The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-03
mo. Is.

ton, that under the auspices of the federal
government, the y. States were then "ir.
the full tide Of successful experiment" And
the report on our tables, to which have be-
tore. alluded. declares In grave aud solemn
language. that during period of fve.anti-
twenty years, which brings MS down to tho
embargo, the United States have cnjoyed
d prosperity uneXalnPed i'll the history of
haeions." Yet during the whole of this peri
od ct unequaued prosperity, arising IRON.
me acfiUc Pursuits ofcon,p,crce snd asricuk-
gre, each CRYING Efe and tigor &c the ether.
that commerce has been exposed TO the ag-
grcssions of the tclligerent nations. For
those of Great Britair, up TO near the close
OF 1874, compensation was made, pursuant
70 &c provisions OF Mr.. Jays trcatry. For
the axe aSSresS:ons Ivy Spain, the like in
ueinnty was gwen by virtue of the treaty
With that power, concluded in October 1875.
sor French spsiiatinrc during the whole Pc
RCD oi her revolutionary war (spoliations
winch have been estimated at not less than
millions of dollars, We hSve received no
fhsng 1S0r ,i':vS W. o'st;.iregl any reimburse
men, from Spain for tie .poiat.ors commit
ieu by her critters, after she became the
ally Of i-rsnce
Captures and condeinaatic.s, however.
mere or less extended, have never ceased:
RctwithandiDg al which, end the continued
improvement Of seamcn f'om our merchant
vessels, ths sane une:<afn '2d prosperity has
attended Ms; until su,iG>::ly and to the as
constituent of tia na,ica, ibis flowing tide Of
succe.siul ce'nmcrce and ,Ticuiture, was
stopped by that fatal mea.ufe the EMBARGO.
ne sh:ck was aggravated Ivy the conceal
rnens or ITS real causr, Sir, Hazard nothing
In asserting, that to his Day tAat cause has
not seen satisfactorily dacIlr.d Allow me
time to justify this assertion [ will bring
together facts and circumstance, & then
gentlemen will judge whether my conclusi-
Oh be erroneous OF Just.
: On the .ss of Dccen1ber. 1907. the dis
patches brought by the Revenge. from our
minister in Paris, were delivered 10 the Sec
rotary OF State. On her arrival at ISew
/ YORK, reports brought by her stated, that the
French Emperor had declared that there
>hes!d * i:G fsuiTat~. The sources of infor-
NATION and the Character of the Hnderor.
rendered thHsc reports worthy sfcretlit and
though afterwards publicly and stcutly deni-
ed, they were believed End no gentleman
here will noo be inclined to Doubt the fact.
These reports, and the mystery which sur
rounded the recommended embargo, natural-
~ excited suspic; cns and alarms.
vi the French papers supposed to be
brought by the Revenge, none were commu-
nichicd to Congress, save 'ettcr dated Sep
tem1er -, 1907, from General Armstrong.
70 Mr.. Charipagny, 4 his answer "f the 7th
OF October, relative to the hetiin decree, 81
letter from Rcgncr r.inister OF Justice, to
Champagne giving the emperor. interpre,
tatlon OF that decree. These three papers.
with news paper copy of proclamation Of
the King of Great Britain, issued in the same
October, were all tie papers communicated
by the president To congress, as the grounds
on which lie rec 1mmGndcd the embargo
IheSc faherS, he said 50 Showed the ryeac
and increasing dangers with which cur ves-
sells, our scamen and merchandise were
threatened on the high seas and elsewhere,
from the belliSerent powers of Europe"
/ AS to the proclamation of the kinq. or c..
Britain, requiring the return OF his subjects.
and particularly the ccemen, from foreign
countries, it WAS more than cvcry govern
hient has right TO issue, and commonly does
issue, ia time OF war. Ibis proclamation
contained ne evidence of increasing dam
ger to "onr seamcn;" on the contrary, if
mistake net GciI have not the proclamation
! by me) there was solemn, public in;uncti.
on to his naval osicers TO Conduct impress
men;s with increased caution and care So
that impressmcnts would probably rather be.
diminished than increased.
Lei ms TOW examine the three other pa
peYs, all of which, as have noticed, and az
gentcmen remember, related to the decree
q November II, 1906 This decree was is
sued at Berlin, by the French emperor, at
The moment when, inflated nth more tl.an
ordinary arrogance and pride, he was sit
ting in that capital Of the Prussian mo-
na'c hy, ju*' Zen su1verted by his arms
The frs: Gle declared all the British,
Isles il st.,.e ofblcckade. This according
to lis terms subjected to capture and con-
domination all ncutral vessels bound to and
from British ports bat it see ms TO have
nccn held in a state Of suspense. But ano-
ther article declaring all rnc rchandise be-
longing - England OF coming from its man
u.acturvs and colonies (a,though belonging
to ncutrais) to be lawful prizes, =" was to be;
carried INTO execution. Such was the de-
cision OF inc emperor as stated By kis minis
tar Of justice Oh the 18th Sep tember 1907,
in his letter to Chamragny. This decision
coming to the knowledge of gene raj Arm
strong, he on the gath OF Septcmb err, wrote
to Mr.. ChampaEy, and asked " whether it
; was The emperoi's intention to nfract the OBJ
, !igaticns Of the treaty subsisting betw cen the
. United States and the French EN- pire''-
i MIR. Champagny in his answer of the 9TH Of
October, ihc!osing tie letter Of the minister
: OF justice, wiki wonderful assurance, tell
general Armstrong, that it was easy to re-
Corci!o 'be execution of the DEGREES with
. the Observance Of treaties although no
I fift.1- al. /,.,