The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-17

c"mpia,h, were 1nf,ctcd, oui' choice rs bc. wscn
submission ahd resistance. We determined to
resist, and commenced our resistance Ey having
an embargo. with the hope that it thigh, of Itself
induce the heli'gerents to do US justice and It
this expectation We're disappointed, that we
might prepare Ear war, by prescribing in our own
possession our essential resources-men and ma,
ney. II resistance was not our determination
1 90 nut hesitate to say that the embargo
was unwise and unnecessary. II we intended
ultimately to abandon our rights without another
effort, we should have suffered less both in repu-
tat'vn and IN property, by Immediate submission
than by now receding from the ground we have
taken. lido not believe that q single supporter
OF tho Embargo looked to it as the last resort Of
this country. For myssif, 1 discia.m the impress
sion, and declare th,tI was prepared to abandon
1t Tor war, when its primary objects should he
attained, and It's %coerciye power fairly tested.
i nave Stated that 1 consider the return of Our
citizens. the security CT our property, and the
employment Of time in preparation for war, as
the great aid U,ge CERTAIN effects of the emba,.
go. All these advantages we have derived from
1t. believe it is tiun- to change our measures.
and to place oar future reliance upon Providence
and upon tho energies and valor OF our citizens.
Upon this point, however, ] think with a minor.
ny. Hhcrc has been u vote @ tthis house arsirst
immediate war. Under these circumstance
what ought l To do /! l must either vote against
every expedient which falls shoi' Of what / deem
TIE EIost proper course. d assent TO that which
'ccords most with wh%t ! thitl; right Lift were
my Individual concern, / should certainly relv u9.
on my own judgement int when every thing
dear 10 my country is az stake, l cannot Justify TO
myself peftia-cious adherence TO Il proposition
already rejected by a great majority, which
would hazard the loss ola measure, the hest N
my opinior, that can De obtained. After having
oIicreI what thought the best, aud seen it re-
.Jectsa, think wit, the gentleman from South
Carolina, thai 1 sn 1t liberty, and that il is my
uu'y TO unite witn Others IN support OF att.ina5le
measures which appear 10 me &c he cop.iucive
to the interest OF the %coun,cl The bill ,l3oD
your table appears 90 me 10 b. such = measure.
1 ; maintains our attitude towards lie bel;eercnts
net'er than any measure which 7 liavc hear. prc-
posed, * # itbe rot the most observation-disclosures.
al least, 1T IS MOI submission. It continues oar
solemn protest against their violations Of our
rights Ii t>Scs new, and n some RESPECTS.
stronger grounds against teu. II exciudes
from our waters. ports aid harbors, ali der yes
seis, public ASA private it excludes from our
country an their products and manufactures /; and
'ofoids orr cid2l0s % debase and degrade their
country ny = commercial intercourse which
would STAIN and roiiUte them with the Davmenr
serves the gfeatqdestion to be decided BY the next
OF an ignoilflious tribute to a foreign nation IL re
congress, Which wiltbc informed efthe wishes Of
inc American people who can best determine
:,ow tar they Will ubmit 10 have their rights tram
pied on at the VIII and pleasure of foreign nations
ny keePirS the question: open ir their discus
sion, l have the utmost confidence that our
rlhgts. honor and Independence will be ma;nt,;n.
cd The gentleman from Pennsylvania, asked
Yesterday, why not repeal tie embargo la ,ys and
PROVIDE Tor the enforcement IF this system bv .
new law In addition to the reasons / have STA.
tea, 4 VIII mention another which has great
weight We ale told that one OF the states Of
lh!s Union are about to pass q law, imposing Deu.
aitles on persons employed in the execution of
nose laws, within that state I will never CON
sent under these circumstances, to adopt any
measure WINCH nilSlt wear the aspect OF Weld
iIg to 4 threat Ike this. No nan laments r,ore
sincerely tnaa ! DO, that the Legislature of any
sc''e Should take such 4 step, but 1 think II OF
the utnostimportance That the government Of
the United States snouid maintaiI ito auttn,;f,
and that 1t shouiu Re 5ScGrtained, whether 10
measures nay St.aRy time be mbarrassedby the
legislatures % one or more statcs. or lis laws an
n'iiisd BY their autnGrStv. Such coaIld not, | he
lieVs, nave been the impression Oh either of fhe
people or of the states when the general p,v-
eminent wa5 formed. For # this conduct be Der
severed in or submitted to. it will IN efiec, SUI
percede the government, aud n,ust su~ed
ny terminate in its dIssotltioa. | hope and +r,si
that the wisdom and patriotism ofGhe iesisl.sure
OF Massachusetts, will got p.!.n, such a la -
BE- enacted. Otherw;s.,T do nos doubt that the
people ct the spring elections, viii choose ,aen
soiicitous to heal, by every meas yyilhio tbc;r
power, the wounds inflicted OIL the cons. .tut;on
1t is a painful duty to notice this subject. hove
ever been devoted to cae uAion of The states I
would cherish and support it II every ha.ari, &
would sacrifice to its preservation every thing
Dat the rights and hbertIes ofcne section. IN com
pliaoce to the wishes of another On surl, con
ditlons 1t would be vassaiare, not un;or. T.,
yield IN the present instance, would be Welding
the government to q minority. Il is not pyectiesp'
be- however,, TO act upon the subiuct during the
present session, nor do / wlsn 1t have ,h,. NJ
most confdence in the peopla Of Massachusetts.
and nave no doubt but that their good sense viii
apply the proper corrective Il they do not. il
VIII then remain for the other s.t.s, after giy-
ing to the subject tie solemn and o=ilb-rafe con
sideration which it merits, I, Jcciae whethe.
they have a government or not, o. whether it is
compatible with their happiness aud interests To-
a government whose aois are L;ndpg
on them only who are willing to obey them whe
tner they will submit that the pubic officers Of
The us. shall be punished for tAe fafhfd per.
Torrance of their duty.
lhavc confined my observations within rs mar.
row limits as possible. 1t is not nosy necessary
to speak of our Injuries, Of tie necessity of resis
lance, nor even of the superior advantages Of anv
mode Of resistance, Tor it is believe.
a very prevalent opinion IN this house, as weu as
with the nation, that we have already delibet,
ted enough--and that IT IS jncunbent on us to
act l vii therefore very b,icAy notice some Oh
Jections l have beard to the bill. II is urged the,
ouI'products viii find their. wayto Great Britain
and France, but certainly to Great Britain, b.,
routes, and that we shall derive less