Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-11-29

man was capable OF giving corTect view
Of the subject, and perhaps had prepared his
raipd on It. Mr.. S. confessed his own ne.
gligence in not being preparedi but i the
gentleman from MASSACHUSETTS, would give
a commercial view Of the subject, hoped
the gentleman from Vermont would with
draw hrs motion.
{. Mr.. Lloyd said that this was 50 inter-.
csting a subject that he could not be silent
onit. Whether he should give that chaste,
view Of the subject of which the gentleman
from MARYLAND was capable, he could not
say. IF the Senate would indulge him,
however, he would express those ideas
which immediately occurred to him on the
subject,
Mr.. Bradley withdrew his motion for
postponement.
Mr.. Lloyd said he considered the subject
now under discussion as one Of the most i'm
portant which had occurred since the adop-
tionsof the constitution. He considered it
as deeply duplicating the commerce of our
country--a commerce, which had afforded
employment to nearly million and a half
of tonnage; which had afforded sustenance
to many thousands of citizens; which had
furnishedto The government great support;
which disposed of an amount of exports e.
quail to one hundred millions of dollars, an
amount three times as great as was possess
ed BY the greatest commercial nation in the
world at the commencement OF the present
century, an amount Of exports equal to that
Of G. Britain within IS years of this day
a commerce not to be triAed with, not to be
offered up as the victim of fruitless expert
nent. No doubt it has been much harrass-
ed by the conduct Of the two beuigerents,
bat in very different manner by each
Look at one eonteuding as if for universal
dominion, the other as for her natale salit,n.
One processes reluctance at measures which
she takes in retaliation on her enemy; thes
other treats you cayalierly, undertakes to
legislate for you, tells you she considers you
at war with her enemy, arrests your proper
ty and retains it till she knows whether YOU
servilely echo submission to her mandates.
No doubt, Mr.. l.. said, the conduct of the
belligercnts had caused the embargo : but
if it should be found that it was fraught
with mischief to ourselves, and productive
of no beneficial effects, 1t ought to be with
drawn.
( MIR. L. said he considered the motion as.
--z-t Il 7,s.snx- measures
might be taken if this passed and he tru5:.-
ed that gentlemen who advocated repeal
of the embargo, might.not be considered as
opposed to measures tending to promote the
independence of the nation.
He considered this measure in three
points of view t
I. Afording protection to our commerce
and navigation.
2.sAs.a coercive measure on France and
6. Britain.
8. As to its effects present and future on
ourselves.
Mr.. L. said as to the first point he should
make but a few observations. He was not
disposed to indulge in retrospections. If
the embargo had been wise and efficient
measure, he was wiling to leave to those
who supported it all the credit to which it
would entitle. them. With regard to the
security afforded our seamen, it had pro-
duced an effect precisely contrary to that
calculated upon: because it was well known
that the ssarnen were daily leaving the coun.
try in great numbers. And as to navigasi-
ON, it was not very material whether our
vessels should have been sunk in the ocean
or should rot at oar wharves. In the one !
case they suffered destruction hv aconp-ds- |
grace in the other, BY long protracted tor
ments.
With regard to its effect on foreign natl /
ons, what had been its effect on France -
The gentleman from Connecticut had told
them truly that in his expose the French
minister calls it wise measure; and Mr..
L. said he had reason to believe that, in 7