The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-07
[ No. IT,.

ana they would have been much more me.
rited Ibis singular freak of Dassinrate in
Vectve is, to me, understandable The pen-
ueman from Connecticut, (Mr. Hinhu1se)
gives me great credit for my candor, mas
Sr'oihS the commercial prosperity of the u.
states TO the British treaty The gentlemen
is entirely mistaken i'm this statement
admit the fact of our commercial prosner;.
IG.; but ascrbe it toits proper causes. ia
| VIII: the encouragements given TO it by the
government, and he enterprise and taIentx
Oh ourfc'sow-ctizens l am willing to admit
that the British treaty had not so bane!,l an
| enect upon society, as To have proven ed
thIs commercial Prosperity hut it is the
| last Cause to which, think, it can Droner-
| ty be attributed Ifhowever, sir. I had re-
ally been convinced, or supposed, that me
Dritish treaty had been instrumental in pro-
ducing that eject, / should have no hesi.a-
non IN admitting the face, notwith standing
my opposition to il. / am very far from
deeming my opiaions infallible: l have of
en- experienced their fai ibiiity and when
ever shall be Convinced of an error, shall
ICE, no am 1u'ty In evowing rhe Conviction.
Inc next circumstance TO which | shall adj.
Ner1 is me extraordinary suggestion, that
the emba go is intended to be made perma-
men his is most singular notion and
nothing but the respect feel for the cand 4
ana sincerity OF tho gentlemen who sugscse
H. Could induce me to believe that they are.
III earnest. Ireally before thought, Mr.. PreX
siuent, 1t was merelS what should cali an
eiectloneering watch word.--I never
eApected that it could have had any operati-
onoeyond the eectioneeriog ground. No. sir.
the embargois not intended to b. permannnt.
But Sir let US wait little while, before we
make ourselves bloody in the wars of Enrope.
Let us nave little patience, little self de-
MAJ am as much opposed TO permanent
emoargo as either of the gentlemen from
Massachusetts or Conrecticut: thi.k tho
idea perfectly absurd Ian as ready tofg t
tor the otrfhright of the .,cean as either e
ZIG se"tiei"eh but. sir, never wil consent
10 raise The embargo until some measures
snail De substituted, better calculated tn as-
sert ana maintain our national right. and ma,
tional independence measures Of more acx
'Ni'y ard more energy l am not certain,
SIT that this is not the time for their adopti.
OH Dut, SIR nogreat mischief can arise from
waiting a little longer waiting events in Eu~
rope now in a state of rapid succession.
ne next fact suggested, which shall no.
uce' IS, That the embargo has arrested and de-.
seroyed commerce. / think very differentlye
ithink IL mas been, & still is, a shie!d inier&
posed tor the protection of commerce French
eolicts and British orders would have te.troy-
ca commerce; but the embargo, hore, has
saved IL 1t is very easy to say that = e em-
oarSo destroyed commerce because lie wesS.
the act Immediately preceding its suspeus ON,
and is easily resorted to as the proxim lie.
cause: but there is such thing as an orig--
nj or primitive cause: this was the French
edicts and British orders Tnese would have
caused Its entire destruction; but they crusa
sea the embargo which caused he suspenc
sion of commerce, and has, hope, shielded
it from destruction.
f
P'ckering] has taken great pains to snew
that the orders OF council hid no nf,eace in
producing the embargo laws I think this
circumstance of no sort of consequence to
the community, but the gentleman seems to-
thinS 1t is OF the last importance to himself
individually. 1t probably is; suppose ne
stands committed to the public upon that fact
was not present at the time OF passing the
mrs. embargo law; bat the gcHt,cman's la4
Dor has perfectly convinced me, that he is ut.
terry mistaken in the fact. Let me critical
ly examine the gentleman's evidence. First.
ne SAYS. that the orders are not mentioned i'm
the presidents message; and secondly, that
the secretary OF state refers Mr.. Pinkney ia.
the presidents message for the cause of the
embargo laws. have examined the pre-
sident,s message, and think 1t perfectly COR
rect, the gentlemans angry inyectives 20 the
contrary notwithstanding. ! de not believe
the gentleman could now frame as good IN
one, after all the lights, which time and q
further disclosure of events have shed upon
the subject. Permit me now, Mr.. President,
to call your attention in particular manner
, to the contents of this message. The COM
munications row made. showing the great
& increasing dangers, with which 1ur vessels.
our seamen and mcrciand re. are threatens.
ed on the high seas and elsewhere from the
b@ESercnt toners Of Fnrohe. and it beinp.
OF the greatest importance TO keep in safety
these essential resources, &c &c" Now, sirI
what were the communications accompany
ing this message9 The correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Armstrong and Mr.. Champagnv,
| showing that the BerlR decree was in stare
! OF execution, which had before been suspenA
ded in its operation in relat on to the United
States. But, says the gentleman. no papers
were communicated respecting these orders
of council, and therefore the gentleman in
| ters that no approximations existed, which
could influence this transaction. I draw a
| very different Inference from the message t.
self presume the communication Of this
| hostile act of France, so immediayelv afterit
was known to the executive, ard avoiding a,
| direct reference to the apprehended Hostility
ut Great Britain, could not be conceived toI
&c an act Of favoritism towards France -.
! That some hostile act from Great Brita;s