Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-17
EMBARGO.
DEBATE on Mr.. Hilhouse's melton for q
repeah
IcosTINuED.l
ur.Crasyords Speech coatiaued.]


What are these doubtful rights Has the
law of nations ever interdicted the trade
with enemies colonies, against the Interrupt
ton of which the American merchants late
" demonstrated with so much force and per-
spic,litys For the information of the SEN
ate will read a part OF the memorial pre-
sented by the merchants Of Boston. For
my own part have never considered it a
matter of muck importance whether we
have suffered more from France or Great
Britain. i have long been convinced that
both nations intended to do US all the evil
thevcould and where there is difference
IN the quantum, tenly results from an IN
ability in the least mischievous 70 Go more.
But it is attempted to be sheWn by the gen
tieman from Massachusetts that there is a
great difference between the injuries receiv-
ed from one power, and those which we
have received from another.
u 6 While your memoriaiists have witness
ed with mingled feelings of indignation to-
wards the perpetrators, and Of commisera-
ton for their unfortunate coGntrymeu, the
insults and barbarities which the commerce
of these states has sustained from the CRUZ
gers of France and Spain, it is their object
IN the present memorial, to confne their
suimadvcrsions to the more alarming, be-
cause -e-.d S..tcraoiYe deten
tons and condemnations CT American YES
sells by Great Britain and to advert to the
principles recently ayowed and adopted by
ksr courts, relative to neutra! trade in arti-
cles OF colonial produce. Principles which
If admitted, or practised upon In all the Ia
titnde which may fairly be inferred to be
intended, would be destructive of the navi-
CATION and radically impair tie most lucra-
tive commerce of our country"
After going into strain of reasoning to
s.lew that the prctenssons Of Great Britain
are manifest violation Of the neutral rights
of this nation, they conclude by SAYING
S but whatever may have been the motives
for the proceedings on the part of G. Bri-
tain, the effect is notorious. From her re-
cent conduct great losses have been sustain
ed, our commerce has been checked and
embarrassed and large qnrntitie of produce
are now remaining locked up in this coun-
try which were purchased for foreign mar
N
abroad, without taking risks on themselves
which prudence would not justify, or With
out paying such rates ror insurance as the
trade OF our country cannot Afford"
This memorial is IN support Of the very
trade which the gentleman from Connects
cut says he would not SO to war for. Noy
a different language is held by the signers of
shiS r~fitiar under the incra,caJ ,n;,.,:,
we have sustained and am only sorry
for the character of the United States
that this difference of language has taken
place.
The gentleman from Delaware, lfr.
White has said thatb repeating the embar-
90 We caS now carry on safe and secure
trade to the extent of nearly four fths Of
the amount of our domestic productions
There 10 nothing more delusive and better
calculated TO impose on those who do not
investigate subjects than these calculations
IN gross. II the gentleman will take the
trouble to make the necessary enquiries, he
vii ind that instead of Great Britain TAKING
to the amount he supposes of domestic pro-
ducflons, She takes nothing like it. tits
true that large proportion of our domestic
products IS shipped ostensibly for GreatBri-
tam but it # equally true that a very large
proportion of these very exports find their
way INTO the continental ports. For the
British merchants In their examination he.
fore the House of Commons. already all
iudcd to. say that three-fonrths of their re-
esiPss transportation 70 the United States
/,