Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-30

were gTMulI0uSiy tcnucICu y y eiiEs PSoPtS@s "a
the u. S. he had certainly nothing TODD but
graciously to accept them; and his note at
ford. full evidence of this impression on his
mind. The refusal Of the British govern
ment. to revoke their hostile orders, there
fore. appaars not to have been founded upon
calculation of its interests upon correct
information; but upon niscalcl.lation OF
Its interests upon misinformatlon. How
much. then, is it to be lamcnted, Mr.. Pre-
sident, that our suferings and priyations
should be continued byth discontents which
were intended to remedy them! How can
the authors of these discontents reconcile
their conduct to the nation, or to their own
consciences What compensation OF atone
ment can they ever hope to make to the
people for the protractions OF their priva-
tons and sufferings? WHAT, for the dis
grace brought upon the nation! What, tor
alf the horrors and calamities of war, which
may, and probably will be, the consequent
ces of such conduct. Let the infatuated
authors oft answer these questions. Ages
of services cannot atona for these cruel,
these unfortunate errors,
It's asked, sir, how do the embargo laws
operate ON France? 1t is readily admitted
that the commercial connection between the
II. S. and France, is not of such a nature
as to make suspension OF 1t operate as IN.
iuriously to France herself, particularly IN
the interior, as on Great Britain, But our
commerce cannot be deemed unimportant
to France in the feeble state of her navy,
At the time too, of laying the embargo,
Spain, Portugal, and Holland, were IN ALL
ance with, or ia subsection to France. AS
pressure was materially felt by Span and
Portugal from their want OF provisions ;
and it is questionable, how far that measure
contributed to the convention for the evacu-
alton of Portugal by the French army
The want Of provision being one ground.
alledgcd for their late convention for that
purpose.
The French West India islands TOO, have
felt the pressure with great severity. They.
are at this moment in a state of blockade.
There were probably two objects in thus
4blockade-The one to reduce the French
islands for want of provisions. The Other,
to seize upon our merchant ships, which it
was presumed would hasten thither ilnllle-.
tiately upon raising the embargo. And it
appeared extremely we'll timed to effect that
object, if Congress upon their first meeting,
had been weak or pusillanimous enough to
have raised it. The loss of these islands
would have been severely felt by the French
emperor, and would probably produce some
regret on his part, in having contributed TO
drive tha u. S. to the extremity ct the en-
barge laws.
But, Sir, gentlemen are very much a
Harmed at an expression in late French
expose.-They have made some general nj
lusions to it, but in so vague manner as /
not to be understood with precision. As
am always fond of a correct statement OF
facts, will read the expression probably
alluded to. Z" The Americans, a people
who involve their fortunes, their prosperity
and almost their existence in commerce,
have given an example Of a great and cou-
rageous sacrifice. They have suspended,
by general embargo, all commerce and all
navigation, rather than shalnefully submit
to that tribute, which the English impose
on the navigation of all nations" cannot
conceive the Importance attached to this rx-
preston, or the view with which it was IN
troduced. 1t is to be remarked that this Is
the character given to this measure through
out all Europe, and by none more loudly
and decisively, than by the fsderal Ameri-
can merchants now in Great Britain.
Speech to be continued.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
WEDNESDAY, December Z.