Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-29


} and proofs, too abundant to need reiteration.
The General Assembly view the restrictive
system they establish rs palpahly at variance
with the obvious spirit of our federal com
pact. A settled policy of tte government. to
foster by bountes, or restrictive regulations
any individual ar par;i,l Interest ofthe union,
inevitably subjects other Interests go burdens
more or less onerous And which To be en-.
dnred with patience, car in any manner tolc-
rated, should either by their direc; operation.
or remote and certain results, not only restore
the losses incurred by the fe,trreti interests
but hold out fair prospect Of permanent, aud
laccumulatinS gain 10 all. The measures n
0opted by the u. States, with the a,owed Oh
Ject of coercnS Great Britain int,i rclinnnis,,
ncnt of her colonial SYSTEM operate eyclu-
siye'y for tie benefit III Gay benefit accruesl
OF the shipping and manufacturing interests
whilst the whn,e weight AID cost OF the effort
Is thrown upon agriculture, and the other
branches reproductive industry-pmmediately
connected with that main artery of public
wealth, and national power. This, il not di-
reciiy opposed tn the cardinal principles of the
compact, Is unqurstionably calculated 10
weaken the great ties, which bind together
the several members ofOur confederacy.
In the present state of the commerce of the
world, this restrictive system of our govern
ment IN relation 10 the British West Indies
amounts almost to Il total exclusion of all To-
reign demand, for many of our most valuable
| productions both ofagriculture, and the forest
Indian corn, lumber and many other articles
composing the principal resources of the east
ern section OF the state, are entirely shut out
from market ; and, in fact the whole OF our
export produce ia most heavily burdrned by
ITS operation. 1t thus lays large portion of
the country under oppressive cxaction, and
deprivcs thousands of their Ordinary, and, in
deed, only means of comfortable subsistence
And was there any substantial ground to hope
lis ultimate success, in attaining the objects
aimed ut, Is there any thing in the advantages
which may accrue to the navigating and other
favored interests, To remuneratc either direct
" or remotely the suffering portion of the
Union, tor the immense sacrifices incurred
w ere iha utmost hpo"s VI our government re-
aized-by forcing Great Britain 10 abandon
her colonial sysiem-the General Ass ,mbly
would still be unable 10 discern in that sue
cess, any thing approaching an equivalent. to
recompense the injuries sustained by Virginia
ana some OF hcr sister states. Ii this system
operates either 10 cut off altogether from the
British Colonies, the supply of articles for
| winch, IN Tree intercourse, they lock to the
u. States or by the circu!o,s channels thro'
winch they are procured, To render the charg-
es upon them exnrhilantly high. the probable.
| lnd almost certain effect will he, To curta in
future the demand for such articles rs well by
suppresslng, in some degree, the wants that
create II, hs by ope"lnS new, and perhaps flor
many aricies) more liberal sources ofsuppiv
This result would, unavodahy, inaict incurl-
Die injury upon ali that portion Of the Union
which, IT is admitted, supports the whole bur
uen oil the systen--aad the profit secured ~
other portions (whatevcr it might bel could
not turnishadeqnatc Indemnity for such injury
But the hope entertained that Great Britain
VIII be forced, by the pressure of Our resiric-
| i've laws, to abandon her colonial system, is |
believed To he entirely deusive. We have
the open aud repeated declaration of her mi
nIstry, that it will neither be abandoned nor
relaxed. An equal participation in this trade
we have 10 good reason TO expect, she will
ever grant IN exchange, for IN unrestricted
commerce with any nation. The free access
OF her vessels 10 our ports, with the produc-
/ Tons OF her West Indian Islands, though of no
small Importance Ia her, she will not be dis
posed to enjoy al the expense of giving up a
system she may righBjdy maintain, and
which constitutes IN essential link in her ge-
neral scheme Of commercial policy. The u
States, a sovereign, independent aud rival pow
er, have no reasonable ground 10 calculate up
III, when forming, as they once did, por-
lion OF the British empire--a colonial apuan-
dage-but re'y partial departure from that
system was ever granted in their favor Were
these colonies dependent upon the u. States
ercs@Sirety, for the supply oftheir most press
ing wants: who can doubt that the supply
would be- had, notwithstanding the obstacles
lnierposed by our prohbtory regulations !?
Nhaf they may absolutely require of MS will
be furnished indirectly, whensoever our laws
forbid a direct intercourse. A free port, it APP
pears, has been lately opened by the British
a government, ON our very border, showing
clearly the facility Of drawing such supplies,
as they may deem IL, at any time, eXpedent
to procure from us.
The General Assembly repeat that they do
not Pretend on this occasion, to enter into
any detail of argument, or facts-either To
shew the utter futllity of these acts of Con-
gress, as regards the policy of the British go
vernment, or their pcrnicious Influence ON the
T substantial resources, of no uconsiderable
, port onof the States ofthe Union Wilnouf
the remotest prospect of inducing England
to relax her colonial system, il does not ap-
pear, that they are likely TO achieve for the
/ United States-apy great point of public no
hcy. Ihe experiment has had fair, and il
may be added, decisive trial II man be
attended with some profit to the shipping in
tcrest: But great Or sDfall-it is obtained 1T
price too heavy, since il Imposes most
burthensOnle tax on other interests certainly
not less important, and presenting at least an
eqUi ciaim TO tie fostering patronage Of the
legislative councils.
The General Assembly cannot, for Il mo.
meDt believe that their desire To- relieve the
people of Virginia, of the pressure oftlcse acts
0i Congress, viii be nisi0terprcted into any
want OF sensibilIty to the navigating interest
: OF the country. Our ships aud scamen are
emncntiy entitled, to the most liberal atten.
ton at the government Yet H. is not con-
ecived just, that agriculture, and other promi-