Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-06
~. Giles's S9gech continued. J

;ect. Mr.. Presidents, which fills we with re-
bret. know It's delicacy, sir, and deeply
regret the necessity which iTnpcls the exa-
y,ination OF it. It is however rendered IN
dispensible, perhaps by exterior events -
but certainly by obervations made n the
course of this debate. 1 allude, Sir, to the
inexecuticn of the embargo laws; orrather,
3 sir, TO the suggested incapacity Ct the 60
vcrnment to enforce their observance. Inc
gentleman from Connecticut, (Mr. Hill-
house tells MS, directly, that the govern
ncnt has not power to enforce the execu-
zion of these Laws. The gentleman from
Massachusetts Mr.. LLOYD even points out
the mode CT resistance. He tells us they
may be resisted first by town meetings,
then By petitions, then BY legislative reso-
buttons, and finally, by ins;1rrections and
rSbeilions. Mr.. Lloyd ross 10 explain.
lie said, C lie did not say that this would De
the course of events. He only stated them
ebsusctlv, rs probable results from those
laws.pl The gentleman is correct III his
SsAtement. meant to be understood, as
stating his observations in that way. 1t
cannot escape observation, however, Mr..
President, that this % the practical progress
now going on in the state, the gcntlenan
siaS the honor.to represent.
Ii is submitted to the patriotism and good
5 9ensc Of those gentlsmen to determine, 1se-
sher mentioning these circumstances, ever
in that way, may rot have some tendency
90 produce effects, which must be SO much
deprecated BY ali and permit me 70 nope,
SIR, by qone more than by ti;ose gentlemen.
Add, whether, sir, they ars not calculated
10 keep up the delus;ons in foreign nations,
Miich, I believe in God, to BE the rlinci-
pal causes Of our present endorsements.
These circumstances were the lees to &c ex-
Yected from, gentlemen, who q, few years
AGO. afro2at-d to themselves the exclusive
appellation Of lovers osorder and good 60
yrrnmens, wnilst their political opponents
were denounced as anarchists end d;sorga-
mixers, and not even possessing virtue and
honesty enough TO be trusted with the pa'b-
Tic treasury. This, sir, was ga Imposing
speculation and as long as lis sincerity WAS
conhded in, it preserved these gentlemen
in the dominion Of the United States.
1t vas hardly to be expected that these
gentlemen would now be found the first to
aound the alarm in favor Of anarchy and
confusion ner was it TO have been expect
ed, sir, that the eastern states, which were
The first 70 press the constitution upon US,
and which have reaPed a golden harvest
from its operations, should be the first to
wish to absolgc themselves from It's sacred
obligations.
But, Mr.. President, I believe this 60
vcrnment does possess power sufficient to
enforce the embargo laws. The real cha
rscter OF our government seems to be en-
tirely misunderstood by foreigners, and no.
fully appreciated by some OF our own citi-
zens. It has al the strength of cxscutioa,
~ith the most dcspotic government. upon
earth. II Is aided too by the kpowledge Of
every citizen; that when It's Will is pro-
sonnced, it is the fair expression Of the will
OF the majority. The checks of this govern
nent arc exclusively upon It's deliberations,
not upon its powers of eaecnti0n. So Ear
from 1t, that the constitution has expressly
provided, that the government should pos
sSss all means necessary and proper for ex-
ecusing Its specific powers. There is no Ii
Saisation whatever, upon the means for ex-
ecuting the general will, when fairly and
deliberately pronounced. Nothing could
be more absurd than TO suppose, that when
90 many checks had beeu imposed upon de-
liberation in pronouncing the public will, af-
Ger that viii was thus pronounced, that any
xaesns, whatever, for its execution, should
BE withheld.
Again, sir, the fundamental principle of
our government Is, that tho majority shall