The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-02

CrccS are contrary To the rights or the Ame-
rcan people the pledge is, that we will
not submit. AS to the assertion, can there
be any question The belligerent powers
do not pretend to vindicate their encroach-
ments as their own rights they ground them
on necessity; and their ministers here would
countcrsign such a declaration tomorrow.
And as to the pledge-what is meant by sub
mission! The neutral submits when he does
that thing which the edict commands; and
he does not submit when Ire does not do that
thing which is commanded. The pledge,
therefore, contained in the resolution, going
to an abandonment of the present policy is
clear and Ineligible.
The French DEGREES say you shall not
trade with G.. Britain the British orders say
you shall not trade with France but orr
government by the embargo says, you shall
not trade with either This, sir, is
doing o0...5.s,iit,Ll, IL
is an act of slavish supererogation it is "a
bandoning our rights at their beck. The re-
port seemed to imply that there were no other
nations. but Great Britain and France, and
we cooperate in their schemes of deprivng
each other of trade. This is not merely kiss
sing the hand that strives to injure you, but it
is putting the foot upon your hcad-If, sir,
this view of the case be true in terms, it is
also true as it relates to the object to be eff
fected by foreign policy. France attempts
by her restrictions to compress Great Bri-
tain--And what do you? You do all you can
to consolidate yourselves with the continen-
tai powers of Europe, and compress Great
Britain likewise. Mr.. Quincy begged gen
tlemen to recollect that he took the admi-
nistraton upon its own grounds-upon the
presumption that it had dealt impartially be-
tween Great-Britain & France-G reat- Bri-
tain attempts to prohibit all commerce with
France, and therein had two objects; 1st.
to produce discomfort among the people of
continental Europe and 2dly. to destroy
neutral commerce. What effect has the EN-
barge 1t is in direct cooperation with the
British. Great-Britain thereby enjoys the
very commerce which you have thus aban-
doned. Bonaparte, too, is very happy at our
proceedings. The interests of these United
States had been laid at the footstool of the
British monarchy, and if we were colonies
we could not do more. Upon the principle
that the present policy Of this country is an
abandonment of our commercial rights, the
question hung heavy upon his palate but
viewing it in the light in which he had eX-
planned it, he would take it as the harbinger
of a new day; as the beginning of new mea
sures.
Mr.. quincy SAID he would have closed here,
the report and the resolution. The report
specifically sanctions the continuance of the
embargo Whenever he touched that subject,
it seemed as ifhe stood upon magical ground
and knew not how to express his wonder.
When he came from Massachusetts, the SEN
timcnt of repeal was universal mot SO much
indeed, that it would be repealed, as that it
had already been removed. And in addition,
another sentiment was universally prevalent,
among men of various political sentiments,
which was, that it could not be continued. ]
arrive here (said Mr.. Quincy ) and hear the
lamentations of the great inchanter-I feel the
spell-the scene opens-and am called upon
to forget all my previous recollections--tod de-
nv my senses & am informed that the embar-
go may be contiAued, & that for an indefinite
time some assert for period of six months,
some for one year; and one gentleman from
North Carolina AYERS that he would rather
have an embargo for three years than to go
to war. A gentleman from Virginia had
uttered a sentiment expressive of his wish
that the embargo might never be taken off
till the orders and DEGREES were revoked
Sir, is this house mad? Are gentlemen touch
ed with that species of insanity which we are
told prccedes distinctions Mr.. Quincy dwelt
upon the close dependence which the n. f..
states had upon the ocean, and of the terri
bic consequences which might result from
the continuance Of an unlimited embargo
He adverted to some observations made by
one of his colleagues when the doors were
closed, wherein the gentleman had said he
had travelled through New England but had
not found that the embargo had produced
such tragical effects as he had the honor to
state. His honorable colleague had travel
led, in reality from Hudson to Stockbridge
from Boston to Berkshire, perhaps--he had
gone from inn to inn and found West India
articles high, and home productions at re-
duced price, so that the thing was pretty
we'll eqnalzed But has he travelled on our
sea board, Has nc visited our cities gene
rail-. Hashe seen our ships rotting, stores
abandoned, industry paralyzed? Hope, (said
Mr.. Quincy has fed from these places
He dwelt upon the misfortunes of the mer-
chants, the ruin Of the mechanics (; and OBJ
served that his powers were inadequate
truly to describe the scene. He said other
gentlemen might take their own RESPONSE
bility he should take his the embargo could
not be enforced for material period of time
longer: he meant nothing like insurrection,
but adverted to very different state Of
things. He believed there was an authority
superior to that of congress a controui OF
nature and the constitution. If this body
(said he) should decide that the atmosphere
should not exist. that water should not flow
and that heavy bodies should not descend, he
kol;evad notwithstanding tho oraye auth Ori-