Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-24

=. = W trS SWo arguments againSt TINS
measure which no sophisery can overcome,
and which no motives of interest, powerful
!, as they are, can repel. The first is the
unreasonable period at which il is to be eff
fected. Fourteen months have the citizens
borne the privations nece ssarily resulting
from the embargo, with snshaleen patriot
ism large sums of money have been in
| vested in those manufactures, which will
more sorely secure the independence of the
| United States, than any otlrer method which
has yet been devised The most trying
part of the year is past, and the return Of
the spring will open employment for all
/ the citizens-snd to all these add, that the
continuance OF the embargo was made the
question by which the late elections were
decided the result of those elections point.
eddy declared the opinions of an immense
| majority of the citizens. What does this
contradictory, futile, iueficacious, or RAJ.
Their ruinous measure say? Il expresses
contempt for all the confidence which we
have reposed in congress, and rs libel up
on the fortitude and love of country which
nave been so energcticaly manifested by
the sous of freedom. 1t exposes to hazard
and to loss the manufacturing part of the
munity, and places in jeopardy those
establ ishmrnts which would supply all your
| wants, and establish your national sove-
rciSnty upon an immortal bass 1t tacitiy
6iames the citizens for adhering so long to
measure which the president still sane.
tions....and In TACT reproves them for not
| submitting to Grea. Britain at first. And
| N expresses the most open contempt for
the voice OF the people which was heard at
the polls.
/ but if we advert to the situation of Eu.
rope, we see tine most powerful causes why
the emoargo should not be removed with
out an efficient system to be Immediately
adopted. No rational man can for one mo-
menr doubt that the French e ag at this mo.
ment waves IN pr ud triumph on the palaces
of the Escurial & Lisbon. Fhis event has
! therefore produced two very important eff.
fects; it has excluded American vessels
from ports IN which some of their produce
would have been acceptable :. and it has
excluded the English IRON market which
already had been so excessively gutted by
their manufactures that the articles would
not return their prime cost. The Brasils
are also full of British goods, that the loss
I upon them cannot be ascertaned. With
out the raw material for her manufactures,
4 with all the nececessaries of life enhanc !.
ed IN price until they are become bur-
then TO the middling classes of life, as well
! as the Poor...with no possibility of procuring
the supplies necessary for her navy--witn
no market tor her goods, but that whicn
must be forced-and with the people exas-
! Perated against ministry whose whole ca :
! reer has been one continued system of du-
piicity to rheir friends, and meanness to
their foes; the Enbsrgo, accompanied by
non-intercourse, would hurl Canning and
his compeers from their stations it would
probably preserve peace through the wiser
policy OF new ministry; at ali events, it
wnni6 x,N xlzxt
pen contest when il can no longer be pro-
crastIned.
fne second reason is that this bill sur
renders all the advantages which you have
gained without single equivalent, and
leaves you equally as certain of war. AL
though sufficiently energetic in itself as
coupled with An emborgo--it is nugatory
wnen the ships have once left port. The
produce will oe sold ia feed your oppres-
sors under pretence of capture, the vessels
will DC transferred under the name of con-
demnatons In courts of admiralty, and ac-
cofding to the nature of the case. new
schemes will be invented to evade the law /.
to escape detection, & TO avoid punishment
Inns VIII be one mode of relieving the
British necessities-and they NAV conn;ye
at It until Liverpool is filed with cotton,
/ London with -four and tobacco, Cowes
with naval stores, and the Yves. Indies with
provisions, lumber, &c When the art
tulncss of smugglers has Obtained the OBJ
iJeet to give her possession of your specie &
produce, the dogs of war will be let loose,
& commit all the havoc possible, before ven
are enabled to repel one assault, and even
\ while you are dreaming ofDationaI prosperi-
ty The Tories on one side oppose IN s mea
sure-but those in the secret, act thus sole
+ ly by way OF intimation previously that
these effects will follow--they are ordered
to tell you so by their British masters, and
when the truth is discovered, they will
praise their own foresight, and laugh at
your folly. TINS non-intercourse bill has
met with the general sentiment of disappr,
baton, and those alone approve o. II, who
hope by lucky speculation to realise a
sudden fortune, or who are anxious to hur-
ry the country into war unprepared, tina,
they may attack the administration or
vino are convinced that by no other means
can his majesty's subjects be relieved from
their unpleasant situation. Notwithstand
ing all laws, intercourse will be maintain
ed, and as 1t will be commenced so it W, III
be continued, by submission to a foreign ".
rant, and your most iDveterate foe.
| The country has declared in vice o..
/ thunder that thev will moi rro.oL