The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-24

= iuateero vi surprise tnat inc people nave sub I
mtted TO the priyations which have been delu- !
sively ascribed to that measure, with no greater
discontents than have been manifested by them
and the experiment has rather confirmed tharI
lessened my opinion of the patriotism ofthe pso.
pies but still perhaps so many preiudices have
been excited, as to justify some relaxation in that
respect. In that case, however, letters of marque
and rsprisal, aud the invasion of Canada, ought,
in my judgment, to have been substituted war
would then have been resorted to in a less efici.
ent form, and the people upon the experiment, i
have no doubt, would ngret the sacrifice ; but
the house of representatives has thought proper
to reject that proposition, and the one now offer.
ed, seems to be the next best calculated to save
the hoIer and protect the rights and interests of
the nation.
l have never relied so much on the coercive eff
fects-of the embargo singly as some gentlemen
have done, and l have at all times been ofopini-
on, that preparations for more efficient measures
should have been made to come in aid of, or to
substitute the embargo, whenever it should be as
certained that it had failed ofits coercive objects.
l was, not outstanding, willing at the COM
mcncement of the present session to pcrsevcre
IN the system, until the events which l ~anticipa-
ted should take place in Spain, & become known
in Great Brain, and until the early proceedings
of congress should also be known there. 1t an.
peared to me, that if a relaxation on the part of
Great Britain, should not be coerced by the in
heence Of these events combined, upon their first
impressionin Great Britain, all hope of q relaxati-
on from the embargo alone would thcn(l. at an
end, and that no other alternative would be left
us but war. The first impression produced by
these results, would probably be the greatest,
because the spirit of speculation would be sti-
INFLATED thereby, and the natural effect of that
spirit, is to drive prices beyond The level which
would be produced by the ordinary causes and
if under such II an impression, no relaxation shclld
take place, none could be afterwards nationally
~Aa-t M .~,1 49, r. -
little remaining hope of avoiding war, induced
me at thu time sternly To set my face against the
repeal of the embargo but l then thought, and
sth think, that at some period of this session,
some other measures ought to be resorted to, Ell
Their with or without the embargo. That period
is now arrived, submission cannot for a moment
be taken into consideration The decisive course
ofmeasures which 1 conceived were imperiously
demanded by the existing circumstance of the
country, is still more strongly called for by the
contents of Mr.. Canning's letter of the 22d of
November last to Mr.. Pinkney. This letter 1 have
heard represented as wholly unimportant. Iview
its contents in a very different light. / deem them
Highly important. TIey go to take away my last
hore ofpeace. They go to satisfy my mind that
we have now no alternative, but war. Submis-
sion is out of the question. Permit me to read
an extract or two from that letter, upon which
my opinion is founded. They will be found in pa
ges IS, Ia, of the last printed message of the
president
" The purpose of this letter, is not to renew
the discussion upon the subject ofyour proposal,
but merely to clear up any misunderstanding
which had existed between us in the course of
that discussion. cannot conclude it, however,
without adverting very shortly to that part of your
letter, in which you argue that tbs failure of
France, in the attempt to realize her gigantic pro-
ject of the humiliation Of the commerce of this
country, removes all pretext for the CONT
nuance OF the retaliatory system of Great-Bri-
tam
Again" If the foundation of the retaliatine
system OF Great Britain, was Gas we commended
1t to have oeen) originally just, that system will
De Justihably continued in force, not so long only,
as the DEGREES which produced it are mischie.
vously operative, but until they are unequivocal-
y abandoned, and if it be thus consistent with
justice to persevere in that system, it is surely no
mean motive ofpolicy for such perseverance, that
a premature departure from it while the enemy's
original provocation remains unrepealed, might
lead to false conclusions, as TO the efficacy of the
DEGREES of France, and might hold out a DANCE
rous temptation to that power to resort to the
same system on any future occasion"
Here we find Mr.. Canning, although in a tone
somewhat different, not only confirming his reiec-
ton of the just and honorable overture made by
MIR. Pmkney, for the revocation of the hostile or
ders, &c. contained i'll his letter to Mr.. Pinkney.
of the 23d Of September preceding, but we find
WI" iHl'oouSihS ~ SuDJtCt apparently Tor the
purpose of preventing any similar overture under
any circumstance and expressly declaring that
The orders shall continue in force, not only so
long as the French DEGREES shall be mischieyous-
iy operative, but until they shall be unequivocally
abandoned, and leaves a strong inference on nv
mind, that they are not to be abandoned on anv
terms snd, believe, are intended to become
the permanent law of the land If this point
were clearly ascertained, surely all America
would eagerly unite in the war. But, sir, shall
have occasion again, in the course of the observa.
tons 1 propose to make, to remark further upon
the contents of this letter. Although this reso-
luton is not the one of my choice, and is, as gen.
tiemen must now See, several points below the
ground, which, in my judgment, the best int.
rests OF the nation would authorise and require
us To take, yet i will state some of the effects
which j presume will flow from it, and which.
under all circumstances, are the best that can
now be obtained. 1t will put the destructive in
fuence ofthe orders o. council to the test of prac-
teal experiment, and thus settle Tor us the dues.
ton OF peace or war. 1t will be a RESUMPTION of
our with all nations except the belize.
rents, having in force against us hostile orders or
edicis, while 1T will be a continual protest against
them. 1t will manifest our attention to the wish.
es and interests of our eastern friends, who will
not be satisfied of the destructive effects of the
orders in council upon their commerce by any in.
%fsrences drawn from the obvious meaning Of
tIose orders, but insist upon a practical experi-
ment upon them. Their vessels NAV be Mn, Ia