Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-03-18

extract o the PRESIDENT message OF
Dec. 81, 1909
1.-THE communications now made,
showing the great and increasing dam
gers with which u vessels, our sea-
men and merchandise are threatened
on the high seas, and elsewhere, from
the belligerent powers Of Europe, and il
being Of the greatest importance to Keep
in safety these essential resources, I deem
it my duty to. recommend the subject to
the consid. ration, Of congress, who will
doubtless perceive all the advantage
which may be expected from an inhi6i.
ton Of the departure of our vessels from
the ports Of the United States"
To prevent cur ships and vessels from
leaving their ports, for the purpose of
preserving them, as resources to meet
a state Of war, If that should ultimately
come, was all the president prefsssed
to have in view, all that he wished to do,
at least at that time. l state it to the
everlasting honour Of the minority on
that occasion and as long as I live I shall
be proud of the share l had in that ho.
nour, that to resist even that law, we
sat day after day and night after night.
l cannot, therefore, possessing now the
same opinion which governed me then,
opposed as I still am to the existence
Of the embargo act, I cannot consent to
go on, for the purpose Of extending the
operation of the evil more widely-for
the purpose of making that worse which
is already too bad. But this is different
from our embargo law: 1t is a non.in.
tercourse bill. The more the original
measure developes itself, the more / am
satisfied that my FIRST view oft was cor.
reefs. that it was a Sly, cunning measure.
That its real object was not. merely to
prevent our vessels from going out
but to effect a non-intercourse. Are
the nation prepared for thiss-H you
wish to try whether they are, tell them
at ono what is your object-tell them
what you mean-tell them you mean to
take part with the grand Paci6cator, or
else stop your present course. Do not
go on forging chains to fasten US to the
car Of the Imperial Conqueror.-IHere
Mr.. Smile, Mr.. G. w. Campbell, Mr..
Montgomery, and several others rose
together, some calling to order, and o.
theirs very s~pitefully hoping the gentle-
man might proceed.
The Speaker hoped the gentlema
wouldkee within the rules Of propriety.
Mr.. GARDENER hoped the Speaker
would keep order in the house three
gentlemen were still standinxl for (said
Mr.. g. it is impossible for me, sir, to
speak and keep order in the house at the
same time. THE confusion having
ceased, Mr.. GARDENER proeeeded.] II
the gentlemen have composed them.
selves and are in a condition to hear, I
will proceed. wish first, however, to
put them at ease on one point. They are
not Of sufficient importance to have been
the objects at whom I would level a
thing. assure the gentlemen I did not
mean then. ..>
This sir, whatever name or complex
ION it may bear is in fact, a non.inter,
course biH.-The measure il proposes
can be ofno possible benefit to us-It has
nothing in it to render palatable the dis
tress it must bring on a very considerable
Of "a citizens. I object parti-
against the fourth section. 1t
forbids. the expectation of our produce By
Lan6i in which mode there is no danger
of capture. When we passed the embar-
go act, it was not done with a view to stop
trade, but was professed to be done with
view to keep safe our The
stopping Of trade BY water was not the u
object, however il may have been the in .
was an evil ueee.sariiiyy@Sres ul,iug from it.
The majority were willing to endure this '
evi! in considerations of the eventual
good which would result from keeping
Gas the President expresses it) in safety.
our essential recources. Bat as oue
mad measure usually begets more, so, in
the present instance, it has happened,
that the original object of the embargo,