Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-14
CONG ESS.
Senate Of the United States.
THURSDAY, NoveMbfr 50.
EMBARGO.
DEBdTE on J4r. Hilihouse's motion for a
repeak
[coSr1NuEp.1

MR.. PICKERING.--Mr. President,
the ample discussion already given to the
resolution on your table, leaves me nothing
to detail on the effects produced by the en-
barge, in regard to France, to England, to
ourselves. On the two great belligerents,
practical men, who knew the characters and
resources of those nations, foresaw & pro-
nounced, that 1t zuould make no impression.
This we all know now to be the fact-while
we ourselves severely feel its pressure
Why then not remove it? Because, as we
are told, those two nations have violated
our neutral maritime rights !; and seeing,
that to compel their respect for these, we
imposed the embargo, and they treat the
measure with contempt, to remove 1t would
be submission. SO we will endeavor to
conceal our modification and because we
cannot injure them, we will continue to pu-
nish ourselves. TO renew our commerce,
while their DEGREES and orders remain I'M
cancelled, would, we are told, be "abject
and degrading submission )" and that we
have but this alternative, Ito make war
with both nations, or continue and en-
force the present suspension OF our COM
merce."
lthas been Justly remarked, by the gen
tleman from Connecticut (Mr. Hillhoase)
that to run away and abandon our rights is
AFFECT and degrading. .
To make war on both the belligcrents is
the most strange, Guixotck idea, that ever
entered into the head of statesman. 4
suppose, as we have thousand and thou
sand times declared, that we have maintain
ed an impartial neutrality towards those ma
tons so, TO verify our declarations, we must
now make war upon both, iaspartialIy! And
as their injuries are said to be equal, or, we
will not inquire which has done us " the
most harm )" SO Me must measure out to
each an equal quantity OF resentment, and
give to each of them an equal number OF
blows!
In respect to our violated rights, SO far
as G. Britain is concerned, those presented
by the administration in the front of our
claims, are
1st. An exemption from impressment
of all seamen On board our merchant yes
sells.
Cd. a free trade with the colonies of her
enemies.
Sd. An exemption from capture Of our
vessels destined for any port OF her enc
mics not actually blockaded.
] am aware, sir, of the consequences of
advancing any thing from which conclu-
sions may be drawn, adverse to the opinions
of our own administration, which by many
are conceived to be indisputably just
Merely to state these questions, and to
mention such arguments as the British So
vernment may perhaps have urged in their
support, en- her side, is sufficient to subject
a man to the popular charge OF being under
British influence, or to the vulgar SANDER
of being a British tory" he viii be for
tunate to escape the accusation of touching
British gold. But, sir, none of these
things move me. The patrons Of the mis-
creants who utter these SANDERS know bet
ter; but are nevertheless willing to benefit
BY the impression they may make on the
minds of the people. From an early peri
cd of life, was zealously engaged in eve
! ry measure opposed to the attempts of 6.
Britain to encroach upon our rights, until
the commencement of our revolutionary
war; and during its whole continuance, |
was uninterruptedly employed in important
civil or military departments {; contributing
all my efforts to bring that war to success
full termination.
|, sir, am not the advocate Of wrong
doors, to whatever country they belong;
whether emperors or kings, or the adml-
nistrators of republic Justice is my
object, and truth my guide and where
yer she poihts the way, shall not fear to