Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-05-12

When petitions of a similar kind were before
the House few days ago, 1t was SAID that the
sufferers under the embargo must charge
their loss to the members on this SIDE OF the
House. who by thsir speeches III the House
and their conversation out Of doors had de-
ceived the people as to the intention OF tic
government to go to war. ! thought this ra-
Their an ungenerous observation, NO speech
es had been made on this side OF the House on
the subject of war. No, sir, II any false I'M
preston respecting the war has been made on
the public mind, it is to be charged tothe pro-
ceedinps of this House. The people knew
that YOU were not, that you could not soon De,
prepared for war They knew that your col
fers were exhausted, that you had neither
Heets nor armies OF course they could not
suppose that you were going to war with no
thing but paper preparations. 1t was there
fore impossible for them to foresee the en-
bareo. 1t came upon them suddenly as
stroke of thunder. But, sir, there are other
important considerations to induce you to re-
lieyc the memorialists. Is it wise, sir, to
plunge the people into distress and rum, tlrst
to inpoverish the country s then TO go to war,
and that very country too, sir, In and through
which the war is 10 be carried on. Is 1t not
better to have the hearts of the people with
YOU when you are about to enter into the con-
fict, than to ALLEVIATE them from you? You
cannot 90 to war without the people. No sir,
it will be better to conciliate people, who
must necessarily bear so much OF the priva-
tons, burthens and calamities ofthe war, the
people of a state SO much exposed to the en-
envy. hope the house will seriously consi-
der this memorial and not reject it In the man
ner proposed by the gentleman from Tenncs
see, which cannot fail to offend and wound the
feelings of the memorialists.
MIR. Boyd said, he wished to make few
observations on the motion now before thu
House to postpone the further consideration
of the petition until the fourth Of July next
! did not intend to advocate such measure
nor do think that the congress can grant the
PRAYER of the petitioners /: but there is a pro-
priety in observing decent respect to SO res
pectable petition, with others ofthe same te-
nor already referred. We should do we'll to
consider what the feelings of the petitioners
will be if treated in this manner. We all
knew, at least a great many ofus, what were
our feelings on the information of our petit
tons prior to the revolution being treated
with Contempt and disrespect Sir, my in
tention in laying that embargo was with dou-
Bile view, the one to save and secure our pro-
perry from the grasp of the proposed enemy,
the other to keep from her those supplies that
will, or would, enable her to be better able to
prosecute a war. I think that this petition
with the others on the same subect OF the en-
barge ought to be committed to a select COM
mittee or the committee OF Commerce and
Manufactures with instructions to report to
the House their opinion--not to repeal the
embargo, but assign the reasons why 1t was
expedent to lay it, and the reasons of the ina
propriety Of repeal at this time. Such a
course is due to the petitioners it would be
treating them with the respect due to hume
rous ard decent petitions. If you cannot
grant them their prayer, at least deign to as
SIGN your reasons This they expect and
think have Alright to, and also think it would
be the soundest policy. | therefore move
that this petition, together with all the others
on the same subject be committed to the
committee of Commerce and Manufactures,
and that they DE directed to report to the
House their opinion.
THE Speaker decided that the motion was
not now in order, another motion being pend
ing,1
Mr. Rhea,-The objects and design of the
memorial are to persuade and obtain repeal
Of the embargo law. Is this House prepared
to repeal that law OF arc the members there
of prepared 70 excite continuance of the de-
lusory hopes which seem to prevail! from
whence have these hopes arisen Let those
~ he No hos
be responsible for the effects. If any section
of ciizens will in such case act, with them
selves be it; if injury occurs by conduct
bottomed OH particular opinon-an opinion
contrary to the reason of things, persevelcd
in also against evidence, the laws are not CEN
surable.
In this memorial the word rulers is used.
If by this word is meant the Congress, Exc