Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-09-14

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from theircalamitous conflicts, and by astea-
dy observance. of justice towards all, by
much forbearance, and multiplied sacrifices.
At length, however, all regard to the rights
OF others having been thrown aside, the bel
ligerent powers have beset the highway of
commercial intercourse with edicts, which
taken together, expose our commerce and
mariners, under almost every destination, a
prey to their fleets and armies. Each par
~ indeed would admit our commerce with
themselves, with the view OF associating us
in their war against the other. But we have
wished war with neither. Under these cir
cumstances were passed the laws Of which
you complain, by those delegated to exercise
the power ct legislation for you, with every
sympathy of common interest in exercising
them faithfully. In reviewing these mea-
sures therefore weshould advert to the diff
fculties out of which choice was Of neces-
sity to be made. To have submitted our
rightful commerce reproductions and tribu-
. tary exactions from others would have
been to surrender our Independence. To
resist them by arms was war, without con-
ssulting the state Of things or the choice Of
the nation. The alternative preferred by
the legislature Of suspending commerce
placed under such unexampled difficulties,
besides saving to our citizens their property,
and our mariners to their country, has the
peculiar advantage Of giving time to the bel
ligerent nations to revise a conduct rs con-
trary to their interests as it is to our rights.
6 In the event of such peace, Or suspen-
sion of hostilities between the belligerent
powers Of Europe, or OF such change in
their measures affecting neutral commerce,
as may render that Of the y. S. sufficiently
safe, in the Judgment of the president" he
is authorised to suspend the embargo. But
no peace or suspension of hostilities, no
change Of measures affecting neutral COM
merce, is known to have taken place. The
orders ofEngland, and the DEGREES Of France
and Spain, existing at the date Of these laws
and still unrepealed, as far as we know
In Stain indeed contest for the govern
ment appears to have arisen; but of its
course or prospects, we have no information
on which prudence would undertake has
ty change in our policy, even were the au-
thority of the executive competent to such
a decision.
You desire that, in this defect of power,
Congress may be specially convened. It's
unnecessary to examine the evidence or the
character of the facts which are supposed to
dictate such call: BECAUSE you will be
sensible, on an attention to dates, that the
legal period Of thei meeting is as early as,
in this extensive country, they could be full
ly convened by a special call.
l should, with great willingness, have
executed the wishes of the inhabitants Of
the town Of Boston, had peace, or repeal
Of the obnoxious edicts, or other changes,
produced the case in which alone the laws
have given me that authority; and so many
motives Of Justice and interest lead to such
changes, that we ought continually to ex-
pect them. But while these edicts remain,
thelegislature alone can prescribe the course
to be pursued.
TIL: JEFFERSON.
August s6, 1908.
O. a-