Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-05-15

suppose that they did mistake the nature and
character of the government is the penalty
they incurred by this error never to be remit
ted Permit them once to escape, and my
word for it, they viii never again give you an
apology for this destructive protection. If
they do, they viii richly deserve all the miseA
ry which under the name of protection, you
can find means to visit upon them. Your ten
der mercies are cruelties The merchants hate
and spurn this ruinous defence.
Mr.. Quincy then took notice of an intima-
ton which had been thrown out, in relation to
an express. sent off, on the day preceding the
message of the President, giving information
that an Embargo would be proposed the en-
suing day. He said that there was no ncces-
sity of speaking of that matter, by distant al
fusion as if there was any thing, that sought
concealment. That is not an affair, said MIR.
@ that shuns the light. had the honor and
the happiness, in conjunction, with another
member of this house from New York, (Mr.
EinetD and a senator from Massachusetts,
tMr. Lloyd to transmit that intelligence to
Philadelphia, New-York and Boston, by an
express, which started on Tuesday afternoon.
In doing this we violated no obligation, even
OF the most remote and delicate kind. The
fact, that the Committee of foreign relations
had decided that embargo should be proposed
on Wednesday, was openly avowed here on
TuesdAy, by various members of this house.
Among others, ! was informed Of i'll shall
always be grateful to the gentleman, who
gave me that information. Indeed the whole
commercial community are under great obliga-
tions, to the members of the committee of TO-
reign relations for their feeling and patriotism
in resolving on that disclosure. 1t enabled us,
by anticipating The mail, to give an opportu-
nifty for great masses of property to escape
from the ruin our cabinet was meditating for
them. Yes, sir. To escape into the jaws of
the British Lion, and of the French Tiger,
which are places Of refuge, of Joy and delight,
when compared with the grasp and fang OF
this Iiyena Embargo. What was the effect Of
this information When 1t reached Philadel-
phia, the whole mercantile class was in motion,
and all that had it in their power, were flying
in all directions from the coming mischief, as
| though it were a plague, and a pestilence.-
Look, at this moment, on the river, below A.
lexandria. The poor seamen towing down
their vessels, against wind and tide, anxious
only to escape from q country, which destroys
| under the mask of preserving.
1t is said that this Embargo is mere no
! tice" to the merchant. fthis were the case
why all these pains and penalties !? why these
| g~rievous bonds, imposed on our c~oasting trade
If you really intend war, if this measure il
| timely preparation and not a substitute for it,
lay your embargo-But let it be mere general
! prohibition, without penalty. You will then
have done your duty. If they go and are cap
tured, they have no cause of complaint. But
| it is said, e shall we feed our enemies ?" That
| question ~unravels the whole plot. 1t is an
! embargo for coercion and not for preparation.
| In reply, / say, yes. Feed your enemies, if
they are in no danger of being reduced by ia
| mine, and if the article of food you do not
want, and it will perish without a market.
The gentlemen who advocate this bill seem
to be much offended that some of us do not
| believe that it is their intention to declare war
| at the end of the time limited. They treat
| the suggestion as a reflection on their person
| al veracity. ! question not either the sinceri-
ty. or veracity Of the gentlemen, who make
| these declarations. But those gentlemen must
| excuse me, if / prefer to reason concerning
future events, rather from the nature of things
| than from the state of their minds. ! make
no suggestion concerning the intentions of the
gentlemen on this floor but concerning the
intentions of our cabinet, and concerning their
ability. in relation to actual war, l shall not
hesitate both to make suggestions and to state
reasonings. And | shall not deem myself pre-
cluded from the use of my understanding con-
corning the result of measures, because my
calculations contradict any mans declared in
~tentions. The public has little concern about
what you may intend. 1t has much in what
you can execute.
i say, then distinctly, I do not believe that
this embargo is preparation for war but do
believe that it is a refuge from the question Of
declaring war. My reason tolls me, that war
is not intended, because of your want of pre-
paration, and of your neglect of it, If war
were intended, would the men at helm have
employed the five months past IN a way so ut