might also dwell
with effect on the inconsistency of our
laws regarding wool, on the prohibition
10 It's export, though twist might be ex
ported. Indeed, under all the cifcum-
ances, he thought it was not going too
FIR TO state, that the tine had now arrived
which called for full and anxious review
of the whole trading policy of this coun-
try-(hear, hear, from all sides.) That
not only that policy demanded it, but our
navigation system most imperlously re-
CURED the same kind of precise and ac-
CITRATE revision. Viewing that system In
the light OF defence as we'll "a of wealth,
t was his full impression that no time
we're adherence TO lis provisions. Hcwas
disposed to admit, that ii was d system
originally founded in sound policy, tho
there were many theorists that denied is
capacity OF beng ever productive otpuD-
lie benefit. Ii had, IN his contemplation,
anticipated, by half century, what
must have subsequently occurred, the
transtersnce to this country Of The COM
mercial preponderance then held by he
United Provinces. But, whilst willing 10
admit its original recommendations, he
could not help DECLARING his conviction,
that we continue 10 adhere TO ITS strict
principles, one hundred years after Tie
cause that alone justified ii ceased TO ope-
rate. What was now passing III our West
India Colonies afforded the illustration Of
its impolicy. Whether from orders from
home, or by local suggestion, The true
spirit of the navigation laws were in these
colonies now displayed, a stop being put
10 the issue Of those licences which au-
thorlZed foreign imp0rtatiOns miO the
WestIndian ports. What course did A :
merlca, In consequence, propose to takcy
She said, you viii not allow us to i'm
port III our own bottoms those provisions
TO your colonies, of Which they stand in
need, and without which they would. ia
extreme cases, starve, we VIII (retailaing
on our heads, the mischieis of our own
policy shut our ports against vessels Ell
Their from or bound to those places from
which we are excluded. That was lie
object of bill now before Congress. of
which he lad seen copy. lie knew al
so that a considerable alarm prevailed at
present IN the colonies on that subject.
1t was striking specimen OF that sE stem
that refuses 10 vary with human cIrcum-
siances--thAt will acco nmodate Itself
to the progress and changes of times ana
Seasons, but keeps vigorously tuwhat was
once important, though now inapp!ica-
bic, as iftime was standing still, aud tie
events of history had no distinctive cha
Tacter-(hear, hear, hear.) Seeing then
the universal distress that pervaded eve
ry branch of public economy, how our
trade was cramped by the short sighted
limitations of an unenlighiened policy
what little relief, and even that little az
companied with some distinctions, it hal
received rom our negotiations with H.
reign powers, there never was period IA
the vicissitudes Of this country, vb,D,
with so much propriety, it might he AFR
med, that British commerce actually la
bored for its existence (hcar, hear That
when we cast our ewes 0VeT every point
ofthe compass, and when scarce a soIlt4-
nv spot Of comfort or of hUpe presented
Themselves, it was haturdl fOrthat ilOuse,
for orr unfortunate brethren. now suffer
ing uader understandable distress, whose
industry bore US through the late event.
ful strugglc--ior The whole population,
pressed by tic difficulties OF a protract,d
war, and exhausted under rs overbcaring
taxation, now cut Oft from those very
supplies which the unnatural monopoly
Of that war afiorded--it was, lie would
say, natural that they should all cast thcir
eves with parer exopctation nm snn,e n xe