Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-17
Congress Of Me v. States
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, MARCH %.
''s''' ''''ss
.RkPORTEp rOR THE n. INIKLIIGENcr
MIR. CLAY'S SPEECH.-coNcLuDED.

u.
/ The exports Of Spans, America Eek
elusive ct those of the islands, are esti-
mated IN tliciyaluable little work of Nj.
Torres, deserving 10 be better known, at
about ciglty-One millions of dollars. OF
these. more than three. fourihs consist of
the precious metals. The residue are CO.
Goa, coffee, cochineal, sugar, and some
other articles. No nation ever offered
richer commodities in exchange. Ii was
OF no material consequence that we pro-
duced bat little that Spanish America
wanted. Commerce, as II actually exists,
III the hands OF maritime states, was no
longer confined to mere barter, between
any two states, of their respective pro-
ductiens. ltrendered tributary TO its in
terests the commodities of all quarters of
the world. So that rich American car
20, or the contents of an American COM
mcrciai warehouse, presented you with
whatever was rare or valuable in every
part of the globe. Commerce was not TO
be judged by its results in transactions
with one nation only. Uniavorable ba-
Iances existing will, one state are made up
by contrary balances with others. And
its true value should be tested by TIE to-
tailty of IFS operations. Our greatest
trade--that with Great Britain, Judged by
! the amount what we sold for her con-
sumption, and what we bought of her for
ours, would be pronounced ruinous. But
the uuiavorable balance was covered by
the profits of trade with other nations.
We may safely trust 10 the dariRg enter
prise of our merchants. The precious
metals are in South America, and they
will command the articles wanted in South
America, which will purchase them. Our
navigation will be identified by the trans
poriation, and ourcountry will realize the
mercantile profits. Already the item in
our exports Of American manufactures is
respectable. They go chiefly to the
West IHdies and to Spanish America
his item is constantly augmenting. And
he would again, as he had on another oc-
casion, ask gentlemen to elevate them.
selves TO the actual importanceand great
ness ofour republic +; TO reflect like true
American Statement, that we were not le-
gislating for the present day only and 10
contemplate this country in its march to
true greatness, when millions and milf
ons will be added TO our population, and
when the increased productive industry
will furnish'an infinite variety of fabrics
for foreign consumption, in order TO sup
ply our own wants. The distribution of
The precious metals has hitherto been
principally made through the crcuitous
channel Of Cadiz. No one can foresee
all the effects which will probably result
from direct distribution of them from
the mines which produce them. One of
these effects wilprobably beto give us the
entire command of tie main trade. The
advantage we have OH the map of The
world over Europe, in that respect, is pro-
digious, Again, if England, persisting in
her colonial monopoly, continued TO oc-
clude her ports in the West Indies to US,
and we should, as hecontended we ought,
meet her system by a countervailing
measure, Venezuela, New Grenada, and
other parts ofSpanish America, would af-
ford us all that we get from the British
West Indies. He confessed that he des-
paired. for the present, of our adopting
that salutary measure. 1t was proposed
at the last session, and postponed. Ii
was during the present session again pro-
posed, and, he feared, would be again
postponed. He saw, and he owned it with
infinite regret, tone and feeling in the
councils OF the country infinitely below
that which belonged to the country. Ii
vas perhaps the moral consequence of the
eXertions of the late war. We are alarmed
at dangers, we know not what, by spec
tress conjured up by our own vivid ina
giDations.
The WestIIndia bill is brought up. We
shrug our shoulders, talk of restrictions,
non-intercourse, embargo, commercial
warfare, make long faces, and postpone
| the bill. The time will however come
must come, when this country will not
submit to commerce with the British
| colonies upon the terms which England
alone prescribes. And, he repeated, that
wheR ii arrived, Spanish America would
afford us AID ample substitute. Then, as
TO our navigation gentlemen would re-
collect that, If reasoning from past ex-
| perience we're safe, for the future our great
commercial rival will be in war greater
number of years than she will be in peace.
| Whenever she shall be at war, and we are
in peace, our navigation, being free from
the risks and insurance incident TO war,
we shall engross almost the whole trans
portaiion Of the Spanish American com
merce. For he did moi believe that that
country would ever have considerable
| marine. Mexico, the most populous part
of it, bad but two ports, La Vera Cruz
and Acapulco, and neither of them very
good. Spanish America had not the ele-
| meats to construct marine. Ii wanted
and must always want hardy seamen. He
did not believe that, in the present improv-
ed state of navigation, any nations so far
south would ever make a figure as mari
lime powers. If Carthage and Rome, in
ancient times, and some other states Of a
later period, occasionally made great ex-
eriions on The wafer, il must be recollect-
| ed, that they were principally on small
theatre, and IN totally different state OF
The art ofnayigalion, or when there was
no competition from northern states.
lie was aware that, in opposition TO the
interest which he had been endeavorina