The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-10
CONGRESS.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
JANUARY so.

JANUARY so.
Debate on raising the Embargo, an-t autho
rising Letters Of M0rGme and Retriscl
Contributed.
Mr.. Nicholas moved to fill the blank in
the substitute with the first day of June !;
Mr.. Millnor named the fourth day of March {;
and Mr.. d. r.. Williams named the 15,h
day ofFebruarv.
Mr.. Randolph moved to strike out the
words "the day of +" for the pur-
pose of inserting OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to
strike out lost, by a considerable majority.
The questi,S recurring on filling the blank
with the first day Of June,
MIR. RandoLih, as the gentleman, the mo-
yer of the resolution (Mr. Nichelas) was
not present when me had given the reasons
why he thought, if the embargo was TO be
repealed, it should be removed Immediate
ly, repeated them. He wished our ewn CT
tizens to reap some advantage from an early
repeal. Or were we, he asked, by 4 siagu-
lar fatality in all our measures oaiy to injure
ourselves, and benefit our adversarias and
the most dishonest part of our owl Conimu-
nifty.
Mr.. pG.m: was opposed e ? continuance
of the embargo till the first of June. Since
Ii had been generally understood through the
country, that the embargo WAS to be fur
tber continued. many capitalists had fuIs-
stalled the markets, so as TO secure to them
selves q monopoly of the foreign articles of
the greatest necessity, thereby TO command
an excessive profit at the cXpencc of the dis
tressed part of the community. As respect
ed tas1a- Mr.. Dana said, that he had not a
wish tnat the dui &iion of the embargo should
be Protracted, that they might realize their
gains and make poor men their prey and
ii there were any description of our citizens
whom he could wish to be IN ured by a re-
mcval oftbe embargo. these would certain
ly tic the persons. There was another rea-
son why he did not wish the embargo to con-
tinue so long. However important il was,
that the general authority OF the government
shorHd be maintained, as respected these
states, was it not known that the reins O.
government, from their extreme tension,
were failing in the hands Of the administers
ton! Were not their acts placed at def
ance, especially since thr passage of the last
act for enforcing the embargo ? Look at
the whole northern frontier, said he recoi-
iect the facility OF transportation on the ice
and snow. Recoliect with what facility, in
this season, the produce and Timber, &c.
will = ;ss from Vermont, into the British Pro-
vincsS. As respected tina whole Of that
frontier, Mr.. Dana said, it would be in vain
to attempt to enforce the embargo laws.
The mound was already broken down which
CNU'AS "a PiOniuSC > anu II as 10 ~ IGdt-
ed that the whole would soon be s~weptaway.
Fhe question which now offered itself to the
consideration of the House, was this, and
IT was requisite that 1T should be decided
neutrality-suspicious., if the acts Of govern
fncnt were set at defiance, the authority of
The government should be sustained or not.
IL the acts Of the government were placed at
dehance, he said, Congress had bat to de-
eide instantly to enforce them by arms, or to
abolish them. Did they mean to hesitate
between advancing and retiring! IF Won
mean to retire, (said he) do it whilst you can
whilst IT will seem To be an attention 20
the wishes and sutferings' of the communi-
~, instead of giving to those who set your
laws atdetance, the signal OF your defeat
and the evidence of their triumph. Mr. Da-
ia asked, If gentlemen had estimated what
would take place between this dav and the
hrstday OF June? Did they conceive the
tnrcc that it would be necessary TO employ
to enforce the lawsf Before thcy decided
that point, 1t would be well TO pause. Did
gentlemen recollect how much danger mcla-
esd the sentiment of attachment to their
country, when foreign indulgencics Gas the
liberty of trading derived from the contigu-
lty OF the British provinces) are given to the
citizens OF any portion of a country which
refuses to allow them those privileges p
Need remind gentlemen, asked Mr.. ID.
az a circumstance illustrative of my idaa ?
when TIE navigation of the Mississippi was
az The command ofthe Spaniards, before the
treaty OF San Lorenzo was carried into eff
rect, recollect the opportunity which that
ttstcof things gave to The agents ofthe Spa
idSn government, for making attempts to de-
zen the western states from the Union.
jl1"i8r they succeeded, | do/not undertake
toh"y; but the fact i well known, that SOME
nieh OF considerable distinction we're So far
drawn aside from their attachment 10 the
oilon, as to give cOuntenance to the in
frigue and the fact having come to LIGHT.
the public authority of one of the states,
(hentucky) have undertaken the examinaIi-
on ana investigation of the subject. ] SPEAK
oi thIs not as q repfoach. but as an ilju,tra-
Won or the temptation which is offered to A.
NV portion of the people, having an outlet
'hrough a river in the possession Of a foreign
j'ower' which is denied them by their own
government. Twill not pursue the subject.
SIR. Tor IT is unpleasant 60 dwell ON .nbiects
"hica may even tend rojeopardize tile Uni
on I,it ] deem il useless to rely ON the ua.
%triot'sn OF the people, when the government
'orgetsthe cement OF patriotism. What is
country! That portion of the globe vher,
Nehsie friends, freedom and pro,cctinn-
at Is Tic reeiprocatiou If good Offices. which,
tstLe GslnGnt Of private fricndsl.ip. LII d,e