Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-15
.g, from undeniabie facts, with pathetic elo.

priety Oh the measure. His remarks DO MIN
great honor, and justly entitle him to the es-
TEEN and confidence of every friend to his
country. Mr.. Gray SAID
"That we have constitutional right to as .
semble i'll legal town meeting and petition
the general government, am not disposed
TO deny. But as we have delegated the pow
or to our senators and representative in Con-
gress, lam for leavingth power with them,
where the constitution has placed i.-their
voice will no doubt be given for the removal
ofthe embargo, as soon as the general inter-
est of the nat on will admit of 1t. The re-
representatives. and senator's of this common
wealth, are the men of our own choice, and
in them we ought to con6de. The interfer-
ence OF this town with the general govern 3.
ment will proclaim to the enemies of our
commerce, that we are a divided people, and
will encourage them to continue their orders
and DEGREES until we become half conquered
by internal dissentions. Will not this con
duct il pursued tend to the destruct on of
all order and government Can we in this
meeting form as correct an opinion, when
the embargo ought TO be removed, as our
representatives can when congress are con-
vened, they Will have the Presidents CO n
municatiunS, and al other necessary infor-
nation from our ministers abroad lfCon-
gress should grant our request, and a war
proves the evitable coHseQue nee, will our
sufft rings be removed There is, think, no
doubt but tho powers whose unjust orders
and DEGREES impose the necessity of the en-
barge, will take every advantage of our stu
alton to harrass and distress us--but if we
wculd unanimously resolve to support our
Independence, and confide in our rulers
while they m Ike he constitution their guide,
we my bid defiance to every usurpng pow
Y .lgv Haat Npx sf,tlH as.r,
power dare to insult US if we were firmly
united. These reflections induce me to OPP
pose any sppicati for the removal of the
embargo, as | firmly believe it VIII be re-.
moved as soon as 1t can be consistently with
our national honor and interest"
MIR. Gray then OBSERVED, that he thought
tia. the dIstresscs OF the people had been
Xaggerated-that cases o real distress and
suffering for the neCcss iries Of life. oa az.
connt of the embargo were not readily to be
found-that he heard no complaint that our
taxes & ministers salaries were not paid as
well as usual that 1t gave nm greatp'eaSure
TO look round and see so many of his fellow
townsmen handsomely and comfortably clo-
thed, and he believed comfortably fed that
IN general the people could find something
to do, and that provisions so plenty, were bur
little reduced in their price-that the voice
yer, heard in our streets, and never, he bel e.
we'd, without immediate relief--thattheh high
tide of our unexAmpled prosperity, and &C.
cumuiatinn OF wealth were checked, he rea-
diiy acknowledged hut this WAS ct small
consequence when compared with the Gaia
mites OF war, and was III no degree attrbu-
ted to the embargo that the lives OF many
of our seafaring brethren must be sacrifi ed
liz battle, and their health destroyed by pes
0lenUai guard ships-th he remembered
IN the last war, the distresses of our coun.
try to which he had been an eye witness.
He adverted to the patience of the people
OF Aarblehead under Their sutfErelngS. They
1eaFe their homes in March for the FISH y
banks, draw their fish frequently through
sixty fathoms of water, return, cure them,
take in a cargo of dry FISH, and sail for some
port of the continent of Europe, get within
sight OF the port, where their fish is want
ed, and where they might receive gold for
u, they are spoken with BY a British cruz
2er, ordered home on pain of Capture and
cOndemnation--they return, put their FISH
into the warehouses, take IN their salt and
again sail for their fishing ground without
hsping murmur or complaint against their
own government
Wonderful people.
We had better (said he) endure all the
endorsements ana mcunV enit noes We suf-
fer on account of the embargo for three
years longer, than thc unavoidable evils of
war This wise measure OF the government
was eminentiy calculated TO save our pro-
pery and our ssamen frolh this dreadful Ca
Isnity.
Where could we go If the embargo were
off have perm'sson II send vessel to
Russia for property nave left there, where
the prospect is good for making great v0y-
age--but 1 dare not wh'ie the DEGREES and
orders Of council exist, risk even an empty
vcssel-and know Of no port where could
send cargo with the prospect Of profta.
BILE voyage. And sincerely believe, i! we
had submitted 10 the embargo with unaui..
nifty and cheerfulness, and bore the incon-
veniences Of it with patti 'n>e, and had pla.
ced just confidence in the government OF
cur own choice aud not by our divisions en-.
couraged the belligcrents 20 believe that We
were disunited people, that before this
day the orders Of council and DEGREES would
have been removed, and we should have en-
jOyed free commerce.
THE rcmsindcr in our next.
- 60 So
n II