The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-14

't'F - "a 'Ai 'sNNN - 49,"
-o,s snl i. ever watbe scri -s %ica a.ree
rcfp'e are iaacVttin sotb q situation that
tncy must .i,hcr a'sandonT,-ir rights or en-
force them by risySlca! strength. Il htS'
bccn SAN the way is not the greateSt-cvii
which gould occur. Sir. consider it the
greatest evil which could bcfh our country,
except surrender OF our rights or ;rdepcn-
drnce, and that Believe tobe a greater evil,
because there il nothing in this woild worth
preserving, ii we lose cur freedom and in
dependence. Bat if this couptry is tn adopt
the principles OF the wandering Jews of l;u
rope, If we are 10 suffer ourselves 20 be strip
ped and rob'nd without resistance. and CD
tam cur livelihood by mean o. dishonest
practices, it is proper that we si;..ld pa,
ourselves under the care Of solnc European
power ior the protection OF these rights
which we have not the spirit 70 defend -
If we postpone tao REPEAL Till the FIRST OF
June VIC shall have an opportunity of again
hearing from the different powers of Eu-
rope; and OF knowing what may be the o.
peration of the public dispatches. We
snail know whether they will withdraw
their orders aud DEGREES, or whether appeal
to arms. i have always thought that when
te embargo should be removed, war must
be the result; and if l am disposed TO post
pone for 4 period an event which will al
ways be 'awful'to n country like this, gcn-
tlehlen viii! do me the justice to believe,
taat am not less willing than themselves
TO maintain the rights of the country. II
VIII give MS Voue more chance for peace
and notwithstanding the opinions which
have been expressed, I declare to God that
L am anxious for peace. But when the qucs-
ton IS between peace and a surrender OF
our rights as n nation, / am in favor or war.
/ am willing to take this one chance Of peace,
and tor that reason l am willing tor postpone
the period OF issuing Letters of MaTQue and
Reprisal, till the first OF June. | have ano-
lther reason. When this nation tries it's
strength, i am not willing that it should do
1t u~npreRared. have no IDEA that war can
be Carried OF without men. How are you to
tight, sir ! Are YOU TO arm Your merchant
Vesseis-toi let your vessel sail with all their
canvass stretched, to British ports, to take
licenses, pay tribute and disgrace their
country : HE arm!ng your merchant yes
SeiS VIII have the appearance OF resisting
taxation without doing it. What would be
the consequence of our vessels going out
armed for their protection? lou might as
Wen nail your embargo law TO their masts,
and suppose it will protect the merchant
vessels, as to think of doing it by arminr
them. The situation Of the world torbidS
the idea that we can force a trade against
Great Britain. We must raise men and
prepare to attack her where She is ~vulnera.
Die and when we have done this VIC NAV
remain quiet, till it is time to O.
peratlons. Another objection has been made
TO inserting so late a day as the first day of
June. j. Is this that we give notice to the
belligerents, that on q certain day we mean
TO make war upon. them. When we come
TO examine this objection, sir. il is nothing
Rave ,ne' gentlemen declared in their places
that Congress is to be convened TO exchange
war for embargos Have they not made
preparation tor an extra session for the pur-
pose! The British and French governments
are as well convinced of our determination,
is they can be by any resolution we may
pass. 1t cannot be an offence therefore, for
the postponement till that day is evidence of
a desire for peace. We have withdrawn
froNl the ocean our commercial capital, and
50 0o0 citizen mariners, from a desire for
peace. Whenever then the embargo be re-
pealed, 1t IS war, if the obnoxious edicts be
10 r"PSot~3, and I am wiling to postpone
TINS Change a few months, that we NAV not
disgrace ourselves to the world, and make
ourselves ridiculous at home, BY going TO
war without men. And while l make this
declaration | wash gentlemen distinctly to
understand ne, that l never will submit to
the edlcts OF the beliigerents; and also,
that l viii forevcr" vote against the removal |
of the embargo during a continuance of the |
oeii1Gcreht edicts, unless those who wish to
remove 1t will substitute war for it. And
TINS determination will maintain, even if
1t drive the whole country to rebellion -
even II driven from my scat at the point Of
the bayonet, | never will surrender Tie
rights OF nv country by a removal of the
embargo without an efficient substitute.
(De5ate 10 be continued
TUESDAY, Feb. 7, 1909.
Mr.. Macon presented a. petition of sun
GsT hlfATfat q -. "