The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-09


ten documents, respecting the relative situa-
ton OF both countries. before and after the
orders i'm council, and at a late hour co,clu-
ded statement of great length and ability
Mr.. Grattan next rose and said, that it
was IN the common phraseology of every
member rising TO speak upon almost any sub
Ject, to say that that subject was important
The question now before them was indeed so.
There could be none perhaps of greater, ex-
cept that by which they lost America; opd
the same temper that then broke the con-
nexion between England and her colonies
seems &c BE revived III, st,I-
diousiy busy in effecting the connection be
tween America and France, and yet the sue
cess that crowned our policy at that time,
should now make us rather industrious to
avoid than ambitious of retracng its disas-
tiers. would (said Mr.. Grattan) anxiously
direct your observations to that eventful time,
not to mcite you to an imitation of those who
went before you. but to deter you by their
eAample-that we may profit by their errors
and their failures, and that thus their dis
grace may be made of use to their postcrity
| recollect the history osthat day when Anne
RIGA stood up against us, and resisted England
and oppression what in that day was the
language OF this house? 1t was thelanguage
OF complaint complaippthat our colonies
were worked up into unnatural rebellion by
the speeches delivered in this place. The
opposition was the cause ofali, and the oppo-
sitlon only. The Americans took their in
| stinct of resistance not from their character ::
not from the spirit that becauseit will, must
be free; not from their condition as the
coionists of free people not from their
right of birth as the descendants of British,
people, but from the mouth of a faction in this
hease. This was the language then, and
what are we told now that America is an
CRY not because she feels the effects of your
iuJ Justice, but because there are men in this
house to complain of that injustice, and that
such language opens her eyes to injuries that
would otherwise escape her notice. Though
tins goes to attack the privilege of speech in
this place, it shall not deter me from speak
ing what think, for sure / an that the fate
OF America depends on that o. England, and
that England is nearly, most rearly interest
ed III the welfare of Ameriea. The right
honorable secretary has himself admitted
this in the conclusion of one Of his letters to
Mr.. Pinkney. was happy 20 see that ad-
mission but should have been more so, if
| the letter had been consonant with the princi-
pie of that admission. Hear, hear } The
honorable gentleman whio WIS second iii de-
bate, argued that America ac1uiesced in the
maritime restrictions imposed by France.
| deny 1T. She resisted the orders Of Berlin
ohe resisted the DEGREES of France; general
Armstrong demonstrated repeatedly and spi-
rltedly. Here Mr.. Grattan went into de-
| tailed statement of the conduct of gen Arm
| strong at Paris, and commented on it as he
went along. He next proceeded to argue,
that the embargo was the effect of our orders
III council. But (said Mr.. Grattan) If they
are not the cause Of that embargo, why is
that embargo continued? What continues
| the embargo! (Kear /! h>ar y America
offers to take off her embargo if you will res
clnd your orders; doyou doubt the sincerity
OF the offer? for one gentleman seems to point
out as much. 1t you co, j ask then, will you
go oil upon that will you rest upon that, and
| say that 1T America is sincere in the offer,
you will accede to it will you say this If
you will not. again ask, what continues the
embargo! Who is now the cause of the en-
barge, when you yourselves refuse to do that
which, if done, would remove it! (Hear
hear =! Is it so? then low does the country
stand in point of right Do you join with an
unoffending neutral, and visit France with
the consequences of her own insolence and
injustice! No; but YOU Join yourselves to
france against that neutral. 1t is the bad
| retaliation of a worse principle it is sort
OF wicked emulation in injustice and if
| 1t is Warrantablc to us, then extend the ar
gument, and what will it amount tor WHY
to this that if France. instead of declaring
Viz vi USulTdlS, SHOULD
declare against their lbtrties against their
lives, you, in the spirit of this retaliation,
losing the spirit that made you what you are,
are to trace the footsteps of the same afro
cities, making the measure of the French
wrong, the measure of the British right.
The application appears monstrous, but
the principle is the same, extended perhaps,
but certainly not changed, and whether less
or greater, in every shapea monster for
qualify it as you may, it goes to the root OF
the law of nations; it goes to build up sys
tenn OF wrong retalliatins wrong, and inius
tice combating injustice, that can only ed |
in an underlined suspension of the domnionof |
right Hear Hear taking as it wre
the laws of nations theoretically from he |
| laws of God, but at the same time learning |
their practical application from the emmy |
| Z Hear Hear L! land in pursuing iuch |
conduct. whose work is England ding |
Who now enforces the orders of Berlin En- |
gland. Who now enforces the DEGREES of
France? England. She does more, sic re-
pels America from her; she does stiIJmore.
she drives her into the very arms of trance.
But to all this you say, eve viii fghtferance
with her own weapons" as if her principles
could be your weapons. (Year iHear |
No. no, we have fought too long aid too no
bly,, to begin now to fight away orr national