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

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"a great Eavcr, ffwe.car BE psr4ns,yca b,. slie
Presidents and mis- g,,a-boats. 60 sneak eiong
shore from olsesof our ports TO another, with
sss much -four and pork as we can cat OF. tire
passage. Sir, tnis is the next commercial
country of the world to England we are in
fact, inthis respect, their only competitors,
and whilst, as at present, they have an OPP
portunity OF -monopolizing all the commerce
of the world, do YOU believe they will ever
ask yQn 20 take off the embargo? No, sir.
This would be an act of madness in them,
equal almost to our continuing it. They do
not wish to meet upor Che ocean again their
Industrious and cnterprizing rivals. They
are nodoubt pleased to see us Stacking and
Gripping ourselves.
Much has been said by the gentleman from
Maryland General Smith,) on the subject
of tribute, and in manner do not well un-
derstand, unless it be, to retGrt upon the
gentleman his own language, ad captandum.
] wish it, however, to be distinctly under
stood, that no part of the commerce have
undertaken to shew the United States might
now carry on, would be subject TO any tri-
butte. wish it to be further understood
SIR, that would not ooly see this country
clad in home-sp but covered in sack cloth
and ashes, rather than that she. should con-
sent to pay tribute. i would see every com
mercial city upon our shores, and every rag
of canvas we hold, in flames. would see
our soil smoking with the best blood of its in
habitants, and the bones of our citizens min
gled with the ashes of their dwellings. rather
than see this people submit to pay tribute to
any nation on earth. trust there is. not in
either house member, who would not soon
er risk his life and spill! his blood, than give
a vote that should reduce his country to a con-
dition so slavish and degrading. And hope,
MIR. President, that no insinuation has. or will
be made here, calculated even to intimate
all idea, that the gentlemen of this body
who may vote for the repeal of the embargo
laws, would subject this nation to tribute.
Suchsan imsipuation would not only be un-
founded, liberal and derogatory of this floor,
but mother respects hight, unjustihable.
1t has been asked by the gentleman from
Kentucky, why donot those who oppose the
embargo propose some substitute Certain
ly ii cannot be expected of us to offer our
selves rs the pioneers of this Administered
OH but in reply to the question, will refer
gentlemen to confidential letter submitted
to the Senate few days past: Gentlemen
need not be alarmed, am net going to tell
what that letter contains. If any substitute
be necessary, in that is pointed out the one
j would adopt there is marked safe a
high and an honorable course, that if pursu-
ed, withourI believe, endangering our peace,
would add alike 10 our national character
ana our national wealth..
1t has been well observed by the gentle
man from Virginia before me, (Mr. Giles
thatit is time we were nationalized. The
sentiment was worthy of thai gentleman, and
one to which l entirely subscribed But is
the system, of which this measure is appre-
hended by many to be but the commence
ment, calculated to nationalize , No, sir,
much better calculated, l fear, to estrange
the extremes OF. the Unien from each other,
E. 4.
j deem it almost treason to think of and
that every honorable and Patriotic American
must view as the most calamitous course that
could be forCed upon this country. i beseech,
gentlemen, therefore, to beware how they
press this system too far. There is a sccti-
on, avery respectable and powerful section
OF this country, that with commerce is rich
and happy: deprived of that commerce,
large portion of its population must starve
That population expect, and as portion of
thecommunity, have right to expect, that
their only means of subsistence will be foster
cd and defended, and not sacrificed to manu-
featuring .whims,y or local Drejutlices / do
not mean to intimate, that the embargo
grew out of either of these causes; but the
continuance of it at present, under existing
circumstances, after the CALLING experience
we have had, and when it can obviously pro-
duce nothing but distress and embarrassment
lousies, that perhaps time will not allay. II
believe the people of this country would sub
NIT to any privations for the public good, but
they must first be convinced that the public
good requires the sacrifice. 1t must, it will
astonish every unprecedented and rejecting
man in the community if this ruinous mea-
sure is persisted in, after the experience
we have received, and when we have before |
Us the most conclusive and irresistible evi. |
tience to shew, that it is utterly inadequate |
to the accomplishment of any Of the objects
for which it was said to be intended. And !
conduct that cannot be accounted for on any |
reasonable ground is apt, however uniustly |
to be attributed to unworthy motives. trust !
therefore, thai gentlemen on their own ac-
counts Will not reject this resolution that |
they will, ut least, first deliberate and look |
toconsequences: that they viii feel we'll the |
public pulse, before by this rash prescrip- |
ton, they stagnate the national blood.