Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-01-22

tates of my " nbosnm alone, and never
to express a sentiment of appreciation
which did not animate nay breast. How
ever d~isasreeable they may be, shall
disregard the anathemas that have been
tn, own out on this occasion, i shallPursue
that course which my WI honor and
duty prescribes. Tho friend to the
resolution, and though I shall unite in a
vote for most of the preamble, l have
objections to- part of it,.
shall offer to the house a few re.
marks which considering my own age,
the peculiar situation in which I stand &
the precipitate manner in which the sub.
ject has been brought before the house,
must necessarily be desultory. have
promised when this subject arrived at
this stage to answer ZONE Of the remarks
Of my friends with respect to the attack
on the Chesapeake. My opinions on that
subject had already been expressed in the
public prints. With the rest of my eoun.
trymen, I thought our country insulted
and abused : | believed redress was
necessary; and though / am not now q
decided advocate of that measure (the
Embargo iii not therefore to be sup.
posed, that I am an advocate for that M.
ton, whose conduct towards this country
had ever been marked BY Carthageniaa
faith. Because | doubt the propriety of
voting with Congress, I would not there.
tore, (to use the favorite expression of
the preamble) ca1uer beneath 6. Britain.
What times are these! When we hear
gentlemen declaring that though We had
no right t legislate on this subject, we
mns. express the opinion of our eonsti.
tuents on its propriety-though there is
no time to deliberate, yet must We deci-
dsdly and promptly approve without de.
liberation. These times are hard in.
deed. They threaten every man stand
ing here as an independent representa-.
tive, with the vengeance Of their former
friends. They have declared there shall
be on neutrality, that I must unite in all
these measures, or abandon all the raea.
sures OF the administration. shall do
neither. shall side with those who &c.
Morally wisely administer the govern.
ment oil the u. States, but ] will vote a.
gainst any specific measures till it's wis.
dom has been proved. The question
before the House, relates to the embar.
60. To so much Of the preamble I shall
object, a. expTesses-a firm conviction Of
its prepriety. / do not mean to express
a decided opinion OF the subject ; but
merely to suggest my doubts. II there
are &u5ts, how can we express this de-
cided appreciation : and who, without an
enquiry which shall remove every doubt,
can believe that measure to be without
doubt, from which so many of that wise
body, (Congress) dissented
To develope clearly my sentiments on
subject, 1 must take a view some.
what retrospective of our situation when
this injury was done. What was our
situation! W. were in profound peace
when a dastardiy attack was made on Us.
What sentiments were expressedi Was
there not one universal sentiment of ex.
rcration of our enemies ? In these sem
I'ments l concurred. What was the re.
neral sentiment in another respect! Tha,
Congress would be Immediately called.
among others believed it the wisest no.
Icy to collect the sentiments ~ofthx.coun.
Try and to es neentrate their force. Be.
ieving that our honour called tor war,~FI
that body to be called which alone
had the power Of declaring it. There IL
tide in human Affairs which taken at me
Hood leads. to honour and advantage.
'hought it improper to wal, the ebb. The
government however thought. fperhaps
that il was best and not dis.
to wait the event of negocia.
" = =
My opinion is that when government,
to pursue that line of policy.
hey should have continued it and
hesitate about the policy Of this measure
It the moment that an envoy was expect.
ID on our shores. An embargo should