The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-10

from tie pecuiiar situation of the two coun :
tries than an ~indisposition to punish her in
Justice. The unexpected rejection of oar
terms Tor peace, and the avowed dctermina-
t!cn 20 pcrsevcrc, convinced me we had but
Ole course to pursue consistent with the no.
nor and essential rights of the country ;eve-
rv other mode would onlE expose. our weak
Eess, and want Ct irmness, and ultimately
drive ust to war, under every disadvantage.
Profitable trade could not be expected
whiic The dict of France aud England re-
manned in free; while an impatient ankle
ty to pick the crumbs left US, would betray
our incapacity to sustain privat;ons, il would
Invite their monopolizihg spirit to diminish
what little was left. Under this impression
| WAS disposed to wait events, give full opc-
ration to the measures we had adopted. and
by employing the interval of peace. topiace
the nation in safety, to NEE. with less dan
ger, the event which. appeared inevitable.
llIe force raised az the last session, and the
money appropriated, had, to considerable cX-
tent, effected this object the most vulnera-
bic points had been secured. and the most
important sca-ports rendered sufficiently
strong to resist any force which could be de-
taChed against them. i can Justify my votes
H"ly upon the ground of resisting CIR adver-
saries; If that had not been my object, eve
'y attempt TO coerce France or England, has
CSSi uiNiCSCsSSTl- L lS SlStC Ol Europe, SUN
lett hopes, that Il little more patience might
produce IN honorable peace, without either
waror submission the changes i'll Spain and
Portugal, which in conjunction with %intclli-
Sence from the Us had operated unfavora-
ply on the temper OF England, were operating
q strong cognteraction !; her llopes OH the con-
tinent were evidently declining. * her eXpec-
%tatioas here uad proved delusive by an ex-
preston CT public sentiment decisivcly to the
contrary. Was itnot reasonable to suppose,
she world, under these circumstances, ac.
cept the hand OF Friendship, rendered with
ont a-single demand Inconsistent with her
!iGHGT Oh rights? think few Americans viii
contend that her orders are founded in Tvs
ice. or that to demand their revocation
wonid be asking too much.
these considerations were sufficiently i'm
portant TO Continue the embargo until the
spring. avoid any collision or new excite
mcnt Until they could produce their effect !;
the intelligence from Europe. is of a com
piexion which gives peculiar force to the po-
icy. / shall ever believe that was our besr
plan, it promised the fairest prospect Of
peace, and the best opportunity TO obtain it
by force, if every thing else failed. Those
who concurred with me in opinion, have been
ovcrruled by a majority of Congress, who
deceived by the failacious hope, of profita-
bic trade, or urged by the discontents to the
East, have determined to removeit sooner ;
however, the people 10 the East, whose pro-
duce suits the British market, may be benc-
hted, l can with confidence say, oar relief
is temporary /; that without a change in the
policy OF Europe gue are exposed to ruin. 1t
Is a fact, that tobacco, the great staple of
our agriculture, is net Saleable to an AIDE
quate extent in England, not more than one
seventh part of it is used in that country the
rPSilu. ran only be I;S,,Ncoj Nf ,, tho .o,.;
nent of Europe. If by going with it FIRST to
England, it may afterwards be carried to
Germany, &c. will it bear the expence of
a heavy transit duty? Can the planter pay
three dollars a hundred To the British trea-
sury, and receive q living price for his labor
and trouble Every man who raises a hogs
head Of tobacco, weighing $500 pounds,
must pay to the King CT Ersiand, forty fl We
dollars | am aware Ihat the price of to-
b2cco will rise at first. but it cannot CONT
nue. it is impossibie and | ~foretel, that uu-
!ess free trade is restored by a general peace
IN Europe, or the British raX is given up, it
viii became 4 drug sc snail be compelled
to charge our system oi ssriculture entirely.
and raise for market articles suited 10 the
limits prescribed us. The Eastern people
VIII soon feel the pressure themselves, they
Wlii Ind new dem"uds made upon us bv En-
gland, she will readily perceive that if she
requires us TO send all our produce to her
ports aad pay tribute, and we for the sake
OF money consent, there would not be much
risqne, in Saying it shall so in British ycs
scis. Ii would DC ,Ingrateiul, Immediately,
to Issue such an order, but similar services
are net long remembered or scrupuIously
respected. 1t is not. however, improbable
her ardent desire to maintain the rights
OF %neutrals may yield to the necessity of re-
t%aiiatlon IN this manner, "upon the enemy,
the evils of his own injustice" If she alb
stains for the purpose of accommodating neu-
trails, it viii nor be from any apprehension
or offending or exciting opposition.
1t has always appeared evident to my
mind, that every attempt to alleviate the suf-
ferings Of this country by the resumption of
commerce, either by a partial ~ general re
peal ofthe embargo would be f~ruitiess what
ever momentary relief may be felt, the O.
pcratioB of the edicts of Franc and England
will force us into resistance, and every man
in the union will acknowledge their baleful
Influence upon the national prosperity. True
policy, therefore, required undated perse-
v%erance, on the part of Congress, to GORGE
their repeal in the first instance. | sincere
" lament, that 81 C:ntrary course has been
preferred, but | trust when the evils which
have been predicted, shall be realized in
practice, their caiamities will be countcrba-
ianced BY union among the people of al par
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