The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-06


beiligerents i. some degree; bu, this was IN
areidable; for let you adopt what measure
YOU will against either of the belligereuts it
viii, necessarily, coincide in some respect.
with the views CT the other.
The, gentleman seemed to be impressed
with the notion that there was only one mode
of resistance, and that unless we had recourse
to the sword there wasnc resistance in the
case. MIR. Bacon refcrred to the several
species OF animals, each OF which had its
respective mode of defence and assault. Be
cause. said he, Great Britain makes war
with cannon and France with the bayonet, is
there to he TO other kind of resistance In
the capture of fo,tresscs, some are taken by
storm, some by siege ard by cutting of sup
plies. VIM may we NOS, therefore. s.rsue
the latter made, and by withholding neces-
saries ct life from our enemy, induce him to
do us justiCci
The gentleman bad taken uj-Dn himself to
answer for Massachusetts. am (said Mr.
By astonished prttes., sir, against his au-
thorily in that respe ! as it regards Massa-
chusctts, much more a, it relates to n. T..
at large. 1t is true that in that quarter it
is the general wish thatNthc embargo could
be removed it is also my ovdent wish that it
should be raised fit can be, done consistent
" with the maintenance of cur rights. Who
Their 1t were better to raise IL AZ tue present
moment or not is question which no candid,
considerable man in Massachusetts has de-
cided: they rely on government--tAey know
government has no interest in continuing the
embargo, and that the moment it can be taken
off with safety and propriety it viii BE- done.
He did not mean to say the ;mbarg,s was
popular measure in New England; bit that
the idea did mt prevail that it ought 10 I've
taken OFF 1T all events. Whatever might be
thrr c,.lt l. r. 81, IS
New England would acquiesce and cheerful
~ Uarry ali ouIuui,ie measures into eUecJ.-
The gentleman had spoken of the great en-
chanter, and had asserted that the members
of the house mot to use precisely his own
cXprcssion) are parcel of bedlamites.
recol,ect (said Mr.. b. something in Holy
Writ, where it had been said to a reverend
Parsonage that too much leSrning had made
him mad, but the madness WAS or the other
side. Does the gentleman mean to insinuate
that this house is guided by an improper in
fuence; thar it is under a spurious control !!
Such aiiusicrs ought not to be made The
Glamour that the ocean was a',nnJ to be ahan-
| doned ought to be hushetl.-the alarm ought
no more TO go forth. MIR. Bacon was aorry
to see such representations sanctioned hy 1t
! nv gentleman who had the honor Of seat On
that floor.
| With respect to the tragical effects Of the
embargo and the aliusion which his colleague
had made TO his travels through Massachu-
sets, ] can tell him (said Mr. Hacon) that
have once or twice travelled from the sea-
board to the extreme Western frontier, and
am enabled to say that the picture drawn
by the gentleman is overcharged He had
not seen the cities deserted, nor the grass
growing in the streets, nor the inhabitants
starving. He had ineeed seen industry
at stand, he had seen ships laying at the
wnarves: But he had found the merchants
not complaining AT the sacrifice. but rather
/ IN general approaching the policy of the
embargo. He had conversed with merchants
and seen their Representations in print Oh the
| subject, and his colleague had doubtless seen
| them too--On the great subject which at
present agitated the nation, there was as
much unanimity as could be expected pub
lie opinion was not entirely unanimous but
certainly as much so as it had ever been on
any question of similar moment.
Mr.. Bacon did not pre- end to say there did
not exist much embarrassment among all
classes. The fact was too broad to be denied
the wound too deep to be overlooked. But in
representing the case, there had been much
deception, much delusion. The calamities
of our present situation were compared with
situation of profound peace, when the com
mcrcc of the u. States had free scope
This was altogether uncandid. Will any
gentleman say, that if any other mode had
been pursued towards the beliigerents evils
equally oppressive would not have accrued!
The true comparison lies between the present
system of government and course OF actual
war, and not between the embargo and peace
VIII any one say that the loss and suffering
has been as great under the embargo as they
would have been during similar period OF
WARP
The gentleman says imperatively that the
embargo must be repealed. And what are
the reasons? Extraordinary, indeed because
1t cannot be enforced; because the violators
cannot be rendered odious much longer. II
such an argument was to influence this house,
Mr.. Bacon believed it would be for the first
time. That dissatisfaction prevailed, Mr.
Bacon did not pi etcnd to deny but was it to
be wondered at? Was it strange there should
be dissatisfaction, when such uncommon
pains were taken to excite it? TO goad on OPP
position to the government, not only by ano.
nymous paragraphs, but by honorable gentle
men of this house Opinions were circulated
that the people of the south were hostile to
commerce, and thought it not worth pursuing
Honorable gentlemen returning from this
house, mad W their personal obserN htions
corroborated such sentiments. He was sorry
such was the fact but it could not be denied
Was it singular that dissatisfaction should
prevail when such ideas were nculcalcd from
places of authority? a newspaper had yes