Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-04

r i,sed as ) weapon against G. E. Il drawn a
cra;rst her. il was necessary TO be put into.
snch situation as certainly TO effect It's par-
pose. If drawn, it was not TO be sheatned,
until this had been done, or until IT had
reached the marrow and the vltals OF the e.
nemv. But with such a purpose, a limited
embargo would have been a nsrveless wes!-
bon. AT every term OF It's limitation, 1t
would have been under the control OF this
House; body deeply responsible to the
people, liable intimately TO be affected by
their feelings and passions. These would
have instantly operated upon this House,
which never could have been brought TO
continue the measure one moment longer
than it was for the interest and eonsentanl.
Gus to the wishes OF the mass OF their fci-
low citizens. But if the intention was to
keep if possible these restrictions upon the
people, until they effected their OBJECT at AL
hazards. then no other course could be a
dopted but that Of unlimited embargo. The
whole commercial power given to us by the
constitution, was thus transferred 2osolute-
" to the President and twelve men, III The
other branch Of the legislature. Men, from
their situation and their tenure OF Office, not
SO likely to be affected by the interests o.
the people, or SO able to sympathlse with
them. as the members OF this House. lit
were intended then to keep this instrument
of coercion aloof from the influence OF the
people, SO that it might be maintained long
after they had ceased to appreciate 1t, THIS
was the only course which cohl o. a
dopted. This House could not be trusted
with the power Of rc-enacting it. The wea-
pom would be shortened and weakened, u
it remained in our control. But In the ex-
elusive possession OF the President and II
men, its whole force might be welded with
the greatest possible efficacy. 1t is from
this feature of the embargo law reconci!ea-
bic to no other intention than predetsrml-
nation to perssvere in it aloof to the peo-
pies suferings, until it had effected, if pos
sibe, its object, as well as from the actual
obstinacv OF adherence after the most ma
nifest symptoms q discomfort, in the COM
mercal states, that l draw the conclusion,
that such was the original determination OF
administration. And not only SO, but
am perfectly of opinion, that such is sill
their intention, and that if the people will
bear it, this embargo will be continued not
only until next Nav, but until next Sep
tember. Yes, sir, to next May twelve
month. Having this conviction, sense Of
duty obliges me to declare 1t and thus to
state the reasons of it.
| come now to my third position. Not
only that embargo was resorted to, as a
mean of coercion but that from the first,
it was never intended by administration to
10 any thing efectual, for the support of
our maritime rights. Sir, ( an. sick, sick
to loathing of this eternal cal1ior of 6 war,
war, war" which has been kept up, almost
necessarily on this floor now for more than
two years. Sir, If can help it, the old
women of this country, shall not be fright
ened in this way any longer. have been
long time close observer of what has
been done and sad by the majority Of this
house. and for one, l am satisfied that no
insult, however gross, Offered to US by either
France or Grgat Britain, could force this
ma GRITTY into declaration of war. To use
a strong bat common expression. 1t could
not be kicked into such declaration by eli
cher nation. Letters are read from the Bril-
fish minister. Passions are excited by his
sarcassns. Men get up and recapitulate in
Its. They rise and exclaim perfdy,"
: robbery" " falsehood," " murder"
: C Unbacking' hearts with yards and eNa
cursiag, like. a very drab, a scusH0n."
Sir-Is this the way to maintain national
honor or dignity? Is it the way to respect
abroad or at home !? Is the perpetual reca-
pitulation of wrongs the ready path to re-
dress, or even. the means to keep alive
:..a4 1900. e .L... -: 81.