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

icr ourselves TO De driven, step by step, b,
mercantile ctamor into a situation which ha.
raised (whetllcr rightfully or not) more ella.
NOR, from thesame parties too, than all TIE
foreign injuries about which they beset the
government. i now, therefore, propose, tina,
they be restored to that situation which, nc.
cording to their own shelving, is so enviabie
aonc, and againsr the evils of which. / hope,
they viii never again have the hardihood tc
complain to this House, O" apply for means
OF redress. 1t will, therefore. at once be per.
ceived, that i am no, friendly to that par,
OF the resolution, from which my worthy col
league on my left (Mr. Burwell) anticipa-
tea so much benefit; and for the D~lainest OF
all reasons; because l dc not conceive a
threat tobe the best mean of patching up
a rec onciliation, (and as such, d hope has
Deen expressed from that quarter, | may be
at liberty TO name it) between two parties
VINO look At each other already, perhaps.
with too Jealous an eye /; and for another rea-
on---becausc ! do not choose to put out a
distant threat, to the execution of which, Ell
Their the capacity or disposition of the coun-
try may be doubted. Sir, we have dealt in
the minat""y sort of traffic long enough, and
1 have no disposition TO be any longeriaugh-
ed at. We began with the non Importation
law. That was undoubtedly a threat for
a power was given TO suspend it, in case our
terms were complied with. Next came the
embargo: that too was to be suspended in
ease---and SO forth. Now we are c. He'd Ut
ON to hang, by a single hair, over the head
OF the beiligerents, the sword of Damocles,
to be cut some time in June next. 1t is all a
threat, sir, and, as such, must have a bad
operation OIL any negotiation which govern
ment, in its wisdsm, may think fit to COM
mence (and we have had an intimation of
that SORT Tor the purpose Of settling our diff
icrences. Nay, more, it is 7yart to commerce
in June next; and really, to my apprehensi-
on, we might, as we'll make a declaration Of
war, to take effect in the next century, as in
next June. j speak as to the power of this
House, as we'll as to the policy Of the thing.
"NNill you then submit?" Say gentlemen.
" lave you not recorded a vote that You will
not SUBMIT" Umq. cstionablv l haze, and |
7viH m5t submit. What is submission, and
what resistances By. submission, 1 under
stand either a formal remuneration Of the
thing in dispute, or a passive acqniescence
IN the claims OF your adversary. When YOU
say that you will not submit, what do you
mean? That yoa Will make the best resist
.ance thatyou can. And when we have made
TINS determination We come to the great
question OF cxpsdiency, as to what is chat
best resistance? Now, if you permit the
merchantmen 10 arm in their defence, in.
Sf0ntey', and not tell the British ministry that
you mean to arm next wear, ard go out and
fight the English and French, until they re-
woke their orders and decrees-what fol
lowss Why, sir, you not only make resist
ance, but you do it in the most honorable,
manly and efectual way, aad therefore in
the way lead;li~ most directly to a rcstorati-
on OF peace-:or to = good understanding,
Ter that fear we shat. never have. out tc
your system, Mr.. Chairman, of strands ,G.''
Can Great Britain undertake to-" "A moment
to consider, that as war upon her, which she
requires OF US 10 do, in order to maintain our
lar neutrality viz to resist the DEGREES oi
Berlin, Milan, BayoAne, Or any whe.e else ;
non-reslstance to which, is the plea for her
orders in councils? What offence can it be to
herf None, sir and yet to ali the pirati-
Cal, beneficial effects OF war, such a system
would be as c~ticient as any you can devise
as war itse.f. Can France; although in
ueed there be a sort of system within a sys-
lem there, which do not very we'll under
.stand--can France say, that your resistance
to what she calls the tyranny of the seas. JUS
tines her in taking any hostile steps against
you, supposing tito be in her power1 I'm
questionably not. France Claims the power
to issue Certain DEGREES on the ground OF En-
giahds having uSurped the empire of the
ocean. You resist that usurpati0n. These
"SCiSSS lnen, are nor, IN any respect, aDpli-
cable to you for understand your non-re-
siStance to be the sole aIcdgcd cause OF those
deCrees. England rctaliatos the system -
..Vhy' Because (as She says) you do not re-
sfst 1t. France issues htr DEGREES because
you do not resist las she aliedges) the Bri-
tiSh orders /; England issues her orders be-
cause you 90 not resist the French DEGREES
NOW, l would resist both and ifeither con
strue that resistance (Which they have both
Called upon YOU TO make) into war, and . ;,
Notwithstanding. capture your armed ships,
why, then, sir, yoI have nothing left but 20
aonoy them by every means in your power.
lt will be hey who make the war and no,
yourself; and that circumstance viii unite
every heart and hand, t~hrougboot the ccin-
try, III your cause. But, sir,I believe (altho'
/ nave not 50 much confidence us some cen
ileinen nave an The wisdom Of these a~at;oys)
t1at they have rather tor much good sense
thus to act-t.lus to drive YOU into the arms
ct the other party. Let your merchants
then, SO and arm in defence OF their lawful
trade against French DEGREES, British orders
III Council and any thing else Of a similar
stamp, and 'ct Tive nation which bv force
shaii attempt 10 execute them, know that t
rs "ar. Your resistance. according To The IT,
own shewtng, is llwfu! they hayc called for
THE Withholding it has Gccn the prctcxt
Tor their ag3re ,sioIs-and tine first gun fred
on y"u, whcn so resisting. * actual. 4 tpr,n,.
maritime var. You then tiro~ he ans on
them Yau Shew the people lhGf II was r,t