These were, a diminution of American commerce with one nation, by its proportional augmentation with another; and a repeal of the navigation act, and of the colonial system of Great Britain.
On the subject of forcing trade from one nation to another, which is, of necessity, so complicated in principle, so various and invisible in consequence, the legislature should never act but with the utmost caution.

They should constantly keep in view, that trade will seek its own markets, find its own level, and regulate itself much better than it could be regulated by law.

Although the government might embarrass it, and injure their own citizens, and even foreign nations, for a while, it would eventually rise above all the regulations they could make.

Merchants, if left to themselves, would always find the best markets.

They would buy as cheap and sell as dear as possible.