The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-21

commanding stand for the liberty as they
thought of Virginia. Why should 10 tMassa-
Ceusetts too take the same stand when she
thinks she rs about to be d~estroyed-not be
cause she differs from you on mere points of
theory-it is their very bread which is at
tempted TO be taken away from the people
there, without which they cannot enjoy the
liberty of the press and speech, a pressure
infinitely more severe than that caused by
the alien and seditioh laws. Add l am IA
thcr surprised that gentlemen %aase hearts
giowed with patriotism when they saw their
own state take a stand, Cannot endure the
same stand when taken by another state. /
DO not make these remarks b. way OF casting
a reflection on the state Of Virginia; ! do
NJ to shew that human nature is the same
throughout the u. States Make yonr neo-
pie believe that they are imposed upon antN
suffering without cause, and they will every
where manifest thes same disposition. Let
the people of the south be but once convinced
as the people of the North are, that this
embargo il but a weak and feeble expedi-
cnt, and they will join the people Of the
North against it. But it seems that i'm one
point atieast gentlemen shew q proper prac-
teal disposition, and / give them most sim
cere thanks for it. They start at last at pur-
suing a system which might in the end pro
duce consequences which I tremble to think
OF. But it seems at last that the embargo
is to he repealed. and in behalf of the suf-
terlng Country which l in part represent, l
give gentlemen my most sincere thanks for
It. But L beg OF them, having made up their
MINDS to relieve US from one calamity, tina
they VIII not, iathe manner ofdoing it bring
a still greater calamity upon Rs; that the2
will not, when we ask then for bread. rive
MS a stone. The resolution, taken al,oeether.
is no removal cf the emba ROO
IL IS a continuance of the embargo in it's
worst shape, in its most distressing form :;
though believe, II gentlemen who are dis.
posed to relieve US from the embargo could
sec the substistutc for it in tine same iieht
IN w!1ch 1T appears to my mind, that there
would be no difficulty in rejecting the latter
part OF the amendment, proposing the issu-
ing OF letters OF marque and reprisal. In that
case vessels may get out but where will they
go: You VIII IN that case be at wal with
DC n france and G.B. is there any ore who
believes that We can enjoy any
under such a STATE of things? D. you affect
TO tell ns that we shall be restored &c the IA
VACATION OF the ocean, and at the same time
create dangers which did not exist before.
by adopting such measures as will utterly
prevent the practical enjoyment of liberty?
You tell a merchant to go to sea and there
he will be captured. 1t is trifing with the
Importance of the people, trifing will. their
interests, 1t is givlrg them nothing. I, is
strange, SIR, that the government of the u.
St*tes when there wasllttle real danger in ma
rigaung the ocean,, should have thought it
necessary fer the purpose of "keeping in
safety our essential resources" to Law an en-
barge; add that when they have by their
measures made a safe navigation so imprac-
ticaole ina scarcely one in twenty Gu escape
the Clutches OF the enemy, thev should say
to the merchants ''how you may GO" De-
pend upon it, sir, that YOU cannot deceive the
people Of the commercial states in this wav.
II you would comply with their requests. and
oov'ate the further progress of the ruin,
"nich IKE a blast has spread over them,
restore them their commerce.. They will
thank you. You will strengthen the bonds of
union, which should never be relaxed Let
them be the bonds of "a great and high spirit
ed people, they will endure forever. Bst do
not give them tbs boon which in the moment
OF giving 1t, you prevent them from enjoving.
AN act which shall say that the embargo
snail be repealed by prohibiting
more eftectualiy by another mode than the
embargo could do, viii not and ought not TO
satisfy the people. There is nothing in It.
l protest to you, sir, that ] feel no litttle af-
hlcton that, at a moment when / thought
there was a probability that the embargo
was " Oe removed, the liberty Of the seas
should be wholly taken away by the proposed
system which will produce war with G.. Bri-
tain. The only difference between the two
systems is, that you now enforce the embar.
go, and II this resolution takes effect, Great
britain will enforce it for you. The impos
sioilty OF carrying on a practical navigation
VIII be precisely what it was before. I do
rot know, in point of expence, that it might
not be better that Britain should keen I'm the
embargo than that W, should do it ourselves.
if blood is to be split in keeping on the EN- d.
barge, L had rather it shouldbe British bIor,l
than American. Let us know what we have
to depend upon, sir. If you mean to repeal
the embargo, do repeal it. But remember
that It ~ doing it you do not restore us the
use oi the ocean, You do not repeal it for that
purpose Tor which Its repeal is necessary.-
Remember that, sir; and let your acts be
snch as shall spread harmony and happiness
through the country. But the people are too
wise to suppose that any sincere disDosition
exists TO restore cor. nerce when Won vour-
serves say that it shall be al an end. i'm the
same Breath that you profess to restore its
wonted activity.
was IN hopes. when the first resolution IN
this subject was proposed by the gentleman
rom Virginia, that som compassion was 60
De manifested 20 the people of the cast bn,
mat hope declined with that day's sun. The
same SYSTEM is still to be persevercdin. Can
gentlemen hope, that they can restore tha
confidence OF the people by this sort rs ro,-