The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-05-15

l insincere in their determination to ago TO
war nor would the clamor against the Loan
be quite so high. But he did not see what
come ction this subject had with the one be-
fore the House, He SHOULD pass to the re-
marks of the gentleman, that we were pro-
ceeding, as did the blind and mad admins
trations of Lord North III England and of
MIR. Adams in the years 's9 and 1900. For
his part, Mr.. ]. could see no such analogy !;
nor did he believe it existed, whatever might
be the sentiments of those who think other
wise. Those who oppose the measures of
Congress say the voice of the people is dis
regarded !; and so has the gentleman from
Virginia said. Indeed and was he to give
Iup his sentiments, and the sentiments of
those whom he represented, because the
| constituents of the gentleman from Virginia,
and the minority in this House, did not a
gree with him and his constituents, and with
the constituents of a great majority of the
members of Congress- With the same pro-
pricty and more, the gentlemen, who made
this charge, might be called upon to give up
their opposition and their judgement too, if
you will, and with much better grace, if a
majority of this nation is to govern, and that
majority to be ascertained by their repre-
sentatives here---and what other criterion
will be established {? Mr.. J. said, he not on
iy voted his own sentiments, but represen-
tied truly his constituents, his district !;
and he presumed other members did the
same. Ii that was the case, he did not be
leve the voice of the people was disregard
led, but consulted, except it was disregarded
by the minority-apd while the opposition
members exercised their rights, and he ne
yer wished to curtail them, they should re-
collect that the majority had rights also,
and could not be called upon with any pro-
pflety to abandon them, because the consti-
tuents Of minority in the House wished it.
NIx, Il 4.
great fundamental maxim of all good and
rightful governments, that majority should
govern. He was willing, therefore, that
the impartial world should Judge the pro-
lpriety or correctness ofsuch a charge, and
he would proceed to the remarks of the gen
tleman from Virginia against the embargo
He would ask whether the gentleman sup
posed that measure SO well understood
would be abandoned by the House to-day
} Tor any argument which could be urged--a
measure 81 recently adopted. and one which
had been the subject Determination, of ap-
, plause and mvective for more than years
5 He presumed that no such calculation could
5 be made.
t But the gentleman from Virginia not only
t reprobated this meas ure in the strongest
. terms as coercive measure, system q
e RESTRICTION, but as preliminary, the pre-
|. cursor or war, II was equally improper and
s destructive measure: and, as a war mea-
+ sure, 1t could not be defended by its advo-
S Gates. Mr.. J. said he recollected to have
# read speech OF the gentleman himself on
: the subject OF an embargo before he had
: the honor OF seat in Congress, in which
r 1t was asserted that this nation could never
e so to war without laying an embargo pre-
: viously, and for limited time.
: Here, then, we have the authority of the
: gentleman himself many years ago, who
= declared that m embargo was not only wise
:, but indispensable as precursor of war 3;
now, 1t IS the most Ubiquitous system that
t could nave been accepted, even ifiwar is IN
a tended upon It's expiration and not only
r this, but 1t subserYes the views of France
e how can these sentiments and opinions be
e reconciled with former declarations and O.
: plnions as to an embargo And who is most
v consistent, the gentleman from Virginia who
n DeHeVed IN 1906 an embargo must always
:. prccede war, and now denounces such a
!, measure as unwise and destructive of the
best interests of the people; or those who
believed with the gentleman in 1906, and
who continue of the same op;nion to this
moment, and who have actually made the
/ experiment recommended by the gentle
man himself. Mr.. ] said he had adverted
f to this circumstance on account of tho
D charge which had been made upon those
who had voted for the embargo.
} 1t was said by the same gentleman, that
our proceedings reminded him of the DAYS
. o. '98, 80, &c. He would here again en-
quire of the gentleman, how it happened
that he was in most cases found acting with
those very gentlemen who approved the
measures of 1853, and not with those who
: disapproved them ?
Is not this state of things calculated Ia
make us doubt the similarity of these pro-
ceedings notwithstanding the sincerity of the
contrary belief But, to proceed-The
gentleman thought he had pre- sentiment
OF some great calamity, which was hanging
over this nation. MIR. Johnson did not pre-
tend to prophesy of events, more especially
OF any calamitous visitation of Providence
but he would state that in his opinion, the
, annals of the world could not give an iI,-
stance equal to that of free people in the
successful enjoyment of all the blessings OF
character property, rights, honor and H.
berty, with means to maintain them and
their independence, meanly, reasonably and
ignominiously sCulking from the danger of
such contest and submitting to a system
of insult and injury, of encroachmcnt and
foreign domination, which would end in the
annihilation of every object for which free
government was instituted. And although
he thought republic should love peace and
encourage all attachment to that desirable
state of things above all earthly blessings
except that of liberty, he hoped that when
that inestimable jewel was the prize Of con-
oycry ct her a..