The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-10


has made none. But in this light, there APP
pears not only noreciprocity. but no assigna-
Die relation between the repeal by the United
States of a neasure Of voinntary selEresfrir-
non, and the surrender by his majesty of his
right OF retaliation against his enemies"
Here the embargo as measure of coercion
or retaliation on our part, is officially treated
by the British minister even with ridicule
he tauntingly admits, indeed, what is unfortu-
nateiy too true, thatft rs a regulation schich
GBecfS none Guf tie United States fHem-
sefUes /; and tells us that his majesty neither
does nor means to complain of it. And al
though the gentleman from Kentucky informs
us, he has not met with, yet have seen, a
recent report made by a French minister to
the emperor, in which the embargo is appro-
we'd OF and applauded, as what it really is, a
measure favorable to then, and an act Of
great selt-denial on part. Under all these
circumstances, and every gentleman here
knows the facts state to be correct, why in
the name OF Heaven continue 1t What bene-
neal end can it produce The country isat
this moment bleeding from every pore under
it, without the remotest prospect or probabi
lity OF ultimately deriving the least possible
advantage or security from the measure. And
1t Is not among the least discouraging of the
heienS;ns, 70 -he r,resen. sta.e
OF things, that we are able to make no calcu-
iation as to the probable time when we NAV
see the end of the evil; for upon the same
principle, that the embargois continued now,
1t may be continued for twenty or forty years,
or at least during the war between the two
great contending powers of Europe which,
presume, no gentleman here expects will be
ut an end in the life of the present emperor
OF France, and as long as an Englishman ex-
lists with the means and courage to defend tile
independence of his country.
am willing to believe, and do believe.
what the honorable gentleman from K entuckv
he'd just now in substance declared, that the
gentlemen who supported the embargo laws
at the last session upon this floor, supposed
they wonld be speedily productive of great &
oenchclal results upon our foreign relations /;
that they would bring the two great belliger-
ents, and especially England, to just and rea-
sonaole terms; and that there would be no
occasion tor continuing them longer than till
they should be known on the other side of the
Atlantic. But in all this they now see and
Know their mistake they now know, from
the most authentic sources, that these iaws
nave produced no alteration in the conduct of
either France or England in relation to us !;
that IN tact, they are appiauded by the one,
andtreated with contempt and dcrision by the
oener, whilst we are ourselves the suffering
and bleeding victims of the rack upon which
we vanly expected to torture them.
IL is the tate OF humanity to err; the wisest
and the best of men are liable to it. And all
we seek OF these honorable gentlemen, now.
is TO come out openly, and acknowledge
lii the lace of the nation, the egregions
mistake into which they fell and unite wish
us III redressing the injuries and healing the
wounds they nave so unnecessarily inflicted
upon tner devoted country. make this APP
peal to them with the more confidence, be-
cause know every gentleman here has too
much character and patriotism to be inf,nen-
ced by the pride of opinion to wish to per-
sist in political error. will submit to YOU
MI. PRESIDENT, whether we have not before
us suihclent evidence to shev that the adni-
nistration themselves are now convinced of
the impoiicy OF this measure and would will
iingiy get rid OF it, if they couh do 20, consist
entiy with the character Of nfallibility they
WISE To preserve in the public opinion. Ide-
ducc this conclusion from tie offer they say
they have recently made to tke British gov
eminent to take off the embargo, as 20 them,
and continue against France, provided they
would rescino their orders in council. An Of
ferWhIch, If made unincumbered with other
terms, Is complete acknowledgment of a
convection OF error on the part of the admin
istration because, alter they had subjected
the country to all the deprivations and ruinous
effects OF the embargo for more than
SIX months, it was coming to the precise
SrounGwc were requested to take i'm relation
&c france, by the British government year
before the embargo was laid, in the famous
note OF Lords Holland and Auckland. to
Messrs Monroe and Pinkney, accompanying
the British treaty formed by those gentlemen,
All they then asked of us, was, that we should
mo- acquiesce in the palpable violations of
our rights, directed by the Berlin de-
cree, II attempted to be enforced - but
surely they have not contemplated more.
than II France did attempt to enforce that
decree, we would interdct all intercourse
with her, and continue our commerce with
Great Britain; which would be the effect of
the stipulation recently proposed.
ms proposition from the British govern
merit, however, in December, 1906, was
spurned with disdain and now when the
country is half ruined with the experiment of
perpetual embargo, such as believe was
never before practised upon any people, we
condescend to beg these very terms they re-
fused to grant then. Sir, the truth is. Tie
administration must now be convinced. thar
the embargo is injuring none but ourselves.
ana us 1t must eventually ruin if persisted
in. fregret too, this proposition was made
because it has furnished to Mr.. Canning an
opportunity of Offering a most sarcastic in
suit to the government of this Country. He
tens MIR. PiHkney, in reply to it, His Ma
Jesty would not hesitate 90 contribute i'm anv
manner i'm his power tn RESTORE to tLe .,..