Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-06-14

that 1t also presents to US an idea suihclent-
~ clear of Mr. Tefeyson's Diews in recon-
mending the permanent embargo-viz. TO
cooperate with the principal powers of Eur
rope in rendering Complete" and conse-
quently more ef:ctual," the French En-
peror's decree of blockade of the British
dominions. This il beloved Mr.. Jefferson
to keep out of sight: and who can doubt
that this was one OF his motives for with.
drawing Chsnpagny's letter--and Arm
strong's of course !-Tn the same letter to
governor Sullivan, authorised by the para.
graph of Champagny's letter am now con-
sidering, and other circumstances at the
time, asked these questions !: 8 Has the
French Emperor declared that he will haze
no neutraEs 70 Has he required that cur
b2ris, like those of his vassal states 10 Flu,
rope, be shuf againys British Commerce /?
Is the Embargo a substitute, a mlidcr farm
ofcompliance with the harsh demand, which
ifexhlbited in its naked and insulting as
pcct, the American spirit might yet resent
In saying that neither Armstrong; nor
Champagn s letters "presented any ncU
ground 70 justify an embargo" / meant,
and so, prtsume, it must have been uni
versally understood, that they presented no
nezo ground to justify an embargo far the
interests Of the United States. These int.
rests required the publication of those let
tiers, with suitable comment by the Presi-
dent, that or citizens might have seen
what were the views and expectations Of the
French Government; and resistance 10, not
compliance with those views, was demand.
RH ~ sp,tr inta rut hNn ~
That these letters, unc2rnecteJ with the
embargo, required no secrecy, eprn IN Mr.
Je8ersoa's opinion, we now certainly know
tor Just three months after he recommend
cd the embargo, he himself communicated
them to Congress for the purpose of being
published. But mark how they were COM
mnnicatcd--huddIed in with "a large mass
OF other papers, relating to British as well
as French negotiations and proceedings,
without the least iutlmatIon that he had be.
fore presented them to Congress, together
with the British proclamation and Regnier's
letter, as the grounds of the embargo.+
And Certainly no person unacquainted with
the secret could have suspected that Arm.
sfrong's aud Chaml. gay'slet,ers were used
as the principal grounds of the embargo
Why then did MIR. Jefferson Withdraw
them, saying it would be improper 20 make
them public? For two reasons--to conceal
his apparent concurrence sVith the v!ezvs efl
the French Emberor-and TO 1Orab up ne
embargo IN n'ysfery, zOh;ch astonished ana
c5y5unded tte be9ple, and induced the;r &C.
9uteste@ce IN the measure. For the measure
was Pubic, and to go out to the people, with
the notice, that 1t would be improper to
paoilsh Armstrong; and Champsgny's let
tiers, or even to suffer them to remain any
where but in Mr.. Jeif:rson's own cabinet
whence the natural inference would be,
that these papers contained the strong rea.
sons for the embargo, but of nature dan.
gerous to be disclosed. And doubtless in
regard to his own views, MIR. Jefferson
judged correctly. The publication of these
two letters as grounds Of the trobosed en-.
barge, might have put the project in ieopar
dy. For although the implicit confidence
the majority in the wisdom aud patriot
ism OF the President, Nth same other con.
siderda9aS assured its adoption in Congress;
yet for its fnal success it was necessary that
the blind confidence of the people. whose
pecuaiary interests would be so directly
ADD essentially affected should also be re.
tanned But the immediate publication of
Champagne letter as the ground of the
Embargo, might have too clearly indicated
TO some sagaclous citizens, not members
OF Congress, and who would discuss the
point with more freedom-,he real motive
OF Mr.. Jefferson in recommending il: and
by IT'S exposure have hazarded. NOT only the
measures itself, but the popularity of its
author; bctore The PASSIONS or HIS PAR.
'rr had been enlisted in its favour. And
this stratagem was crowned with success
truly Incredible, had not the experiment