Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-06

more energetic than three years embar-
go. Very soon af:er the closure of our pnrts,
L did submit to the consideration OF the
Senate, proposition for the appointment
of the committee 10 institute an enquiry TO
this end. But my resolution met no encou
ragcment Attempts of similar nature
have been made ia the house OF representa-
tipes, but have been equally discouutenan-
ced, and from these determinations by de-
cided majorities OF both houses. i am not
sufficiently confident in the superiority of
my own wisdom to appeal, by topical APP
Plication TO the congcnial feeling of any
one; not even OF my own native section of
the Uuion.
The embargo, however, is a restriction
always usdcr our own control. 1t was
measure altoe ether of defence, and Of ex-
pertinent. 1t it was injudciousy or over
hastily laid, it has been every dav since It's
adoption open to repeal If IT should prove
Intellectual for the purposes it was meant
10 secure. a Single day will suffice to unbar
the doors Still believing it 4 measure JUS
tined by the circumstances Of the time, /
an ready % adm. that those who thouyht
otherwise may have had wiser foresight
ct events, and : sonnder Judgment of the
then existing state OF things than the ma
Jority Of The national legislature, and the
president. 1t has been approved by seve-
raj of the state legislatures, and among the
rest by our own. Yet of all its effects we
arc sill unable. to judge W tn certainty. Ii
must still abide the test Of iuturty. | shall
add that there were other motives which
had their operation IN contributing to the
passage OF the act, unnOtiCed by Mr.. Pick
ering, aud VIII CHI having now ceased will al
50 be LETT unnotced by me. The orders, {
Council of the 11tn Nov still su5sist in all
their force; and are now confirmed, with
the addition OF taraff0n, by act of parlia-
ment.
AS they stand in front Of the real causes
tor the embargo, SO they are entitled 10 the
same pre- emlnencc In enunerating the can
rc5 ofhostlity, which the British ministers
are accumulating upon our iorbearance.
lhey s.rke at the root of our independence.
Ihey assume the principle that we shall
nave no commerce in time OF war, but with
her domnions, and as tributaries to her.
The exclusive confinement Of commerce 70
the mother country, IS the great principle
Of the modern colonial system and shou. a
we BY dereliCtion of cur rights at this mo-
meutous stride Of encroachment, surrender
cur commercial freedom without a srur
gle, Britain has but single step more 10
take, and she brings us back 10 the stamp
act and the tea tax
YCt these orders--.hus fatal to the liber.
ties for which the heroes OF our revolution
to.ied and bied-thus studiousiy conc called
untii The moment when they burst upon our
heads-tnus ISSUED at the very instant when
= miss!o" OF atonement was prolessedly sent
--iu these orders y are 10 zee nothing but
" retail. atIng oraer upon France"-in these
orders, We mus, not find So ouch as a cause
TgtIIr &c H..
pla'Et against q Britain.
To ny mind, sir, in comparison tn those
orders, the three Causes 10 which MIR Pick
limits Gus grouods for rup-
ture wan Engiand, might indeed be Justly
Nominated hretenceS-lnc comparison with
them, former aggress.ons sunk into insIgni-
tcance. 10 argue upon the subject of our
disputes w,.h B.ithn, CT upon the embar-
go, and Keep them out OF SIGHT, is like law
ins your finger over the unit before Sc
ries ot thoughts, aud then automatically pro-
wing hat they are all nothing.
Ii is now however in mere omission.
nor yet IN the history o. the embargo, thai
the inaccuracies of the statemeDs am cx-
aiming nave given me the most serious
Concern 1t is In the view taken Of the uues.
tons in controversy between us and Bit.
ain. The wisdom Of the embargo is "a cues
tl"h vi great Dut transient magnitude, and
omission sacrifices no national right. Mr.
Pickering's object was to dissuade the natl
on from war with England, into which lie
suspec ed the administration was pluIcing
us, under French compulsiUn. But the ten
dency OF his pamphlet IS 10 reconcile the ma
ton, or at eas. the commercial 5 ates, to
the servieude Of British project on, and war
with all the rest of Europe. Hence Ene.
land is represented as contendirc for the
common liberties of mankind and our only
safeguard against the ambition ana ;nins
tlce oi France. Hence ali our sensibiit,es
are invoked N her favor, and ali our anti
pathies against her niagonist-Hence too
al the subjects OF difference between US and
Britain are ailedged to be ON our part mere
fire'ences, OF which the right is uneauivo-
caiiy pronounced to be on her aide. Pro-
ceeding from senator Of the u. S. special
ly charged as member OF The execut We
with the maintenance of the nations righ.s
against foreign powers, and at moment
extremely critical OF pending negotiation
npon all the points thus delineated, this for
nal obaHdoH1neHE OF tile American cause,
this SUMMONS Of urcondition, surrender 70
the pretens ons OF our antagonist. is in my
mind ghly alarming 1t becomes there.
fore a duty TO which every other considera.
ton must Yield 70 point Out the errors of
tnis representation. Before we strike the
standard Of the nation, let us at least exa..
mine the purport of the summons.
And FIRST, with respect to the Impress
mt Of ga co. -