Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-06


oifer snoje sons i'm favor of lts continu- !
ance. Itmight here tter become questi- !
on, and he SaSuh I've willing TO take it off
whenever he waspersuaded the nation would |
reap niure advantages from its abrogation
than its existence.
Mr.. Bacon said lie had on former occa-
sion re;rained from troubling the house with
any observations concerning the embargo,
because he had considered that the subject
was in ADLER hands than his. At such a
crisis rs this he conceived that there ought
to be more of action and less of argument;
more OF decision and less Of defamation.
He still considered the subject in ADLER
hands, and he still considered that action
and dec sion would be preferable to argu
ment and defamation, and he thought that
those who amused this house and ths people
with long speeches would not best have SUBJ
served the interests of the nation. But al
though he condemned the prevailing fashi..
on, he considered himself in some measure
excused for his present intrusion upon the
patience Of the committee inasmuch rs he
had yesterday been particularly alluded to
by his colleague, (Mr Quincy, } and because
he felt it to ne his duty TO endeavor 10 rescue
the committee who made the report from
the imputation attempted To be cast upon
them for the sentiments which il contained
The speech of his colleague was evident
iy prepared with great care and deiibera-
tion-the arguments selected with skill and
arranged with art; and was in truth, such
4 speech, as ought not 10 be answered, il
he Gnighs use the phrase, ORE TENUs. In
decd, although he had taken pretty copious
notes, he did nos feel himself sufficiently
prepared, from want of time for reflection
to unravel and expose it. His colleague
had said the first rec o!utinn should have his
sanction, because it contained specific
pledge hat new measures should be pursu-
ed why then did he attack that resolution
IL his object was answered by II, why did
he not let il pass without opposition The
Igentleman reirted his own argument, and
ION this point lie answered himself. He could
only account for his conduct on the su,ypo-
sition that lie thought the game in full view,
and could not be satisfied unless he we're in
at the death, and assisted to dcmoish so
odious monster AS the em5argo-or, per-
maps he had treasu: ed up in his memory
the choicest arguments against that meas
ure, had his speech ripe aud FESTIVE for ut.
terance, and could not bear the idea that
the house and the nation should lose the be-
lnefit of it. To use the language of The day,
the gentleman had taken the embargo oil
Its feet: he had assa,led it before its time.
But the reason alleged by his colleague for
going so largely into the question WAS, that
the report which preceded the resolution
recommended the continuance of the em
barge. This WAS totally 4 mistake. The
report made no specific recommendation OF
the embargo II had been drawn with sne
cial care to leave that point open. Mr.. B.
might be mistaken iE his understanding OF
the language of the report, bur he would
read paragraph. from which a determi-
nate judgment might be formed. (fIere MIR.
Bacon read as follows y
( sit appears unnecessary to pursue any
further the examination of propositions.
which the diiiicElt situation of the u. States
could alone have suggested, anu which win
prove more inadmss BILE, or impracticable
as the subject IS more thoroughly nvestis;a-
ted.-The alternative is painful il is be-
tween continued suspension of commerce
and war with both England and France
But the choice must ultimately he made be.
tween the two, and it is important that we
should be prepared for either the one or
the other"
Was the gentleman authorised from this
language to say, that the embargo is re-
commended in the report? The report
applies to either alternative and there
fore his reason utterly fills him. AS, there
lore, the embargo was not recommended in
the report, and r'as not before the house.
his colleague in making his long speech had
leaped before he came TO the hedge his OH
seryations did not apply. Mr. Bacon did
not wonder that the gentleman from KEN
lucky, (Mr Lyon had strayed in his speech
yesterday from the subject he was not
professional man, bur his colleague was
schooled in nice distinctions, was acouaih
ted with the whole art Especial plesdings,
was a man of divisions and subdivisions.
Who made war upon verbs and adverbs.
The gentleman had told US that the report
contained principles loathsome to the nati-
on; but he had not pointed out what part
OF the report WAS loaihsome he had not
put his finger upon any particular passage
that was so. Was it this passage SAID MIR
3. there MIR Bacon read as follows y
" For the question for every citizen now
is, whether he Will rally round the govern
ment OF his choice, or enlist under foreign
banners? Whether he will he for his conn
try. or against his country I"
Was this the part of the report which
WAS loathsome and disagreeable 10 the ma
toni Mr. .. hoped not As the gentleman
had made no specific refergnce, il was not
Tor him to divine what portion ofthe report
b adVerted to: his colleague had been eau.
dious 70 confne himself to general allegsti-
ons, and although he had at the commence.
ment Of his speech inveighed against alb
stract legislation, as the resort of the weak
or the ignorant, the gentleman himself had