Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-03-23

remain In force. Most certainly the people
Of this country never intended 20 subject to
the discretionary power Of thirteen, one OF
their most essential and Invaluable fi8ata.
If the existence, CT the apprehension, ol
war would justify a temporary embargo,
the spirit OF the constitution would demand
that it should be imposed tor short and
definite period SO as to require from time
TO time the same concurrence Of opinion TO
continue it, which now is required for Us
removal.
In the act of congress passed on the ninth
day of January last Tor enforcing tie pre-
ceding embargo act, this legislature see
with extreme pain a perseverance IN TIE
system, which has proved SO injurious to
the country. But they are still more alarm
cd from examining some OF the provisions
Of this act, which appeared to them hostile
to the dignity and independence OF tins
commonwealth, and subversve OF the civil
liberty and constitutional rights OF us citl-
zeas. They see there, the rights OF md
yiduaIs subjected to The arbitrary wall OF an
executive ogicer. instead q Being defined
and secured by Standing laws; secret ana
variable instructions and orders OF the pre-
sident,cntitlcd to equal respectwith the laws
&C the land an indefinite and almost p4-
limited authority given to the officers OF 'ile
customs, without any warrant from CYL.
magistrate, to search for and seize the pro-
perry OF the citizens excessive sure1les re-
CURED Of men who are not even charged
with any offence and excessive hnc5 ana
penalties imposed; individuals exposed 70
losscs and penalties Tor actions which were
LAWFUL at tie time OF committing them and
the beneti OF a trial by jury in nan! c"ses
virtually denied. II any citizen VINO seq
grieyed Should apply ;of redress 70 tlc laws
and judicial courts af the commonwealth,
their process may be lmpedcd, ther officers
| resisted ana th>i authority PCT at defiance
| by the standing army CT the 1. s. under
! the command OF any inferior officer empow-
cred by the president. Thus Nhencycr q
petty officer shall be found hardy and ad-
yenturous enough to exercise the authority
conferred BY tbs act, the sovereignty and
independence Of the state viii be hunlb!ed
in tie dust; or It's government muct vindl-
cate by force its dignity and its honor, and
may be consequently involved in elyll
{ war.
This legislature cannot review without
{ tbs most painful emotions the measures Q:
the general goYlrnmsnt, w'lith they have
| here been considering. IEey cameo with
| out the rlost gloomy approximations, coEt@in.
! plate th4 probable consequences q peIsc-
verarce III those measures. They are con-
strained respectfully but most rlslequivoca!-
~, to declare their conviction that the scve-
| ral laws before referred to, which ;uterdict
the foreign commerce Of the Z. STAGES, and
which have imposed numerous ery.h;irrass-
mcnts on the coasting trade must have orlgl-
mated i'll nisconsuuction Of the federal
constitution thar they are contrary to the
, spiri. and intention OF that Instrument AM
are not warranted " any OF the powers
therein given by the people to TIC congress
OF the L. S. IN tie hope q preventing any
further evil consequences nom these nlea =
scrcs, and with tie most arden. desire 70
| preserve iLviolatc The constitution OF these
| states, and 10 remove every s0urG2 q dis
content and jealousy among tx, different
members Ct the union, this legislature ii,
soieinnly demonstrate against the several
acts OF congress tor imposing and enforcing
the embargo , and do earncstly rcqae9t yo,i'
honorable bod to take Tive same mo your
most serious consideration, and by repeating
them to restore eh's people TO thcii former
cnviabie state OF treedom, prosperity and
! happiness.