The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-28
c G r T. S S.
HOUSE or REpREsEA7n7TvES
Debate or raising The Em5aryo, and author
izing Letters Of Aarque and Rearisa!-
Continued.
CEBRuARY-I.


I'LL the blank in the resolution with tie first Of
june, he thought il properto make some remarks
on the policy which would govern his vote, and
the effects which he conceived il wouit produce.
With respect to the embargo laws (said Mr.. B )
/ atwa, lsave understood that they W. Re To cease
IN the spring or early in the sNmmcr From that
fact having been understood, the observation Of
Eay friend from Georgia, that we are compelled
by the state OF things in the Eastern c0';1try, to
take OH the embargo does nat app;y. The course.
now proposed, would be pursued. if those cir
cumstances had not produced anxiety. perfect
iy agree with the gentleman from Georgia, that
1t would be improper for this House ts give up .
wise and Just measure, because an opposition TO
1t Exists in any particular portios OF the country.
But, sir, the embargo viii certainly produce no
eject aS a c0orciv5 measure, as soon rs ii IS I'M
derstood that the opposition to it has become so
serious as 10 endanger the public tranquility
Where we enter into a contestNith tic govern.
ments of Europe, which consists in patience &
forbearance, it is not to be expected, when they
find that a change of things is probable, that they
will not perserere. They viii hold out when
they conceive that the measures OF the govern
ment viii be changed. Nothing is, TO my mind,
more clear than that this will be the effect pro.
duced on foreign governments, and that its CO
ervive effect can only be calculated on whilst we
have union IN It's support. 1t is n fact, owing +"
certain things which have taken place in a part
or the United States, that its beneficial effects
have, in a great measure, been destroyed BY eva
sions which have heretofore taken place, and
which will again take place where the people
are disposed to connive at violations of the law.
The effect OF the measure must be DESTROYED,
unless the government lake measures to e~nforc.
1t. IF the House give a pledge that it shall ey-
pire ct a certain time, l feel satisfied that every
man will. sit down quietly and encourage the ex.
ccution OF thelaw. AS to violations of the law
produced from actual suffering or pressure, l
cannot bring my mind to a beliefof it. ! believe
that the uReasiness in the Eastern country pro.
cseds entirely from AN idea that tina embargo o.
Tiginated in sn intention to destroy 0mmcrce
and 70 favor one foreign nation in preference to
another; and that If they had not their feelings
excited by this perversion Of fact, they would
bear the measure as well rs other citizens. This
has Produced this restleSsncss /; and when a
course is pursued which Will do away the ankle
ty on this subject, l believe they will bear she
measure with patience.
AS l am decidedly of opinion that when the
embargo ceases, it the causes winch produced
1T do not cease, this nation must go t. war, not
III defence of petty commercial rights, but of
rights which involve the sovereignty Of the natl
on, L am disposed to put off the period 1T which
it shall commence, that we may have asother OPP
portunity to appeal TO the interests Quot to the
justice OF the beihgerents which, in my opini-
en-, will produce a beneficial effect. What will
D he ettec. Of passing the latter part OF the re
solution offered by my colleague Why, that il
the orders and DEGREES be not withdrawn before
a certain day, letters OF fnarque and reprissl VIII
be Issued againstbo,h beliigereats, o. against the
one which perscyeres. How ~ili this affect our
disputes abroad II France recedes from her
DEGREES and Gie>t- Britain rescinds her orders,
ofcourse We shail then be az peace with BOTH
Suppose France were to refuse, and Gre4 Al bri-
tain were 10 think proper to withdraw her or.
ders III council, wat would then be the state Of
thugs } You stand involved in a war with
France, because you have pledged yourself, and
YOU are lhe only branch OF tie government who
Car mske sucL i pledge. Mr.. Canning in his
letter Of TIE Esd of September, seems TO have
founded ar objection to a proposition made by
MI. Pinkney, because he did not make it directly
and officially fiom his government, but AS ali ex-
pressisu of his opinion, that it would he agreed
TO by his government. repeat then, thatit this
House will take the ground proposed, the assu-
rance is strong that they viii Withdraw their or
ders IN council they certainly will, ifthey choose
to see the United States involved in tie prosecu-
ton Of the war against France. l submit it to
Ecnelcfnea- whether itbe ofsufi lest Importance
that we should bear ills embargo Till The Est Of
June, toleave to the government lower To make
that sort of offer, and present IN t result to the
European bclligerents. Our administration has
her etofore had no power to make such a pledge :;
but If the measures of Congress would autho-
rise the President 10 make such an offer of al
ternatiyes, l think it would produce IN adjust
ment
Butts objected to, as pledging the r:xt Con-
sress, as passing & law now, to govern them
when they meet. Ifany thing should happen be-
tween now and the next meeting of Congress,
would it not be perfectly competent to them to
repeal the law in whole or inpart! Nothing can
be more clear or evident than that you will not
embarrsss tie succeeding Congress or mark out
for them q course which they viii be compelled
to pursue should be the last msn, in this
House, who Youldintimate any thing like a new
propUsil~ N TO either of the b. iugerents, were it
not for the last letter oT Mr.. Carning, in which
he expresses hope to Mr.. Pimkney that they
shall still be able to settle the differences between
the two nations on amicabie terms. When they
express a desire OF that kiad, I should always he
ready 20 meet them. Whether the desire be sin
cere or no ii is not for me to say, but | am dis
posed to accommodate them with an opportunity
OF proving their sincerity. II would unite US
and this state OF things, in my opinion, aided by
the events taking place in Europe, wilt induce
them to accommodate with us. Every body
knows how the hopes Of the British government
and people were eIntcdby the events taking place
in Spain In propo: ton as their hopes, from that
quarter diminish, they will feel more disposed to
2 enjoy that which they have lost by
their own irnrrudence and iiliberality. 1t is OBJ
iected that by dis course, you will apprise the
beliigeTents 0ftIe time when you will
hostiiiiies, and BY that means will en- bic them TO
escape the effect Of your intended measures Of
hoetiIitv. But, sir, il is well known that il was