Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-19
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(Concludcd.)
IN nv letter Of February is. 1908, to
cover,or Sullivan. on the Embargo,
asked these questions; s. Has the French
a ,,eror declared that he will have no
neutrals? Has he required that our ports
like those OF her vassal states, in Europe
be shut gainst British commerce? Is the
embargo substitute milder form OF
com,lianee. with that harsh, demand,
which. if exhibited in its naked aspect the
American spirit might Yet resent we
have since learnt from general Arm
strons's communications to our Executive,
that the French emperor did declare
1" that the Americans should be compel
led to take the positive character OF ell
Their allies or enemies" But with all the
bascness which Mr.. Jefferson's manage
ment has infused into the American cha
raeter, the citizens Of the Z. States were
not then sufficiently degraded, in their
own estimation. to receive patiently plain
direct proposition to shut their ports "a
sainst British commerce. 1t was there
fore disguised in the form Of an embargo
AN embargo which was calculated to
produce the same effect, because 1t had no
limitation. But before the close of that
session Of Congress. in which it was impO-
sed. as no man Of sense out of the cabinet
circle could discern any reason for it and
its mischievous consequences were clear
ly.seen, and had began to he experienced
it was found necessary to sooth the
people, by holding up prospect OF its
re,eal or susnension. This prospect how
ever. was deceitful one; because it was
made TO rest Onthe future acts OF France
and England that Is. on their reVoca-
t;on o. their DEGREES and orders affecting
neutral commerce. Now Mr.. Jefferson
knew that the embargo was acceptable
10 the French emperor; who instead OF
making way for its rem 9val, would choose
IN r;yet il on our necks and Mr.. Jefter-
SON also knew. that as the British orders
!, c,,ncil were declared to have been Is
sued (and after ten months frank and o.
neu notice to the United States. they were
nna,estionablv issued) ONLY in retaliation
for the previous French Berlin DEGREES;
che revocation o. the latter must Drecede
the reyoeatiOn of the British or'ers in
council: anil then indeed the British GO
yernment stood ready. and pledged ITSELF
n revoke them. Thus Mr.. Jefferson
whe, vested by congress with power to
suspend the embargo on the revocation OF
the French DEGREES and the British OF
ders. knew that such revocation was not
likely to take place and in fact has not
taken Mace to this day; Mr.. President
NIadison's extraordinary proclamation re-
Iat;ye T. the French DEGREES to the con
trary notwithsta Hing. The pressure OF
the embargo, however. npon nurseries
WAS 80 severe, as to exhaust the patience
of the people; and the government, to
cave their sinking popularity, changed
their ground, and by an act called the
uon-interceurse law, gave some rcilef' oy
opening direct commerce with the
world generally. and an indirect commerce
with France ard Great Britain and their
dependencies. At length this foolish and
impressive law also necessarily gave way !;
and all restraints On our commerce we're
removed. But another act put into the
hand of the President the dangerous pow
or Of reviving the restrictions oil the nom
intercourse law on certain events, OF
which as matters of fact he was constitut-
ed the sole judge. Events indeed OF a
nature so simple as to be within the com
neteBev of any man OfeOmrnOn sense and
common honesty to decide. whether they
had or had not taken place: mean the
revocation of the DEGREES and orders OF
France and Great Britain events which
have not vet happened ; but which MIR.
Madison, stepping aside from the author
ity given him By the law. proclaimed to
have taken place in regard to France
when the French emperor, whom MI
Madison knew to be the most perild'ous
ochuman beings. had only given decla-
ratory promise to revoke them alter the