Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-31

Upon this report, therefore, the acts OF w hich
we are now speaking have BEEN passed. Their
principal enactments are two. BY the first 10
vessel is 10 be admisted into an American port
which shall come from any port INTO which an
American vessel would not equally be received
By the second, all vessels loading i'll an Ameri.
can port, with lumber or provisions in word
Win any produce or commodities for a colonial
maiket,) shall give soud that they are not
proceeding TO any island or pert, from which
american commerce is excluded. by the effect
OF both OF these prohibitions together, all colo
NAL supplyis therefore estirely prohibited and
our islands can no longer either fetch OF rece,ye
American produce.
There is reason TO apprehend that the effect
OF these laws upon the English COLONIES will be
very serious aDd mischievous, as their planta.
ITEMS have always been supplied, and their 20.
pulation fed from the adjacent Ame rican coast
Ii is said indeed, that in the short interruption
OF the late war, they procured the same supply
from our own British American posses sions
and that they may repeat the same method.
But In the first place. the uterrupt OF peace
was too shor, TO afford the due proof of the
su'hciency OF this supply; and secondly that
according to the memorials OF the colonists
themselves. Canada and Halifax are Totally in
adequate TO this purpose. Ii this 10 the actual
state OF things, we may expect a scene OF much
commercial distress, andsuch an increase upou
the price Of colonial produce as will be felt by
ali classes.
But, whatever may be the effects OF these
acts OF Congress, we have clearly no pretence
tG complain OF them as an injury, so long as the
congress shall exert only ID rightiui authority.
IL is an admitted principle. that every nation
mas right tn deal with whom il ple&ses, and
how II pieRses; and, so far as respects their
ewn lecfs-tO permit or restrain them ac.
cording 10 their own national views and ute.
rests. his constitutes the commercial liberty
ut natious in the same maDDer as buying and
selling at will constitutes the trading liberty
OF individuals. Ii is the part and the principal
part OF the first of all civil right-the right OF
mi % Intr L..
dealing, indeed, there may be friendship or
partiaiity, preference or equality. but upen
good or upos narrow views /; but, such mode
whatever u may be, Is but the result of the ex
erciSe OF an uAdonbted right and though the
suffering, or rather the unfortunate parties
may lament their own i'll luck, aud the un
friendly seitShness, as they term il, OF their
neighbor, they have no right TO regard this
sell preference as an injury TO them. AccoF.
dinghy, as respects the question Of right, We
have no remedy bur iosubmit and 10 await the
contest OF the two SYSTEMS ofproh. bitioB our
own navigation laws, and the prohibiiory acts
OF Congress.
1t is impossible, however. noi 10 lament the
further extension OF that prchib,tory system
which, IT 1t should become general will re
press The maritime growtli of many rising
states aud free towns, and wi!l deteriorate thai
condition OF general comfort which we derive
from The abundance ard cheapness OF articles
OF use and elegance. These restrictions will
entirely aunihilate the carving trade amongst
al nations, and will thereby produce that kind
OfinJuiy 70 general commerce, which in the
restriction 10 the sub division of labor would
eqnaiiy rSSuIt TO private trade. They will pre.
vent that return iadiDg, III which, by taking
commodities instead of ballast, the price of
freight itseifi is almost saved or at least is
iesSened ia going or returning. MANY com.
modltIes, las will now be the case with sugar
and coffee will be rendered unnecessarily
dear; and, in the same proportion, the general
means and comfort will be diminished, Ina
word, the extinction of the carrying trade. IN
der the English navigation laws, and that of
the fetching trade by these acts of congress
VIII eventually reduce commerce 10 The same
condition TO which internal trade would be
reduced, by confederacy amongst ali The
towns OF country not to have any carriers or
middle men-to buy only of the fir 81 hand-that
Is TO say, to put these irsthands into snch
condition as to compel them to sell dear i'm or
der to make up for the loss Of those facilities
OF winch they are SO absnrdly deprived
vi all The nations IN the world, the Ameri.
cans are formed to become, eventually the
equal rivals and competitors of England thev
are OF the same root and trunk with ourselveS;
their constitution is as good, because made af
ter the experience of our own; and il is absurd
10 imagine, that their understandings differ
more from us than their bodies aud persons
Ii always appears TO US unnatural, as we'll as
most absurd, to speak with any c0ntempt of
what's our own family-trans planted ONLY into
rsmote region.
Wew even say more we conceive that
Tie ihstitutionsin America, and particularly
the practice of government NAV afford mans
useful lessons to the more ancient cove rnments
OF Europe and that kings ana people NAV
learn, that governors are made for men, and
not mentor governors: that the first cOnside-
ration, every where, is the peopls and the
comfort of the people that there is TO very
close and necessary connection between the
expensive splendors of Princes and the bappi
ness OF the country; aN3 that the Americans
are free and happy, though their President
hangs the bride OF his horse 10 a paIe whiI.t
he enters the Congress. If America wants
something which We may possess, she, like
wise, Possesses much of which we are in want.
From tie Democratic PTgssI
Mr.. BINNs Il send yOu for publication, some
extracts, from manifesto, which has beeu
published by the French officers, who have
lately established Themselves on Trinity river
In the Province of Texas. 1t would seem from
the tenor OF the principles announced, dat
ihey nave taken possession as sovefeignS with
intention Of erecting an Independent power.
lhey nave constituted mihtaTy form of 20
vernmeDt, and declare il as their intention to
JnsiIil their occupancy Ofthe territory by arms
II will be recoected, that mary of those were
the persons, to whom Congress granted trart
of land in the Alabama tervitory. Oh terms so
very favorable. They have sold out their titles
TO spectators, and with the proceeds have
been enabled TO possess themselves, without
leave or licence, of the tract they now occupy
The United States claim the Province of Texas
to tie Rio del NOrte under the treaty for the
psTchsse OF Louisiana. The new Colony is
consequently Included in our territorial jnTis.
al of and I.asr