The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-31
TIE ENQUiRER.
RICHMOND, DECEMBER 81, 1907.
THE EMBARGO.


The arguments which may be urged in
favour Of this energetic measure, are very d.
bly, explained IN tne observations which We
have quoreG from the Washington paper.--it
IS our intention to offer a lev additional re-
MARKS, tor the purpose Of c;tplaining the ma
ture OF this Embargo; AK cbyiallng some
objections which may be urged againstit
| This measure eIuplatica II addresses it
self to the spirit and patriotism OF the poo
pie. II fhey uphold it, the embargo vii. con-
tlnue TO operate until it leads to inc mos. sa-
iltary results Ii they oppose 1t, IL they MUIR
muir at 1t, il like children, they will not put
up with little temporary Inconvenience for
the sake OF obtaining some great ultimate
good it is in Vain that their government has
taken this dignihed stand.
Some embargoes are intended not ONLY to
preserve the property of the ration, but to
get their adversary's into their power. Bnt
this one, adopted only in the prudent spirit
OF precaution, operates upon our vessels on
iy, and not upon foreigners. The property
OF our adversary is permitted to escape.
How different is this measure from the fol-
lowing scheme OF the Embargo that was laid
in 1894
RESOLVED, by the Senate and House of
Representatives OF the u. 5. ct America, in
Congress assembled, That an embargo be
laid on all ships and vessels in the ports of
the I. .. whether already cared out or not +,
bound to any foreign port or place, for the
term OF thirty days; and that no clcarances
be furnished, during that time, to any ship
or vessel bound to such foreign port or place,
except ships or vessels, under the Immediate
directions of the President of the United
States. And that the President Of the United
States be authorised to grant such instructi-
ons to the revenue Offices of the u. States. az
ar hoe do
said resolution into full effect
Approved March %, 1894.
Other resolutions were afterwards adopt-
ed, relative to Coasting vessels and to Anne
rlcan vessels, which were permitted TO he
cleared out for ports beyond the Cape of G.
Hope.
This measure rests upon the strong and
irresistible reasons aud documents, commu-
nlcated by the President Of the u. S. These
reasons apply 10 France as well as to England:
these documents consist Of the opinion Of Reg
neir IA French Judge and q the British
proclamation. these papers menace The
safety ct "our UesSctS, our SeQ1ntH, and 1icy-
chanGfzc, on the higls-seas and elsewhere 5"
Under such circumstances it would have
been madness in our government not to have
drawn us into our own shell, and by this pre-
caution 70 have protected the persons and
property OF cur CCantiYTncn This is the
great object for which siAs embargo has been
instituted.
Neither France nor England can complain
OF this embargo. 1t does not affect their pro-
perry, because it is only intended to secure
our own. It's not partial TO either, because
1t equally Objects both. 1t is not adopted from
/ any wanton desire to lnjurc the interests of
either, but because that sense Of preservation
OIL which they, particularly England, have so
much insisted, loudly dcmandsit. But if it.
should injure either, let them rccollect that
II was forced upon us b. their own measures
Neither OF them therefore has any cause Of
complaint
From the peculiarly liberal provisions of
this embargo, as well as from the GENERAL
character OF such a measure, it is inpossi-
bic that itcan interrupt our negotiation with
u. u. or that she can Consider it as a lust
cause Of war.
This is measure, which is frequently
pracbSed by the powers of Europe, without
beng supposed to furnish any cause for ei-
ther hostility or even resentment in the other
nations. II a feet is about TO sail from any
port, and the government wishes to keep il
secret, the usual measure is an EMBARGO in
that port. If feet is in want Of seamen,
and they arc to be obtained by impressment,
nCthingis more common than an embargo -.
1t the nerchaat vessels Of one nation arc ex-