Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-06

evident that we risiss her. Does not the !,
gentleman himself prove sae corre ctness Of !
these conclusions, Has ne not fully sub. !
Stimulated what he SO laboriously attempt |
ed 20 controvert. The mode OF our res e.
lance, may. indeed. square w'th the po.icy
ot each OF the be!ngerenss ia some dsgtee
but this was unavoidable; for iet YOU adopt
wbGt N ssuve you viii against either os the
belligerents 1t will, neck ssarily, coincide in
SOM: respect with the views OF the other.
The gentleman seemed 10 be impressed
with tie notion that there was only one
mode OK resistance, and that unless we had
recourse to the sword there was no resis-
tance in the case. Mr.. Bacon referred to
the several species of animals, each of which
mad its respective mode of defence and as
sault. Because, said he, Great Britain
makes War with cannon and France with
the bayonet, is there to be no other kind OF
resistance! In the capture os fortresses,
some are taken by storm, some by siege
and by cutting OFF supplies. Why may We
not, therefore, pursue the latter mode, and
| by Withholding necessaries of life from our
enemy, induce him to do us Justice
The gentleman had taken upon himself
to answer for Massachusetts. I am (said
Mr.. B) astonished! 1 protest, sir, against
his authority IN that respect rs it regards
Massachusetts,, much more as it relates to
New England at large. II is true, that in
that quarter 1t is the general wish that the
embargo could be removed it is also nv
ardent wish that 1t should be raised If it Gun
be done consistently with the maintenance
OF our rights. Whether il were better to
raise II at the present moment or not is :,
question whica no candid, considerable man
IN Massachusetts has decided they RELY
al m lpt IL.
no interest 10 continuing the embargo, and
that the moment It Can be taken off with
safety and propriety it will be done. He
do not mean TO say the embargo was a DO
lpuiar measure IN New England; but that
tine idea did not prevail that it ought to be
taken on at al events. Whatever might
be the suit, he was confident the people
OF New England would tcquiesce and cheer
fully carry all suitable measures into effect.
The gentleman had spoken of the great en-
chanter, and had asserted that the mem.
bers OF the house (not to use precisely his
own eXpression) are parcel of be iianites.
l recollect (said Mr.. =. } something in Ho.
ly Writ, where it had been said to a rever.
end parsonage that too much learning had
made him NAL; out the madness was on
the other SIDE Does the gentleman mean
to insinuate that this house is guided nv an
rious control? Such ,allusions ought not 70
be made. The clamor that the ocean was
about to be abandoned ought to be hushed
the alarm ought no more to GO forth. Mr.
bacon was sorry TO see such representations
sanctioned by any gentleman who had the
honor or 4 seat ON that floor.
| with respect to the tragical effects ofthe
embargo, and the allnsion winch his COLI
iergnc mad made 20 his travels throue
Massachusetts, can tell him (said Mr. IA
:. con) that have once or twice travelled
iron the seaboard to the extreme western
frontier, and am enabled TO saw that the
picture drawn by the gentleman is over
charged. lie had not seen the cities de.
serted, nor the grass growing in the streets,
nor the 'nhaoltants starving. He had in
ueeu seen industry at stand, he had seen
shPs lyi'S at ne wharves: But lie had
ioo''u 'iie merchants not complaining at the
sacrihce, but rather in general aporobatiny
the policy ofthc embargo. He mad CONVEX.
seq with mercha8ts, and seen their reDre-
sensations in print on the subject, and his
lcoleaSue had doubtless seen them too-Oo
inc great subject which at present agitated
Ithe "at'on, there was as much unanimi as
gould ne expected; public opinion was not
eh'lfeiy unanimous; Ou certainly as much
soas Il had ever been on any question of ST.
miiar moment.
Nr. Bacon did not pretend to saw there
dlu not exist much embarrassment among
all classes. The iact was too broad TO he
denied the wound too deep to be overlook
cd bu. IN representing the case, there had
been much deception, much delusion. THE
od'dm'ues OF our present situation wer,
compared with n situation of profound neace
@nen t1e commerce of the u. States had a
iree scope This was altogether uncandld
WIN any gentleman say that If any other
mode had been pursued towards the bslI;-
gerents evils equally oppressive would not
nave accrued The true comparison lies
De'ween the pre@en system of eoycrnment
ana a course of actual war, and not be-
tween the embargo and peace. Will any
one say that he loss and suffering has been
as great under the embargo as they would
nave been during similar period of war ,
Inc gentleiHtn says imperativeIy that
inc embargo must be repealed. And what
are his reasons Extraordinary, indeed I
because II cannot be enforced because the
vioiators cannot be rendered odious much
longer. Ii such an argument was TO inau.
ence ths house, Mr. Bacon believed il would
be Tor the first time. That dissatisfaction
prevailed, Mr.. Blcon did not pretend 20
/ deny but was it To be wondered ats was
II strange there should be dissatisfaction
"hen suCh uncommon pains were taken to
excite Il! To goad on opposition 10 the
governments, not only hv anc,yro,.,c 49,. =