The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-11-22

aldrive dis nation from the ground it has ia
keas Is it come TO this, = rat a law consti-
|tutionaliy enacted, even after formal dcci-
sion in. fyor OF its constitutionality, caiinot
lbc enforceds Shall the nation give way to
an opposition of a few, and those the most
lprongate part of the community? think
the stand we took last year was proper one !;
and lam for taking every measure for ena-
lbling the nation to maintain it. Just as our
measure is bcginningto operate, just as pro-
visions are becoming scarce in the West-In-
dies and elsewhere, Notwithstanding the e.
lvasions OF our law, we are called upon to re-
peal it. should not have made this motion
at this time, had itnot been for the petition
just presented. When stand here, Sir, char
| gcd by a part of the community with being,
! one OF "thc encmi.. of the people" notwith-
standing i am willing to commit the petition,
Treating it with that respect which con-
1 ceivc to be due from us to tile PRAYER of anv
lportion of the people, wish my sentiments
ON this subject to be seen
| A proclamation has been issued by one of
the bellig-repts since the passageo of the en-
tbargo law, Sir. Look 1T it. What says it ?
clearance OF no clearance, we will receive
lany neutral vessel into our ports and in
lsPeaking of heutrals, recoilect that there is
}no nation III the civilized world that has a
iciaim to the title, except ourselves. This
proclamation then tells our citizens :" Evade
the laws of your country, and we will re-
|ceive and protect YOU" This is the plain
English of it. ct'
If tine mad powers of Europe had enter
led into compact to iniurc us as much as
they could, they could not have taken a
more direct course to it. consider them
both alike, and the measures would take
Il would place them both on the same footing
\ have made my resolutions as general as
l tee. :; Q = '''e ''''
/ Mr. M. then read his resolutions as fol-
low: ~ -
| RESOLVED, That the committee appointed
on that part OF the Presidents message
which relates to our foreign relations. be
instructed to enquire into the expediency of
excluding by law, from the ports, harbors,
. and waters of the u. S. all armed ships ind
vessels belonging to any of the bellgerent
powers, having in force orders or DEGREES
violating the lawful commerce of the u. S.
, as nation. -. ~, 60. -
Rescued, That the same committee be
Instructed to enquire into the expedieacy
or prohibiting by law the admission into the
ports, harborS and waters of the ". S. any
ship or vessel belonging to or Coming from
3 any place in the possession of any of the
{ above mentioned powers and also the i'm
I portation OF any goods, wares and merchan-
t die the grewth, produce and manufacture
OF the doininions Of any OF the said powers.
Re8cfved, That the same committee be
instructed to enquire into the cxpediency of
amending the act laying an embargo and the
L several acts supplemental and additional
E thereto
!, On the subject ofthe. first of these resolu-
tiops (saId Mr.. M. } it might be proper TO
, interdict the entrance OF all armed vessels,
! although have confined the introduction to
the belligerents. certain time might be
fixed at which the second should 90 into
operation.
/ have thought proper, sir, to bring for
ward all these resolutions together, to shew
my own opinion on what ought to be done
1t ittime for those who think the embargo a
lawful and proper measure to come forward
and declare it. No other person having as
!, yet thought proper to do it have now done
it. l, believe the embargo was right; that
it was right to pass laws to epforce it; and
believing this, feel no hesitation in avow-
ing it. Time has been when the impress
mcnt OF our scamen was cried out against
by a large majority of congress. Now the
cry is that we will not let them go out and
be taken For in case they go out they must be
taken. Neither of the two great powers o.
Europe have shewn the least disposition tc
relax their measures neither hope shall
we. i believe we have but three alternative
--zvar, embargo, or submission. The, last ]
{ discard /; this nation never will submit mol
are there many people in it that WOULD
That out of the question, then, the only
question is, whether in the present state OF
: the world, the embargo or war is the best
for us. Arm your merchantmen, as has beer
: proposed, send them out, and you have wal
J directly. If we are to have war, should
rather have it openly, and let the natior
know that we mean it. / am for the en-
: barge vet, / am told -four is from 80 to Sc
: dollars barrel in the West Indies; an
S also told that wheat is II shllings sterling
bushel in England. This must have an
s effect, if adhered to, through Spain and
+ Portugal. France, If she Carries her armie.
: into that country, cannot support them
D Nsr can Spain support her armies, and az
2 the same time those Great Britain send.
there /; for where warts waged, almost all
agriculture is destroyed land it only require:
firmness in us to force them both by thi.
: measure to acknowledge our rights. if ar
> mistaken in my opinion, / wish that mea-
] sure TO be adopted which may best maintain
:, our rights and independence.
:. 1t is not the embargo which causes the
pressure OH the people. No, SIR it is the
! orders and DEGREES OF England, and France
Take a licence from England, ana you may
: trade, but on no other terms. Let an Officer