Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-03-20

cedented in this country, and beng irrecon-
cileable to the ninds OF thoseto be restrain
ed, itwould produce daily temptations 70 a
breach of the laws and the multiplied Gus
tom-house oaths--it woald blow up the
GOALS Of dissention, and give an opport4ni-
ty to those who were opposed 70 the adml-
nlstraton to represent the want OF wisdom
in those who promoted the measure as a
want of patriotism, and thereby destroy the
peoples confidence in those whom they had
hitherto respected. Above all, it wculd be
relinquishing the whole use OF the oceanic
those who claimed 70 restrain Us partially
On that element, by giving to them all, and
more than al they asked for, the whole car
ryiug trade OF the world part Of which
Ieing nearly the whole matter Of contest,
we should preclude oursely-s from any, G
ven the remotcst hope OF their coming to
any terms we could propose, for we could
propose no terms to them that would be G.
ventually so advantageous to that powerful
rival England, as our total abandonment OF
that rivalship which alone can be seriously
alarming to her as a nation.
For my opposition to the embargo Twas
denounce,s as an oppositionist, a federall8t,
minority-man. Vet after the embargo
gentry have had fifteen months experiment
of their strong measure as they emphatically
called it, they are convinced, that their strong
measure possessed none OF the healing pro-
pertcs they assured the natiou 1t possessed;
they are convinced that it was not wise
measure, and that its strength could be APP
piled with effect only against our own peo-
pie. Their promises that it would coerce
other nations to our views are found to be
no more than empty words. Bonapafte
praises the measure, and the British mo-
march tells our ambassador sneeriEgy that
" although our government Processes to have
done this thiag without design against his
nation, it did happen at time most cafcll-
lated for them to feel It's full force, and al
though he would be wiling to contribute to
our reilet from the pl, ssure OF the embargo
yet he cannot think Of yielding up to us a
weapon he has taken up against his enc
my, the exercise Of which he considers as
necessary to the existence Of his nation, and
he tells our miniStcr that after a fair trial
how much these commercial restrictions
viii affect each nation, we shall probably be
better neighbors."
Thus while it is proved that tie embargo
has done no good abroad, il has produced at
home every Calamity dreaded. The re-
port Of the secretary OF the treasury tells
you. that the d9falcation in the revenue is
such that lean will be necessary next year
your OWL empty pockets, tire stoppage Of
law for the collection OF debts, ard the ma
b!i!ty OF many OF your neig5bors to meet
thelr engagements remind you Of the losses
& dlsapPolntnents occas!oned by the reduc-
ton OF the price Of the produce Of our coun-
Try, The high, (nearly double wages the
ship owners have 10 give 10 tle few remain
ing seamen, proves the emigration of the
greater part Of that useful class ofmcn; the
great number OF vessels reported by the Sc
cfetary OF the treasury to have broken rtlro'
the embargo laws proves the injury appre-
hended to the morality of the nation, Wills
the profit made by the embargo breakers and
the safe and profitable return to our porrs of
almost all the vessels abroad at the time it
was laid, amoua1ingto about one half, proves
mat comparatively little injury would have
been done TO the American ship owners had
they been left to manage for themselves, and
that 1t has not saved but injured that class Of
citizens.
The election Of so many members of the
new Congress opposed to the embargo laws
SogethsI with the bold opposition to those
avs by the legislatures Of some Of the north
ern states with their determination to give
them no support, proves the truth of what
was apprehelded on that score, as well as
'hews to. every unprecedented eye the unfit !
ness and lnaptitude ofsuch a torpid measure !,
Tor TIE p.enins Of an actit,e. enlinhtcned and /.