The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-29
TIL: JEFFERSON.
EMBARGO.

III: JEFFERSON.
EMBARGO.
ms IS strong measure proceeding from
the energy of the public councils, appealing
to the patriotism Of their constituents, an;, is
OF all measures the one peculiarly adapted 70
the Crisis. The honest judgement of all par
ties has anticipated and called for it.
he measure could no longer, in fact, be
DELAYED without sacrafcing the vital intere SITS
Of the nation -
Great-Britain by interpretations into the
maritime code operating on her enemies
through the violated rights of neutrals, fur
n'saed an occasion which was seized by the
French government for the decree of Novem-
her 1906, interdicting commerce with c..
| britain, which was adopted BY the allies of
france, particularly by Spain in her decree
| or February 1907.
The decree of November was followed by
the retallating British order of January 1907.
making war on all neutral trade usually car
RED on from the ports of one enemy to those
Of another.
France, again seconded by Spain and o.
Their allies, Is retalliating On this order, by
| new constructions extending their DEGREES TO
all trade from British territories or in Bri-
fish articles
And 1T is clear that if not already done.
u. Britain meditates further retaiiations'
most probably an interdict of all trade by this
country, (now the only neutral one) with the
enemies of G. Britain, that is to say with the
whole commercial world.
10 these destructive operations against
orr commerce, is to be added the late pro-
cianiatlon OF q. Britain on the subject of
seamen. This extraordinary instrument. in
stead OF relinquishing the pretention with
respect to ailedged deserters on board noti-
| o'i04 ShthS, extends It to all British sea0ueu
on BOAR. varying only the mode of process
ir''n that used by Berkely, to a redress to be
ootalnedby the government itself And with
respect to seamen on board merchant YES
SeiS, the proclamation has made it the dzty
OF all her sea officers to search for and sieze
an stch AS they may call British natives ::
whether wanted or not for the service of their
RESPECTIVE ships. From the proportion of A.
merican citizeus heretofore taken under the
name OF British seamen, may be calculated
ting number OF victims to be added by this for
maj sanction to the claim of British officers
anu the conversion of that claim into a du
n.y..
Thus the ocean presents field only where
no harvest is tobe reaped but that of danger.
OF spoliation and of disgrace.
Ohoer such circumstances the best to be
done is what has been done dignified re-
! lrement within ourselves a watchful pre-
| servation Of our resources; and a demonstra-
ton to the world, that we possess a virtue
and patriotism which can tahs any shape
| that Will best suit the occasion
1t is sinsularly fortunate that an cmbar-
go, whilst it guards our essential resources.
will have the collateral effect of makinpit the
interest OF all nations to change the system
which has driven our commerce from the o.
cean.
Great-Britain will feel It in her manrtac-
n i--Nc in hf.l ncc IS
all In the supplies essential to her colonies ::
to the number of which she is adding by new
c0nquests
| franc; VIII feel it in the loss of all those
colonial luxuries which she has hitherto re-
celved through our neutral commerce and
her colonies viii at once be cut off from the
sale OF their productions, and the source of
their supplies.
spain will feeiit, more perhaps than any,
IN the failure OF imported food, not making
enough within herself, and in her populous
ana lmPortahtco'onies which depend wholly
onus tor the supply of their daily wants.
1t is happy consideration also attending
TINS measure that although it will have these
elects, shlutary it may be hoped, on the po-
llcy OF the great contending nations, it affords
neither OF them the slightest ground for COM
'plaint. The embargo violates the rights of
none. Its object is to secure ourselves II &c
a measure OF precautioD not of aggression.
1t is rescrted to by all nations, when their
great interests require it, All of them have
made us on different occasions feel the effects
oil such resort on our commercial interests
And it could be the less inurmured at. bv
those who may be incidentally affected by the
present embargo inasmuch as they have
forced US into the measure, by the direct eff
feet on us, ct measures founded in an alleged
regard for their own Eventual safety and es-
scntlal interests.
q, But may not the embargo bring on war from
some OF the nations afFectedby it9 Certain
Ily not if war be not predetermined ON a.
gaihst US Being measure ofpeace and pre-
Caution; being universal, and therefore i'm
partial; extending in reality as well as os-
tensibly TO all nations, there is not a shadow
CT pTetcTt 70 make it a cause of war. Wa.
therefore, let it be repeated, cannot be the
result; unless it be in pursuance of prede-
termiEcd plan ofhostiiiy against this country
Whit not be an impediment to amicabie
negotiations with nations with which we have
unsettled differences Mot more than any
other prccaution not more certainly than
military preparations, with which depending
negotiations arc frequently accompanied, and
sometimes professedy armed. The po,icv
tof FreSi1cat Washington sent Mr. Jay into
| negotiation, with an embargo in his hand
Wculd the t.eSty be n3ade have been the