Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-21

would be deserted by their inhabitants or
change produced in their agriculture,
ruinous 10 their commercial interest. The
people of the u. States are in a very diff
ferent situation. The British West India
market Is convenient, but not necessary
10 their accommodation. All the articles
imported from them can be procured "a
bundantly, upon terms equally adyanta-
geouS, from other quarters. The annex
ed tables, marked ID and T., show tn. "a
mount of imports Of the chief articles of
their product from the British West IT.
dies, &c. and the proportion it bears To
the whole amount of imports of similar
articles from other West IHdia islands, &c.
Many OF these can be, and are procured
from other quarters OF the world, with
which commerce III American vessels Is
not restrained. The demand for all can
be supplied without "A recourse TO the Bril-
fish West India islands, and supply from
other quarters will he obtained by the
employment Of American vessels and A.
merlcan Seamen, IN common with the YES
sells and seamen of the country from
which it may be brought. The only
danger TO be apprehended is, thattbe Gull
tirator, losing the British West India mar
ket for the sale of his exports, would lose
with ii the ability 10 procure the commo-
TIC TCCcINtu III
The extent oil this danger depends up
OH the correctness OF ine position laid
down-thai this commerce as essential TO
the British West India Islands, and Only
Convenient 10 the u. States. If The ueces-
saries of life can only be, or are procured
on terms infinitely more advantageous
here than any where else, il follows they
will still be carried TO the British West
Indies, if not directly under d convention
between the two governments, cIrcuItoLE-
~ ilro' some mutually friendly port. Ii
isperfectly true thai The West India Islands
are capable of produclEg all That Is neceS.
sary for their own Subsistence but this
must he at the eXpencc of their CONNER
Ciat Importance ; The abandonment of the
most profitable, for, to them, an unproiil
able cultivation. The general use and
consequent high price Of Wesi India pro-
duce, Will ensure continuance OF ile III
sual course OF agriculture, a3d will, as
heretofore, operate as bounty upon tile
growth of bread stuffs in the u. States
In favorable seasons and in peaceful times,
Europe affords surplus OF human ali
ment, and supplies are to be found OF tile
African coast OF the Mediterranean bui
these come loaded with the Increased ex-
pences and tire dangers ofihe heightened
transportation of heavy articles. In ibe
event ot one of those desoiatiDg tempesis
Ofhut 100 frequent occurrence in these o.
therWise favored regions, destroy lDgIn an
instant the labors of 4 life, aud scattering
the boards collected by prudence for the
subsistence of the colony, TIE distance
from these places OF relief renders timely
assistance TO the unfortunate impossible
The North American coloni; cannot fur
nish these necessary supplies. The ma, l.
CATION of the principal river which cares
the greatest portion of her stores to the
ocean, is closed the better part Of The
year, aud is not prac tca BILE at that season
which is usually marked by these calami-
ties. Ii is believed, too, that by far the
largest portion of the apparent exports of
Canada of bread-stufis, and even OF lum-
Der, &c. are carried from the u. States.
There must be at alltimes dependence,
TO a certain extent, upon this country.
And If d conventional relaxation is not
produced by prohibition of this direct
intercourse, or the imposition Of such
charges as shall amount almost 10 pro-
hibition, il follows that the trade viii be
circutous. In this event, the export trade
instead of being carried on exclusively IN
British bottoms, will be prosecuted IN A.
merican vessels, and the vessels of that
foreign nation in whose ports The parties
may, by tacit arrangement, meet for the
exchange of their commodities. The re-
turn cargoes, if of British growth, iii,
under the navigation act of the United
States, be brought wholly In Amer can
vessels.
The only question remaining to be ex-
amined is, as TO the mode of elfecting ilis
desirable result--By total prohibition of
all intercourse, or by burdensOme charg-
es on the trade, if confined TO British ves-
sells Z? The committee believe that the
latter is to be preferred, and have accord
ingly reporteda bin. There is no essen
tal difference between them, eXceptas the
one or the other is more or less inconve-
nieDt i'm lis execution. The effect Of one
ROM duties is more slow, but equally GER
tain the pressure will soon be felt and
the beneficial consequences gradually fol-
low. The stream OfcOmmeTce will easily
and naturally flow into tile desired chan
mel, without The risk of those dangers
which sudden and violent effort to di-
vert il might produce. A short time will
prove the efficacy OF this arrangement,
and justify It's continuance, modification
or abandonment Iiis recommended too
by its facility Of execution. II requires
no further alteration in the existing laws
II is nOt necessary TO arm for lis enforce
meni, the petty officers of the customs
with powers dangerous and odious 10 a
free people.
For further and more detailed iHlorma-
ton on the subject Of This report, the com
mittee refer the House TO document,
marked +, furnished from the Department
of State.
accompanying this report, was the
bill which has been already announced