Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-14
EMBARGO.
[Mr. Crewtords Speech continued

mans observations, it becomes proper to
notice not an insinuation, but positive de-
claration that the secret intention OF laying
the embargo was to destroy commerce, and
was IN state of hostility to the avowed in
ten1ion. This certainly is. a heavy charge.
In government like this we should act O.
penly, honestly and candidly the people
ought to know their situation and the views
Of those who conduct their affairs. tits The
worst of poliiical dishonesty to aelopta mea-
sure, and offer that reason as motive for it
whicllis not the true and substantial one
The true and substantial reason fer the en-
barge, the gentleman says he believes was
TO DESTROY commerce and on It's ruins to
raise up domestic manufactures. This idea,
/ think though not expressly combated by
the observations Of the gentleman from De
laware, NIr. White was substantially re-
futed by him. That gentleman, with great
elegance and something of sarcasm, applied
to the House TO know how the treasury
would be filled in the next year and OBJ
served that the present " incumbent of the
Presidential palace" would not dare to re-
sort to direct tax, because former adrai-
n;s.ration had done so and felt the effects Of
it, insinuating that the present administra-
ton cid not possess courage enough to at
tempt it. Now, ask, If they dare not
resort TO direct tax, excise laws and stamp
acts, where will they OBTAIN money? in
what way viii the pubic Golfers be filed p
The gentleman mlss acknowledge that ali
cur present revenue is derived from COM
r1srce and must continue to be SO, except
resort be had to direct tax, anu the gt n
tleman saws, we have not courage enough
for that. The gentleman from Connecticut
must suppose, if the gentleman from Dcla-
ware be correct, that the administration
seeks It's own destruction. We mus have
revenue, and Vet are tod that We wish TO
destroy the only way IN which it can be had,
EXCEPT By direct tax, a resort to which it is
asserted would drive US from the public SER
vice.
But ne are told with grave face that a
disposition is manifested to make this nea-
sure permanent. The states who call them
selves commercial states, when compared
with. the southern states, may eMphaucaiiy
be called manufacturing states. liie south
ern are not manufacturing states, while the
great commercial states are absolutely the
manufacturing states. IF this embargo syys-
tenn were intended to be permanent, these
commercial states would be benefited by the
exchange, to the injury of the southern
states. 1t is impossible for US to find a
market for our produce but by foreign COM
merce and whenever change OF the kind
alluded to is made, that change will operate
to the injury of the southern states more
than to the injury OF the commercial states,
90 called.
But another secret motive with which the
government is charged TO have been actuat-
ed, is, that this measure was intended and
is calculated to promote the interests OF
France. To be sure none of the gentlemen
have expressly said, that we are under
French influence, but resort is had to the
Expose of the French minister, and de-
duction thence made that the embargo wa:
laid at the wish Of Bonaparte. The gentle.
man from Connecticut told US of this Elk
pose for this purpose, ard the gentleman
from Massachusetts appeared to notice il
with the same view. Now we are told that
there is no danger of war, except it be, be-
cause we have understood that Ponapartt
has said there shall be no neutrals and tina
five repeal the embargo, We may expec
that ne Will make war upon us. And Thu
10 the only source from whence the gentle
man could see any danger of war. If thu
declaration against neutrality which is attri
buted to the Gallo emperor be true, and
nay be so, bis Gallo majesty could no