The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-10
CONGRESS.
SENATE OFIHE UNITED STATES
TUESDAY, Nov. %.
EMBARGO DEBATE-CONTIN

Mr.. 'White.-Mr: Presidenc,-I have lis
tened with great pleasure to the gentleman
from Kentucky (Mr. Pope) who has just sat
down; bat although entertained with his e.
loquence, have not been convinced by his
arguments. | shall not follow him through
the New England memorials, or discuss with
him the policy of a non-intercourse law, as
that is not the question before the Senate !;
neither shall join issue with him as to the
apparent expediency of laying an embargo
at the last session of Congress; but / will
endeavour to shew that the operation of this
measure, upon the country, has been such
AS now calls most imperiously upon this body
topass the resolution before us. The impor
lance of this subject is admitted on all sides
and the anxiety known to exist throughout
every section, and almost in every individual
OF the community, in relation to the decision
now about tobc had upon it, is the fullest cvi-
dence of the deep and unusual degree of in
tcrest universally felt throughout the country,
and attaches to the vote we are TO give the
highest responsibility. Such a responsibility,
am not willing to meet, without assigning
some OF the reasons that influence my opinion.
| And this shall do the more cheerfully, as 1
know they will be in conformity with the SEN
tiiiiSiiso {. vast portion of those have th,.
honor to represent. The embargo when laid
was admitted to be mere experiment, but
one which VIC were admonished not to resist,
as 1t was to do great things for the United
States. 1t was in few months to reduce the
West-lndles to a state of starvation, and to
bring the two acknowledgement powers of Eu-
rope at our feet. In the prophetic language of
| the President, it was to "keep in safety our
| merchandise, our vessels and our seamen.
these essential resources" and we were told
on all sides, by the numerous advocates of the
, measure, that it would speedily bring the
French and British governments to sense of
justice. But has it, or is it likely to accom-
plish any OF these desirable objects! grant
you, 1T has kept our merchandise in safety.
IT by that was intended to lock up in our
barns and store houses all the produce of our
country to rot upon cur hands. And as to our
dismantled arkroofed vessels, they are in
deed decaying in safety at our wharves ::
presenting daily to the merchant a melancho-
ly memcnto of his present or approaching
ruin; and forming suitable monument to
the memory of our departed commerce. But
where are your seamen! Gone, sir-driven
into foreign exile in search of subsistence
The very measure that was to preserve them
| to their country has banished them from it.
and many Of them forever. Even the vigi-
lance and terrors OF our gun-boat navy have
not Oeen suthcient to Confine and starve them
I'm our ports. But, sir, the most notifying
disappointment we have to sustain, is the to-
tai indifference with which this boosted mea-
sure OF our administration has been treated by
both the belligerents. Instead of coercine
them to do us justice, we now know officially
| that 1t is neither felt, nor thought Off France
and the British so far from Offering us terms
on the subject, will not even ask us to take il
OH. Eere will beg leave to read short pas
sage from Mr.. Canning's letter to Mr.. Pink
ney, of the 23d of September last, shelving
most distinctly the sense and determination of
the British government on this subject "Hts
majesty (says Mr.. CaDnng) sees nothing in
the embargo laid on by the President of the
United States OF America, which vari es this
original and simple state of the question. IF
considered as a measure of impartial hostility
against both belligerents, the embargo appears
to his majesty to have been manfestlv unjust,
as, according to every principle OF Justice,
that redress ought 20 have been first sought
from the party originating the wrong: and
his majesty cannot consent to buy ofTthat hos
Unity, which America ought to have extended
to him, at the expence Of concession made.
not to America, but to France.
1t, as it has been more generally repre.
sentcd by the government. Of fl1e United
states, the erAbarSo Us. only to be considered
as an innocent, municipal regulation. 7ybich
Affects n9nc bnfM UHite1S States f5e,uscj,,es
and with which no FOREIGN state has any CON
Germ viewed in this light, his majesty does
not conceive that he has tie right. DR. the pre-