Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-05-24
Whole No. 625.

lnsuiucFaotc 10 Eutopcs uy oHSfIuS bpBe Oh
our property to their prize, and sD,ud turn
all cur caizens 10 the cuifipafioa efths rayri''
. IL might be time enough 10 seek embiog.
meni fer them at sea, svhen the land no isng-
or e6ers ill.,
10 this passage we see the bias Of MFR.
Jeasrson's mind and although introduce
ed With apparent modessy (by perhsps'J
il undoubtedly expresses the real ssnsi-
nnents of his heart. And here certain of
his devoted followers, took their lesson of
hostility TO the artipe commerce of our citi-
gems. In this early opinion OF Mr.. JeiEer-
son, We discover one ground of the Terra
pin policy [as il has been fanAiliarIy calletD
which, when he Found pretence, he so ca.
gerly adopscds the magnanimols policy Of
retiring from the ocean, like the turtle With.
10 its she'll, lest some rude creature should
strike at our heads, or tread Upon our toes.
Il is the policy which still governs and will
continue TO govern in the United States, 60
long a. the great mass Of the people shsll
remain under the fatal deception, that the
men who have administered their govern
ment For the last ten years, are exclusively
wise, honest and patriotic. But such ex-
IRENE credulity, such easy confidence.
such ready submission, has surpassed the
ideas Mr.. Jefferson entertained at the time
when he wrote his Notes on Virginia. He
did not then conceive il possible that the
same people who had commenced their OBJ.
position to the government of the Parent
State, more to resist dangerous principle,
than evils actually inflicted, would patiently
submit, not merely to the violation Of prin-
ciplc, but to positive oppression. One Of
the complaints against the King az Great
Britain, and one Of the grounds 81 he de-
claration of independence was. his giving
his assent to tan act for cutting of our trade
with ali parts of the world" But MIR. JEFF.
ferson not only assented to, but was the "a.
ther Of such an act--the EMBARco, I'm.
posed by his Recommendation and influence,
unlimited in It's form, and calculated to en-.
durc until the foreign commerce Of the u
hited States would be annihilated. II wa,
| in fact continued as long as his successoi
thought your patience would endure IT.
To this ruiuous measure Mr. Jefferson wa
50 welded This special motives may here
after be unfolded) -&tha in July sos, whc.
the evils Of the embargo had become sppa
rent to every eye not blinded by prejudice
or deceit, and It was observed to him
"sha. the injuries to the United States woule
be greater than those of any other govern.
ment"-he answered." They were mis-.
taken in their calculations; and that hi
mould rather see america sunk, than
make any alterations tn zVhaf had been d2ne
6y this government, until Great. Britain
s0ould repeal her orders in council" II
those orders had been the cause of the en-
barge, there would have been some colour
for its continuance until they should be re-
pealed: but have formerly shown, on
the floor of the Senate, and ID The course
of these addresses l will mere fullv show.
that Mr.. Jefcrson's embargo was imposed
without any relation to the orders in coun.
Gil, whose existence even was not known
to him when he recommended that mea-
sure.--The above recited declaration of
Mr.. Jeferson, that he would rather see
America sunk than change his system, was
repeated to Mr.. Hillhouse and me by
gentleman Of reputation, to US well
known, who was present at the converse.
ton, and on the same day noted down
those extraordinary words.
In my next number, the subject Of com.
uierce will be continued.
TIMOTHY PICKERING.