The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-28

AN argtrme nt intended TO prevent any thisg like
RESISTANCE 10 Great Britain, at the very moment
when they tell you that 4 war with her would be
ru'nous to you . They laugh at the idea of ar
tectmg Creat-Britain, and say she will crush you
IN a moment and yet YOU are called upon no. to
resist her, lest, by SO doing, YOU ovcrturn OF ieo-
pardize her at pleasure, and destroy the barrier
between you and France. l ask gentlemen IL
these arguments do not destroy each other, l
really have listened to arguments of this sort
with establishment that gentlemen in one breath
|. should say that you can do nothing :, injure G..
Britain, ahd III the next breath, caution you q
gs;liist proceeding IN yAiir GG% erstions against her,
lest You should create q degree ofnrcssure which
shat; destroy that inyincibie eower whom YOU
cannot touch But il has appeared 10 me that
this very arSument which has had a great deal
of we igttm the nation, which has cooled many
who would be disposed. under other views of,he
subject. to defend the rights of the nation, is 1T
terry out OF the question. The gentleman ..rs
that commercial restrictions is useless that If
you pr vent foreign nations from corning Ia your
custom house, they will smuggie. Sir, The oriy
means by which Gceat-Br;tain can be vitality at
tackled Or destroyed, is, by this sort of REGULATE
on which the gentleman says is nothing. Tie
mode IN which the co1.merce of Great. Dritain a.
attacked on the continent OF Europe. as bv excl
ding her commerce from thc ports Of that couiI
try. Nso, and the gentleman says it is harmless,
how is the existence OF Grea; Britain endanser.
ed uy this formidable combination ca tho conil.
meat? And yet, sir, I understood that "a be the
dfttto at the gentieman's whole argument As
Tor tue commercial resources, capital and money,
winch ttlat nation has TO sustain itself against a
ny other nation, nothing is more clear To me than
that she possesses them now rs much as ever she
did. l consider her more safe, Infinitely more
safe than .s!is ever has been that she is in no sort
al danger. That argument may be retortel on
me, and lmay be asked why would l contend
wGA 4 nation which I admit to be 50 strong |
shall certainly admit that we could not DESTROY
lhe British navy, or coerce her to any terms
Which would be degrading to herself; nor would
/ ever wish 1t. whilst Ifeel for the honor eli
my own government, l should never wish that a.
ny government should commit its rights TO any de-
mand of the United States.
me gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Danal
yesterday seemed to be much at a loss 10 CON.
ceive how the United States could enter into the
triple war. The gentleman placed the subject
in alarlgh.ole point of view, aud [ was cert,inIy
amused by his wit though not convinced by has
arguments. But, sir, If We were TO commence
hosti!itles agairSt both these nations, would any
man beiieNe tnat the war against beth would con
tiius ior any ieugth OF unic Certainly nor
there can be no doubt tigt one of tenn would
meet you on stch terms as to enable ,ou to car
~ on inc comba as ~,insttlle other, till your rights
were acSnowiedg,I / The gentleman OUGHT TO
nave recoilected, when he c1mbsied this lea Of
nighttime lsu'rai'y, that II nri5!aateL an ;la; side
OF the House. What has been The compliant
on that side OF the House. w ~ that We di!
not maintain our neutrality, by making our
commercial measures operate with strict IN oar
t'aiity against bpth oftne belligerenis. If out.
measures operate equally on both, il will hive
IroVed That we We're not more hostile to ore
dian to The other, and thus one strong source OF
Objection to our measures will b. removed
do call upon gentlemen Oh the other side of
ule House most Sc riously to consider this nronn-
Sit.on, and TO view il ia the aspect IN which 7 awe.
presented 1t. I'll know myself l am siucerei,
anNi"'is 10 preserve peace with both these beiii-
serents. ! do believe that the result which I
hsve mentioned would follow the course propo-
sed TO the Howse that il France would recede
from her DEGREES your peace would be settled
with botl-that England world then rcgokc her
orders OF conrsc, Us the only grou,,d on ~tich
Sac has ever pi.ced them would be removed
i Fgince refuses, ii will enable the British GU
YerIlmcnt To accommodate Wiil YOU 10 make you
i'er friend, and throw you in The scale against
her enemy. Hgentlemcn view the. subject IS [
do, they will conceivc TIA there IS hut one course
proper TO be pulsuett-to pcrseyerc IN tie cmbar-
gotll this intelligence four determination can
have reached Europe and an answer be received.
torn you take Of! the embargo tomorrow, who
Their lie House determine to defend It's rights
by defensive war o. enforce taem by offensive
war, HE effect which l propose vii! be destroyed
-hecausc, # yJI take oil the einbirgc, 1 shall
be egregiouaiy mistaEenif we are not irvclvetiin
war III SIX weeks or two months, and . Sar too
III which you viii lose tllyour property on the
seas at one sweep 1 thini, therefore, that gen.
uenlen seriously disposed 10 cultivate peace with
those nations will enforce The embargo for if K
be not enforced. too, shall be for t9king it off,
me state OF things IN Europe now, is particular.
y favorable to t!is appeal and I am convinced
that such IS the respect which gentlemen owe to
the people whom they represent, some course
must be taken to support our rights, and not, BY
submission, endanger the peace &: independence
ct this country for ever. l have expressed my
views, sir, Of The subject. The House will le
eide Tor Themselves, and take The course waic!
they think b.st. II they determine to take oF
tue embryo ON the 18th February, or any otlc9
day before the FIRST of June, however 1 may la
rnent 1t, will cooperate in taxing other ines-
sures.
(Debate to be c%Ontinned.)