The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-08

ioor, ana declarSthe embargo to be resist
ance to u. Britain and France, when our
own governments has gwen an explanation
so very different through the medium of our
ministers in Europe. IT has been repre-
I scented as merely an internal regulations and
not reasonable sroapd of offence. 1t is,
therefore, not resistance. If the prohibi-
'ion OF eXportatioi be not RESISTANCE, in what
resPect can the suspension of Importation be
PERSISTENCE
! listened to the gentleman from Massa-
Cnnsetts the other day with pain, because
ne drew lines OF distinction that ought not
TO bc traced. His calculations with respec:
TO the unequal pIrssure of the embargo,
know TO be ERRONEOUS, i do not mean to de-
ny that the meastre is more oppressive in
some part OF the nnion than in others but
VIII not enter into particulars, although
protest against his estimate IN TOTO, and |
| deny that the custom house books or trea-
| sury reports, forr, true data for calculations
of the exports from the respective states.
But while deprecatc the existence of the
embargo, | trust there exits, and that
| there always will exist a digestion to en-
| force the laws OF the general government,
wlI be one among the first, Sr to resist
contrary doctrine. IF the lA,v. .enre. y.
enforced 20 what purpose are We a confedera-
ted people ? and why have wd organized a
national government I will not believe
that the citizens of any portioriof this coun-
try will rise in resistance to tie laws of the
land until the fact has actualif occurred :;
and IN this point of view ! regItt the intro
duct;on of the report and resolutions, as they
| lead TO suggestions Of difertnt nature
When the case does occur. Iwould aDpIy
the proper remedy would hive recourse
sir, to the knife and tie cautt.v. Yet. ON
this account, do not the less d.Drecate the
embargo. 1t is measure r,inous to tb,.
country. In one point of view however. /
regard it with pleasure. 1t is h test Of The
patriotism and virtue of the reople. The
submission of those who rhinI! worse Of II
than even 1 do, can only be REGARDED as
proof OF their willingness to SUPPORT govern
| ment--to support it, when thaigovernment
has obviously mistaken their hist interests
Compare the evils Of the embargo with
those OF the excise law; put thtn in the ba-
lance and weigh them. What IS the result
OF each! One produced open rebellion, and
rendered 1t necessary to call in military au
thority to support It. The fither of his
Country was obliged to stretch forth his hand
to chastisc his undutifuI children. In the
other ins e, whatever nav have been
the evas; = the law, there is ostens;,1le
submisSG % its provisions. The forbear
ance or the people III the one case is not to be
put III competition with their conduct in the
other.
Reviewing the policy pursued for some
time back, and which is still persevered in,
have been led to inquire into the causes
which produced the present form of govern
ment. The principal difficulty which ex
listed under the old PIN of confederation.
was the want of powers for the establish
ment ofgeneral * uniform commercial reru-
lations. The first proposition was, TO invest
the old congress with authority to impose
an ad valoTem duty. The meeting held at
Annapolis, was intended principally for
commercial purposes The consequence
OF cur present system of government, which
grew out of those propositions, was that we
had risen to "a height which 10 man had c,1
pccted. And now are we without notice
without warning, to be deprived of all the
benefits which we have heretofore enioyed
from our wise political! institutions. 81 prepare
fora Chinese policy 1t MAJ be recoilec-
ted, sir, what excitement was nccasioned
by imposing discriminating duties upon
foreign vessels: the southern people con-
ceived it q tax upon them for the benefit of
the eastern navigation and when the nom
Importation act was passed, it was consi
dered by the eastern section Of the union as
an imposition upon them fot the advantage
or tue southern states. Could 1t have been
thought, sir, that there would have been q
combination between the north G1the.olth to
cut up the prosperity of the productions of
our soit and or navigation too! When here
tofore there has been competition? chat
they should unite to DESTROY both, is singular.
The gentleman from Massachusetts has
spoken fceiingiy | believe his representa-
tions true, hold up nv hand, sir, against
the measure, / believeit may be more Sc
we're III one part Of the country than in ano-
Their. What is the situation of the tobacco
planters! live III the centre of a tobacco
country, and can speak with accuracy.
What is the consequence of this Chinese
policy Cotton deprecated, FISH on hand
unsalcable. And what is the fact with re-
gard 20 tobacco? There are now two crops
on hand, and gentlemen acquainted with the
culture OF that article know the time is "a ST
approaching when we must prepare fs,.
the third crop. have no disposition to en-
to- into 3 high coiored picture Of the suffer
ing OF the country | see too much Of il in the
part from which come. 1t is dspiorable /;
that is enough.
Perhaps it may be said, that whatever con
Jections there may be to the two first resoluti
ens, there can he none to the final one
What is it Twin brother to the first. VIII
you refer it to committee to draft bill
DO you mean 10 dispose Of the FIST the same
way. or will you engraft 1t in your statu c book
And at the same time prepare nn measure oil
aggression upon the enemy ifa rlanis ia.
lH.l N-g IL.