The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-17

charges originated from prostitu,ed presses
hire, and waited across the Atlantic, that
there is a 4 design in this government to sub
serve the views OF Fra:cr, 10 coincide in the
views OF the French emperor. | belivc, sir,
that The perusal of tie documents, laid before
the Aotse at the commencement of the ses-
sion, will induce them 70 entertain Il differ
ent opinion. What would be said, were we
to let loose our vessels 20 morrow, with let
tiers CT marquc and reprisai, If, before they
we're well launched on the ocean, the winds Of
March shop,u wait to us a vessel beaying
the olive branch in her prov! We should
justly be :ccnsed Of procipitating, for not 81
wing time 10 the nations of Europe, to consider
what course they shall purguetowards us.
1t will be seen that my argument is predi-
Gated on the idea, that war must follow "a re-
val or the embargo. l cannot suppose after
an almost unanimous vote of this house, that
they could not submit without a sacrifice of
their rights, honor a:sd Independence, that
they viii submit. l Conserve that letters of
marquc and rcprisal must unquestionably
follow a remov2 of the embargo, because IL
NY other Course would virtually amount to
submission. Aiming our vessels cannot pos
sibly have any good effect. What would be
the consequence of such y measure! We adj
nit the right of search for contrabaud of
war; and to resist it would be an act of war
or piracy. 1T a belligcrcnt vessel meets one
OF ours armed for neutral trade, and disco
yers that it is of inferior force, resistance
would be Intellectual, and would completely
seal the destruction of the vessel. Ii the
force OF our vessel were superior, which
would not be the case perhaps one time
out of ten, the cruisers would sheer off till
1t were reinforced with the assistance of
another; arming our merchant vessels would
produce no {~OOl effcct tha,, orl we IupST iS-
sue letters of mareue and rcprisal. if we
would not submit. But gentlemen say, let us
NIX on AN earlier day. that we may catch the
Northern spectators. The natinnalnet mnsr
not be spread and drawn, sir, for such pet y
purposes as crushing a few dishonesi men,
who in the pursuit of money have prostituted
the honour q; the country as far as depend
Ell upon n rigorous execution of its laws. If
we listen to such policy, we shall change eur
Opinions every day, us much as if We listen
ed to newspaper abuse from that quarter. l
concur heartily in saying, that it would not
be 4 threat to either nation to declare that
the embargo shall be repealed and letters of
marque AND reprisal issued. 1t will be ii
lure to both. Neither nation can consider it
as n threat to itself, but TO its enemy. Aud
II they should chusc to CONSIDER it as \ threat,
1t has been said frequently that another
Course could not be pursued for were we to
make this declaration with closed doors, ma
ny instances have proved that the preCauti-
on would be Intellectual. The declaration by
the act tor an extra session, that the month Of
June will be the limitation TO the embargo, was
as ehectually notifying G.. B. that we would
pursue q different course, as If we were now
formally to declare it. ! AIN therefore of o.
pinion that the change of measures should
not take place till the first of June; the in
tcrval between this time and that will give
IAN opportunity to the European powers to
say whether they will have war with us or
do rs justice and no man there has pretcn-
ded to defend either the orders or DEGREES, on
the ground of right or the law of nations. |
hope they will shcw that they have yet n lit
tie Justice ieit--for they must see that the
lmputation, that this government is yielding
to the influence of France, or that it is hos
tile to England, is the most shameless false
hood that can be conceived. The offer to
repeal the embargo as to Great Britain if
she would repeal her orders in council, was
an offer to take sides with Great Britain.
l hope that they will be convinced that it is
their mterestto change their policy owards
us L trust that their people will, as they have
done heretofore, change their ministry for
the purpose OF changing their measure,.-
1 hey VIII have seen that We ask but halt
~iJuStice at their hands that the embargo law
is but continued for the purpose OF avoiding
war with them that we are willing to re-
scind our embargo, ifthcy will withdt!w their
orders leaving to friendly adjustment The al
;alr OF the Chesapeake and a thousand o;heI
acts, each OF which might be cause of war.
| think that | understood the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Cook) to say, that the
course which he suggested was not perhaps
correct, but that the people pressed it upoA
him. Sir, | hope the House will not, like the
gentleman from Massachusetts, he innuenc-
ed by such considerations to do that which
their judgement tells them is not correct
but will pursue the line.of their duty without
being diverted from it by the wishes of any
particular class of people.
Mr.. Wilson said he rose to make a few and
very few observations on this subject. Nv,
Or three different days had been mentioned
with which to iil the blank. He had heard
no reason which satisfied his mind that the
period should be postponed till the first day OF
June. lie said he was sorry that the re-
solutions had been introduced into the
House. He knew not whether it was not
proposed to give uD the best system thai
could be adopted, to)takc up another which
was totally un!ricd. tIc objected to the
Introduction of the resolution, upon two
grounds, ono of which had been given as Z
reason for introducing tho resolution, viz
that the embargo is at this time IL dead let
ter and COuld NOT Inc pvpCu4pd beii,v.