The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-14


from the distinguished and deserved charac.
Iter for talents, which be had acquired. bu.
because he had no idca, .;hs, n debate would
have taken place to-day after the Gecis.r,,
OF yesterday ; still less that i woi.id lave tn.
ken the course which it had assumed. But.
I~conhding in the policy and Justice of the law
to which the proposition under. considcyati.
ON was intended as Il substitute, & well know
ing tina the sceptrc OF truth IN the hands, e.
ven OF imbecility, becomes oTnipc,ent, he
would IN q plain and simple sty.e. Law opcr
to the house his view Of The subject. He
would not pursue The course Of tie gentle
man by appealing from their Judgements Ia
their passions, but undertake by ar-amen,
To dlssipate the gloomy disasters which the
gentleman had permitted himself to antici-
pate as the concomitants of the bill under
inc influence OF which anticipations, he had
with the Canvas before him, dippedhis PEN
Gil In Colours Il the darkest d, t, and exhi-
bited a mostt' rifle picture to the house. 1t
would bel lg t. himto sl,ew, that this picture
was the progeny of a heated imagination, be-
gotten by the phantom of error.
The interruption of the ordinary current of
justice cannot but be a fruitful theme of de-
clamation. That it is calculated 70 do some
INJURY, is readily conceded and thatit ought
never to be resortcd to, except ON extraordi-
nary occasions, is equally true. This is a fun
|damentait truth ever held sacred in this coun
Try, ana hence we see it has never been de-
farteq from, except in times of embarrass-
ment produced by an interruption of those
relations, which are as important to the EROS
peiity OF society as the dispensation of JUS
tee Itself. But why this glamour about vio-
lated faith! Does not the substi ute itself pro-
pose aiifcrent mode and time for the reco-
very Oh the debt, than was contemplated by
the partics? So that our difference of opini-
on is not upon principle, but upon it's modif i
cation. The interesting question for our de
Termination is, whether for the present we
shall shea,he the sword of justice, and by
promoting concord and harmony among our
people, unite the feelings and concentrate the
efforts CT our people against our common en-
emies, or whether we shall permit the hua
CRY and cold hearted creditor and specula-
tor IN obese disastrous times to stalk a.
broad TO the terror and dismay and ruin of
our people? For one, he was decidedly of o.
pinion that, for the present, policy required,
and justice itself did not forbid it,
he debts heretofore contracted. were en-
lered Into upon an understanding, that things
wo"ld remain nearly III &tatu quo. A species
O. prnperty, which cost G1OO would not now
under the hammer OF the auctioneer produce
htty. In addition to this, if you consult the
interest of Creditors, you will find i'm many in
stances that tnlt interest would be cornpro-
mrtcd. State the case, that many debtors up-
ON former prices could pay all their debts f.;
from the sacrifice ~inscparab.y incidentto the
present times, his property will not only be
sacrlhced, but the creditors will lose their
debts, except indeed The unfeeling creditor
WHO in despite Of the distress Of his dcbtor;
mas gone OH to ENFORCE the recovery of his
deDt, although the entire ruin of the debtor
was the result; a class of people certainly
not entitled exclusively to the sympathies of
this house,
Bat passing from this consideration to one
much more important and comprehensive
let us, said Mr.. b enquire how it has hap
pened, that we are in this state of things {;
an enquiry rendered important, not only be-
cause %otitselt, it has a most important bear
ing, out because some illusions nave been
made By the gentleman, as to our want of
feeling for the condition of the mercantile
part of the community.
In consequence of an unexampled series of
aggression by the powets of Europe annual
~ more and more aggrava,iDg, in the per
petiation or which, laws human and divine
nave been tramDled under foot, the govern
n'ent OF tile u States has adopted a course,
"hich mas deservedly experienced the appro-
bation OF this house on divers occasions. -
witi be readily conceived, that the embargo
is alluded to. But whilst the people have
been willing, for the preservation ofnational
nonor and independence, TO Weld to its pri.
VatIons. the continuance &C which on acconnt
OF ITS duration is perhaps the most eAtraor-
binary fact in the history of nations. and
JnStifled only but by a new epoch in human
affairs ana an acquiescencc on the part of the
people, the most honorable evidence Of their
patriotism, they do expect thar as this is a
struggle, in which ali are Interested, tina.
the consequences thereof should not devolve
exclusively on one portion, and that too, the
least able 10 bear them.
contemplate the case Of Il man IF wealth.
ana an unfortunate debtor. The latter, il
"iiil:rcaiily be admitted, ought -ot to boa,
more than his proportion Of tbc loss. Yet,
no" does the Fact stand! a dollar III the
hands OF a maj of wealth is wovth double as
much rs 1t was at the of the
embargo, provided you FORGE a sale. SO fai
therefore, from the embargo having Injured
hin, It has increased the real value of his
estatc. II 2 sale is not forced, the pro.
perry Of no man will be sacrificed because
an sales Beng voluntary, will be regulated
by what was the price formerly, or NJ least in
a Considerable degree. Is il right then &c
force sales by which the unfortunate debto,
VIII but too much feel the privations Of the
Embargo, and which in the same degree
mat 1t Impoverishes the pocr man witiiou;
money, sweil5 the estate aad enhances the
cofcrs of>thc man with money?
But il IS necessary here to reply, to the re.