Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-07-12
Mr.. Pickering's address
To THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
NO. XVI


NO. XVI.
FELLow-CITIzENs,
Having given you correct view of
the Embargo, and exhibited such facts and
circumstances as prove beyond controversy,
that it was not recommended by Mr.. Jeffer-
son, and under his influence passed into a
law, for the causes he assigned, bat really
as measure of cooperation with the French
Emperor, in his system for. destroying the
commerce, and with it the power of Great
Britain; the subject next in course is the
Non Intercourse law which succeeded the
Embargo. But an exhibition of this mea-
sure, as foolish and absurd, as to ourselves
it was mischievous, must be postponed,
while | present to your consideration
The Projected Var Nth Great Britain.
Our rulers have made frequent and ample
professions of their imparfiaAfy towards
the two great belligerents, France andGrcat-
Britain; and to support this pretension,
have charged both with violating our neu-
trail rights, and affected TO direct their mea-
sures for redress qu,lly against both. But
| have shewn the ialsehood of this preten-
sion. The Embargo, particularly, SO well
conceded with the views of the French
Emperor as to meet his entire appreciation.
His minister the Duke dc Galore; in his
letter Of August $, 1910, to Gen.. Arm
strong, says, "the Emperor applauded the
embargo" But without reciting the nu.
merous instances, which have observed
during an attendance in Congress for the
last s wears, but which it would take too
much time to collect and present in their
just form and colour-of the manifest par
tiahty of our rulersin favour of France;
assume il as notorious fact, demonstrated
by their general course Of conduct. With
the multiplied proofs of such partiality be-
fore me--when saw our rulers shutting
their eyes to the greatest enormities, to the
most atrocious acts of piracy, robbery and
swindling practised by the Great Emperor
against my fellow citizens; while all the
acts of Great. Britain of which they COM
planned we're monstrously aggravated and
distorted, in order to alarm and irritate the
people against the only power which stood
between US and subsection and slavery to
France; Twas led to apprehend it was their
design to involve the United States ia a
war with Great Britain. But having since
Witnessed only repetition of hard words.
the mere staggering of bullies-with a.
bundant evidences Of i'll will--but without
any solid preparations for such a war;
knowing also that the Treasury was empty;
and that with their mischievous Interrupt
tions and restrictions of commerce, the
public revenues were constantly diminish
ing knowing further their utter dread of
imposing ne1U taxes which would hazard or
destroy their popularity and believing that
a large addition to the old taxes, consisting
wholly of duties on goods imported, by the
temptation it would offer to smuggling,
might rather lessen than increase the actual
receipts of revenue; knowing, moreover
the disposition of the people of the United
States to remain at peace: From all these
considerations have, Pr good while past,
been disposed to believe our rulers were
really as willing as the people were averse,
to engage in any war, even with Great Bril-
tain In the actual state of things, / have
even considered it fortunate that the absurd
principle of Mr.. Jefferson, that the public
treasury ought not to be RICH, because an
accumulation Of money might tempt the ma
tion to 20 to war, was literally exempli6ed;
he having SO managed our public affairs as
to empty the treasury, and to compel his
successor to borrow several millions OF
dollars, for the ordinary payments and ex-
penses of government.
But late occurrence, the hostile act OF
Commodore Rodgers in his rencounter with
a British sloop of war, has led me into
new train of thought. This rencounter
having excited much public sensibility, and
being, in my view, pregnant with serious
consequences, no other subject demands
such immediate consideration.
The meeting of the American frigate
President, commandedby commodore Rod.
rare ..,.4L H. pxi4iah aIonr, &c suar IfffLe