Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-24

of the embargo laws, is giving these hcnest
fellows a safe ASYLUM. but sir, these are
not the only good effects Of the embargo.
1t has preserved our peacs---it has saped our
honoy--it has saved ouf national audepe'',
.deace. Are these savings notworth notice!
Are these blessings not worth preserving
The gentleman from Delaware, Mr.. Whlte)
has. indeed, told us, that under the embargo
laws the United States are bleeaing,at cpery
hare. This, surely, sir, IS one Of the most
extravagant effects that could have been as
cribed tothese laws by the frantic dreams OF
the most infatuated passions. Blood letting
is the last effect that ever expected to hear
ascribe5l 10 this measure. thought It was
of the opposite character; but it serves to
show that nothing is too extravagant Tor
the mis- guided zeal Of the gentlemen IN the
opposition. have cast my eyes about IN
vain TO discover those coplous streams OF
blood but / neither see nor hear any thing
of them. from any other quarter. 30 tar
from the United States bleeding al every
tore, under the embargo, il has saved them
from bleeding at any pore---and one OF the
highest compliments to the measure IS, that
{ It las saved us from the very calamity
which the gentleman attributed to 1t !; but
which, thanks to Our better stars and Wiser
ccunscls, does not exist.
The gentleman from Connecticut, Mr.
Hi,lhouse1 not content with describing the
general horrors Of the embargo laws, he's
addressed himself in plaintiye tones, to Sc
veral particular classes OF citizens and has
kindly informed each of his particular hard
ships and snfIerilgs. The gentleman asks
| What has become Of The merchant! What
| has become Of the farmer? know some
thing Of the SITUATION OF the tanner and as
to the merchant, ! had ieit serious appre-
tensions lor his situation, until they were
| mate rally relieved Is the information 81
| ven BY TIC gentleman. The gentleman tells
US the great capitalists 70 rot suffer; they
| arc IN tavcr OF the esnbsnSo but the young
dashing, enter pYizing merchant, without a
capital, is destroyed. This statement IS
/ highly honorable to the smbarSo laws, ana
groves great desl. The capitahst, VITO
[ has property, finds its security under the
embargo; he is therefore in favor CT the
measure but the merchant, who he's nc
1 thing, is deprived of an opportunity O max
/ ing something cut ofthat nolhing. But his
rights are not affected by the nlbargo; ne
/ is left in tie. enjoyment CT the nothing ne
possessed, and has no reason to. complain
! trhat the EMBARGO does not eiye binn seme-
! thing without laboTing tor It. I regret, how
/ ever, that these merchants, without capital,
have lost the chance OF making their for
| tunes by the embargo; but even the mosto
! these, the gentleman tells us, would Proba-
! bly, have become bankrupt, by their wild
speculat:ons, even il the embargo were not
| in being ard Of course, their situation can
not be much worsted by it.
But, MIR. President, / am willing to adj
| nit, that there are many worthy merchants
OF small capital, who do suffer by the sus-
pension ct their elnployIlents and am
very sorry fer them: but this suffering IS.
Incidental to every coerced state OF things
and it is attributable, not properly 10 the
embargo, Tut to he causes that rendered
It's adoption Indispensable.
The gentlemen, however, tells Us, with
the most synphathstic feelings, ti:at the
ships Of the great capitalists stle rottlng at
our wharves, ana vet these capitalists are
in favor Of the embargo. Why, Sir, this
is very plain case, wksa script OF its exag-
gerations. The ships ere precisely twelve
months older than they were twelve months
ago and the owners would rather have
them there, with this difference Of age and
proportionate decay, than to see. them torn
away by lawless plunderers, ard wholly lost
forever. But, sir, what would have be-
come of many of these capitalists, if it had
not been for the embargo? Their proper