The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-20
CONGRESS.
SENATE oF7HE UNITED STATES
THURSDAY, Nov. "a.
EMBARGO DEBATE-CONTINUED
(Mr. CHESS Speech continued

(Gf7-. CHESS 1ftcech co1tinned)
It is only On this side of the Atlantic, that
We hear it described rs a weak or wicked
measure. But what of all this. Sir! Win
<}Nis French expression change the real cha
racter Of the measure? Shall we change
our own opinions of the true character of the
measure. because the French government
has thought proper to pronounce an opinioa
upon it Are we told to abandon our own
right of Judging of our own measures, be-
cause the French government oficiouslv un
dertakesto judge for us? Sir, to me it is
perfectly indifferent, what the French go
vernment thinks upon the subject shall
take the liberty of exercising my own judg-
ment upon it, perfectly exempt from anv ex-
traneous influence whatever.
Mr.. Canning, sir, has also undertaken to
say something respecting the character Of
the embargo laws. Let US hear what he
says upon the subject.
eff considered as measure of impartial
hostility against both belligerents, the em-
barge appears to his majesty, to have been
manifcstly. unjust, as according to every prin-
ciple OF Justice, that redress ought to have
beensiirst sought from the party originating
the wrong. And his majesty cannot consent
to buy off that hostility, which America
ought not to have extended to him, at the
expense of a concession made, not to hme-
RIGA, but to France.
If, as it has more generally been repre-
sented by the government of the United
States, the cmbargois only to be considered
rs an innocent, municipal regnlltion, which
affects none but the United States themselves,
and wit winch no foreign state has anv con
cern; viewed in this light, his majesty does
not conceive that lie has the right or the
pretension to make any complaint Of it and
he has made none.
&" His majestp would not hesitate to con-
tribute in any ma amer in his power to restore
to the commerce of the u. States its wonted
activity; and if it were possible to make a
ny sacrifice for the repeal of the embargo,
without appearing to deprecate it as n msa-
sure of hostility, he would gladly have faci-
litatcd its removal as a measure of inconye-
nient restriction upon the American pcople. -
Let me now asi. you, Mr.. President, what
feelings must rush themselves into your bo
som, upon hearing this last, this arroean
,insinuation; What must be the feelings or
every war-worn veteran, who has so long
enjoyed t e pleasing consciousness of having
been instrumental i'll achieving his count,1s
independence? What must be the feelings
of every young American who has not base
Iy degenerated from his fathers virtues p
DO you not see, Sir, in this sentence almost
direct overture of the interference of his
most gracious majesty in our political con
Germs ? Do you not sec the vain and idle
effort to encourage dscontents by the EXPIRES
sion of his majcsty's good disposition to in
terpose his good Offices to relieve the Anne
Tican people from, the inconvenient restric-
-tions imposed on them by their own govern
nent? What indignity, what insult coald
he greater upon the American people -
What could more clearly demonstrate the
intatuation, the intoxication of Mr.. Canniug's
mind, produced by the unfortunate food of
misrepresentation which had poured in m
on him.? Tn. American people will repel
the overture. with indignation. with djsdain
and, Sir, as a sure and pleasing anticipate
= on Of this result, j rejciced to see the indie-
@ nant resentment manifested BY the gentle
man from Delaware (Mr Whitley 1t was
the more honorable to him, Sir, because il
was the triumph OF his American feelingso-
yer host of prejudices with which fear
he is surrounded. always knew that gen
tiernan to be a patriot, and when it shall be
come neCcsssry, expect to see him amongst
the foremost in the ranks of honor, in the
defence of his country's rights.
r. Yes, Sir, this Insulting overture will doubt-
less burst the streng letters Of the prc;ud.
Ces OF thousands of other American patrjors.
who will rally to the standard Of their own
government, and will teach Mr.. CANNING.
how little he knows Of the American cha
he thus ventures to insult both.
Sir. the sentiments contained in this ex
Extraordinary note of Mr. Canninq's. are nor
new TO me. have seen them for some
months in some Of the Boston ncwsnapers-
it contains nothing more than the ridiculous
intimations continued in them, reduced to
the form oe diplomatic note, not ut all i'm
proved, nor better calculated TO effect their
object, By the sarcastic insoi,,,ce of Mr.. Can
ming.
Upon nm impartial review Of the whole Of
Lis part Of tie sr ject, Mr.. President. !
think ! an warranted IN the conclusion, that
the embargo krws have not been wlthopt
materially beneficial elects upon both III.
beligercnts-.---'hat thcv have ,,reseatcd
s;folg appeal, 20 tie interest of both bnt
that u'eac arr"His have not produced their
Compic.c effect II have no hesitation in
saying, S'r. that when The proper time shall
arrive. if llcrr orders and DEGREES :noId
unfortunately h pe1.crcred in, shall, for
ter 10 row w0r y mere than the dclusivc
one, be I.Idy 10 make sill strouecr appeaIs
to tbeir ircrests--Api AIS Tinted only by
TIC Whole io' &C and energy Of She nation.
thHk also, Sir, an warranted inl
concluding, thaj 1t tn. embargo laws have
failed ct coI9pic su~cCss, their tsilafc ia /
been owing to extraordinary causes. which
Coud neither have been f,rcscen nor anti !
ripa.pd a. 1 9 fssuc cf tlt, .,do,,t;,.., 81 d. .