The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-07
CONGRESS.
SE.N.47lE OFIHE UNITED STATES.
FRIDAY, Dec 9.
EMBARGO DEBAPE-CONTINUED.


Mr. GHes-Mr. PkEsIDENr-Isi sincerely
regret, sir, to ind myself driven again into
this debate whilst every feeling of my
heart admonishes me to retirement / sin
cerely wish to retire, not only from this de-
bate. but from the political world ] ain
now acting only in obedience to a sense Of
duty. shall, however, limit my remarks
to as te'y objects as may be consistent with
this obligation They will principally re-
late to facts, which, in my judgment, have
been incorrectly stated and of course re-
qmre correction The first fact, to which l
snail call the attention of the senate, is the
enc stated by the gentleman from Connecti-
cut, (Mr. Hiilhouse) & repeated by the gen.
tieman from Massachusetts, (Mr Pickering)
that the nou-importation act was an obstruC-
ton to an amicabie adjustment with Great
Britain Both the gentlemen have stated
that u. Britain would not treat with this
rod suspended over her head / assert, on
the other hand, that she did treat with this
rcd suspended over her head, and that It's
suspension was continued at the request of
the British comm sSioners. Now, sir, let us
resort 10 the evidence. This will be found in
the correspondence from Messrs. Monroe &
Pinkney, to MIR. Madison Speaking Of
lord Holland, these gent emen tell us, he
saiu hat In the mean ime we could
state to our government, what was unques-
tionably true, that those with whom we
were treating were diligently and anxiously
employed, IN endeavors TO devise an ar
raIsement which should be convenient and
honorable to us, and at the same time free
iiom improper hazard to g. Britain that 1t
appeared to him that the actual tendency
% the negotiations here, unless their slnccri-
ty were dlstrusted, as he was sure it would
not DC, would furnish an adequate motive
20 congress, lor merely postponing the COM
mencement OF law which was originally
very strong measure, and would certainly, if
allowed to go into operation at moment
u. Britain was affording, in the face of the
world, an unequivocal demonstration of her
"ish to remove every ground ofmisunder-
standing between us, acquire character of
extreme harshness that 1t was greatly to
be iamented that the discussions i'll which
we were now engaged, had not been sooner
begun but that knowing, as we did, to
what cause the delay was to be ascrbed,
we knew also, that it was unavoidable"
% these details we take the liberty to
add our opinion, formed upon careful
view OF tie whole subject, that 1t would be
proper upon 'he meeting OF congress in Dec
emocr, to suspend the act forprOhi6iting The
importation OF certain articles of British
manufacture, so as to afford farther time for
the completion of the negotiations which it
evidently preSumes and which are now in
train"
" The ground which congress have taken
IN this just and saiutary measure, VIC are
far from wishing to abandon; but to suspend
and to abandon il are very different
things. The last would wound deeply the
honor OF the nation, and PROSTATE the cha
racter g the government; but the first is
In perfect conformity with the spirit and
purpose of The law, and while it would fur
nish signal proof of the equity and mode
ration OF our public councils, would preserve
unimpalred, that firm and digniGed attitude
winch 1t becomes us at all times, but now
especially, to maintain. The suspension
viii be so far from relnqsishing the mea-
sure or weakening its effect, that it will dis
tinctiy imply re- assertion Of its principle
and policy, and an unsh; ken resolution &c
act upon ana enforce it, as soon as negocia-
ton snail have been sufficiently and unsuc-
cessiui;y tried"
| Our ministers here state, that snshen
zion of this act was all that was required b,
} the British coz 1Issioners. We also know
that the Commissioners of beth sides, did 70
ON 70 nc gacia;c, and thata treaty was con
c'udce on, without il, being once minated
that inis act formed the smallest obstruction
| 70 the ncSooiatiun or had any Influence ],
the smallest degroe injurious Co tho provision
OF The treaty Bat, sr ] tbink1llis act fa
cIhtated and accelerated the M Cociation. }
wiz be recolccted that before the passagi
OF this act, every effort OF our minister Il
negotiate had been cither avoided or refuscd
= a - rA am 4 .