Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-19

tries.
Tie committee are satisfiet' that the
u Safes will nerer be governed 10y tie
SELF h views Of the lattei class, bat trust
that i, has no, been, nor will IL ever b-,
egaTdless oI the just motives ct thr !or-
mer: - far it is duty to protect the
navigating interest Tbs duty ,ln be
performed in rea'ion 10 the sui jet Of
this rrpori, BY conventisral stipulation
with Great Britain. farmed upon the ba-
is of reciprocity. or by legislative acts,
operating exclusively against the British
navigator Engaged in this trade. With
the first mode this house has no further
concern. than TO know that the other
branch Of the government has performed
its duty. Repeated and hitherto uIavail-
ing applications have been made to the
British government. IL is not, however,
surprising, that they have been unsuc.
cessiul. since no adequate motive at pre-
sent exists, to induce Great Britain TO ar.
range This intercourse BY convention
The offer contained in The articles anney-
ed to this repnrt. the most ratioOal and
reciprocity advantageous Of any ever
made, NAV be considered as di, tated BY
a spirit OF accommodating, which, under
the pressure of adequate motives, might
be fustesed into a determination tn grant
all that we could reasonably ak or they
be expected to yield. Tie three first al
ticIe., with some practicable mOdi6ca.
tons, would, by the adaptation of our
conrnercial laws to the slipaIation con.
tanned IN them, confimiug the commerce
strictly to those articles which Americans
were permitted to carry. would place the
trade upon as favorable grounds as could
be expected. 1t would, no doubt, in a
short time, be followed by complete a.
abandonment of the residue Of the present
lea Gus sy tenn of exclusion. The CON-
mittee cannot. however, but approve the
prompt rejection Of this proposition, since
these articles are connected with another
altogether inadlnissiblo, without depar-
lure from what they deem the settled pc
Icy of this country, in relation to the
trade with the Indians within its jurisdic-
ton. The British ministry, having as.
sdred this government that these articles
wee all that could be granted, consist.
ent with 'heir opinions Vi the best inte-
rests of The British empire, there is no
longer any hope Of etfectng this desirable
oti ct by negotiations. 1t remains for
cona ress 20 determine what course is to
be pursued. II it were possible to sepa.
rate the interest Of one class of the com
munity from TIA, Of another. it mus, be
obvious that, however fatal to the naviga.
tor, the present state Of things is no, in
iuricus to the cultivatsr OF the soil. The
Of his labor are carried with
facility TO a ready market, ard he re-
ceiyes ia return all those articles which
taste AM habit have render ed necessary
10 his Comfort. But this separation is
and the necessary conDexion
between tire two ~ erests is apparent,
when il is remembered, that the compe.
,ition of American with foreign nayga-
ton is essential TO keep down the expense
Of transportation always paid by the cul-
tivator and consumer. II this injury is
not now apparent, it will ultimately be
felt when the total ruin Of the navigating
interest will deprive Us OF the power to
remedy the evil. The committee forbesr
to press those important considerations
Of preparation for national defence SO in
V connected with this enquiry
They feel that there is GU this point but
one sentiment among the representatives
Of the people and in the nation. Expe-
renee, prudence, gratitude for the glory
shed upon our country, and the confident
and delightful Anticipation of future re-
Bcwn. all conspire to ensure the Necessary
sacrifices for the preservation and int.
rest OF tie Srameb of the U. States. This
object, so far as il may be promoted By
a participation in the commercial inter-
course with the British American colo.
MES, NAV be effected by ,riflng and
Temporary sacrifice OF the interests Vi i.
g icult"e.
A sight knowledge Of Che situation ct
the Bnli,h West India colonies au,hOfi-
re. the position, that commerce With
the United States is essential to their
prosperity, if not their existence. The
best market for the sale Of their surplus
products is found here while the grain,
provisions, and lumber articles Of the first
necessity. received in return. are prGcur-
ed on terms infinitely more advantageous
than they are to be had for their u.e in Z.
Ms part Of the world. Bat for ocr asIOn.
al supplies OF those articles from the I.
niied STATES, some OF the Islands would
be deserted by their inhabitants or
change produced in their agriculture. RI.
nous to their commercial interest. 1H