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Editorial
March 2, 1813
Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes Congress for planning to repeal non-importation acts during war with Britain, arguing it sacrifices national honor, drains specie, boosts enemy resources, destroys American manufactories, and contradicts Jefferson's restrictive trade policies like embargoes.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
It will appear from the report of the committee of ways and means, published in this day's paper, that Congress, not content with sacrificing the honour of our country, by abandoning almost all the objects of the war, are about to take its second degree in the school of submission, by repealing the non-importation acts. The avowed object of this measure says the committee, is revenue as if by timely steps at the early part of the session, instead of wasting it in the war of words, this could not have been obtained by other methods.
Do the committee suppose the people are unwilling to pay taxes to support a war that is waged to defend their liberty, property and independence?
Have they reflected, that the consequence of this step, will be, the exportation of our specie, and the inundation of our markets with British goods? By these means, impairing our national resources, encreasing those of our enemy—putting money into the British Treasury, whilst it does little for ours'—and above all, annihilating our domestic manufactories, whilst it encourages those of our enemies?
Great Britain, we are persuaded, would rather be at war with us if the non importation acts are removed, than at peace, with them in operation.
She is thus enabled to destroy our commercial marine, which she has long viewed with an eye of extreme jealousy, and still enjoy the benefits of our commerce without hazard or danger to her merchants.
She can peacefully, we repeat again, make our resources tributary to her schemes of power and aggrandizement; and destroy the rising manufactories of America without the aid of FIRE.
How inconsistent are the acts of the present congress, with that policy which Jefferson approved and which brought him into power?
Formerly we resorted to Embargo—non-intercourse and other restrictive systems, to force Great Britain to do us justice—Now when we are at war with her, and it is more than ever important for us, to cripple her resources by destroying her manufactures and commerce, the wise men in congress, do all they can to encourage the latter.
Do the committee suppose the people are unwilling to pay taxes to support a war that is waged to defend their liberty, property and independence?
Have they reflected, that the consequence of this step, will be, the exportation of our specie, and the inundation of our markets with British goods? By these means, impairing our national resources, encreasing those of our enemy—putting money into the British Treasury, whilst it does little for ours'—and above all, annihilating our domestic manufactories, whilst it encourages those of our enemies?
Great Britain, we are persuaded, would rather be at war with us if the non importation acts are removed, than at peace, with them in operation.
She is thus enabled to destroy our commercial marine, which she has long viewed with an eye of extreme jealousy, and still enjoy the benefits of our commerce without hazard or danger to her merchants.
She can peacefully, we repeat again, make our resources tributary to her schemes of power and aggrandizement; and destroy the rising manufactories of America without the aid of FIRE.
How inconsistent are the acts of the present congress, with that policy which Jefferson approved and which brought him into power?
Formerly we resorted to Embargo—non-intercourse and other restrictive systems, to force Great Britain to do us justice—Now when we are at war with her, and it is more than ever important for us, to cripple her resources by destroying her manufactures and commerce, the wise men in congress, do all they can to encourage the latter.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
War Or Peace
Foreign Affairs
What keywords are associated?
Non Importation Acts
Congress Submission
British Goods
American Manufactories
War With Britain
Jefferson Policy
Embargo
Non Intercourse
Specie Exportation
Commercial Marine
What entities or persons were involved?
Congress
Committee Of Ways And Means
Jefferson
Great Britain
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To Repealing Non Importation Acts During War
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Congressional Submission To Britain
Key Figures
Congress
Committee Of Ways And Means
Jefferson
Great Britain
Key Arguments
Repealing Non Importation Acts Sacrifices National Honor And Submits To Britain
Measure Aims At Revenue But Could Have Been Obtained Earlier Without Submission
People Willing To Pay Taxes For War Defending Liberty, Property, Independence
Repeal Leads To Specie Exportation And British Goods Flooding Markets
Impairs U.S. Resources, Boosts Enemy's, Fills British Treasury
Destroys American Manufactories While Encouraging British Ones
Britain Prefers War Without Non Importation To Destroy U.S. Marine And Commerce Safely
Makes U.S. Resources Tributary To British Power Without Violence
Inconsistent With Jefferson's Embargo And Non Intercourse Policies
During War, Should Cripple British Manufactures And Commerce, Not Encourage Them