Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-06

been wholly right and in proposition as
we receded, they would certainly advance.
For himself, he wanted nothing of the
belligerents but common justice; but, it
the nation would not assert its rights
at this time, we should indeed become
hewerssof wood and drawers of water.
He said he was in favor OF the embargo
sriginally=he believed tia wise measure,
and had no doubt it had saved hundred
millions of dollars to the nation /; and, it
power had been put in the hands ct the
President to enforce it, there would have
been none of the smuggling which was
pow complained of. The fault lay IN
trusting too much to the pc rfectablhty
OF human nature. Laws never were
made to restrain good men but to
bind rogues and some power therefore.
was necessary to carry them into effect.
Mr. M. quoted the Journals TO show that the
bill to authorize the President to employ
the naval force to enforce the embargo
had been postponed indefinitely He men
toned this because the violation OF the en-
barge system Had been charged on the iper-
chants generally, whose character. he de-.
Tended from a charge of being habitual
violators of the laws. There might be bad
men amongst them, as there was in every
class of society, but that was no reason
to impeach the integrity OF the whole. He
hoped, before, he-House should consent TO
the amendments 20 the bill, shat they
would fall upon some system to defend the
liberty of the citizen. He said he could
take care of his own property-but when
he returned home, he could not bear to be
called on by the fathers, mothers and re-
|latives Of these impressed citizens to know
what had been done for their relief, and
not have il in his power to answer them
satisfactorily.
Mr. Love declared his belief that since
the formation of the constitution the A..
merican Congress had never been called
upon 10 deliberate on so vitality important
a question as that now proposed to them,
which in fact involved dereliction of
the principles of the declaration Of
Independence. He said he had not been
warm advocate for the bill as it went
from this, House; he had thought it a
recession from the high ground hereto.
fore taken; but, as returned, it appeared
to him to be hottomed on the doctrine of
non resistance ard absolute dependence.
Mr. L, took view of the various injurious
measures and DEGREES Of the bellgerents
and of the measures adopted by the u.
States in consequence. Had the state
of things altered since these measures
were adopted! Had there been the least
relaxation! He quoted the proceedings
of the Senate and House of Representa-.
tives twelve months ago when, By ma.
jority OF one hundred and twen'y one to
two, this House had resolved that the
United States cannot, without sacrifice
of their rights, honor and independence,
submit to the late edieis of Great Britain
aud France And now it was proposed
to submit to those very ediess--yes, to go
beyond that submission--for, since that
time the nation had received additional
insults. Mr. Love said he wished, howe.
yer, more particularly to call the attention
of the House to the substantial question
of dereliGtion of the spirit of our essen.
tial rights of property and liberty. The
bill as sent from the Senate now merely
contained that resistance which the he.
gisla,ure thought proper. to oppose to the
aggressions of British Heets or cruizers
entering our harbors aud committing pre-
meditated or wanton assaults and violati
ons but contained no other resistance.
IL tiOuoS WS'O W ~SfNiS9OS III titS d.
menaments of the Senare, the bill would
be such recognition of the assumed
rights of the belligerents as, by the law
of nations, could never hereafter BE- con.
troverted. He said it was principle that
weak nation, when an irresistible force
was employed TO aid the views of great
er, could submit without disgrace. But
was that the situation Of the u. States
Should it be left to posterity 70 say that
the present generation were unable
to support their rights, when they had a
million Of men into whose hands muskets
and bayone,s could be put, and solid ca
pi;sl which would produce, five hundred
millions of dollars? Posteriy might blush
FOR the degradation Of the present gene.
ration if the bill passed, but could not
urge in their excuse the plea of weakness.
The principles Of the bill as it went to /
the Senate were the last stage on this
side sub omission, If resistance had never
been attempted, the omission would not
have displayed so much weakness as il
would now to Withdraw il. What
would be the consequence of now rece.
ding from resistance According to their
former declarations, Mr. Love said, by
such conduct the House would acknow4
ledge their admission. There were nu.
merouS instances recorded in history,
which tested the position that non4resis.