Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-05-15
DEBATE
In the House Of Representatives. Of the u
States an Secret Session.
April 5.
IcoNTINuED.l

he believed it to be a preparation for war he
should have a less indignant sense of the inju
ry, than he felt now, as he deemed it a pure,
unsophisticated, reinstated Embargo-The Ii
imitation of sixty, or ninety days, gave little
consolation or hope to him because he knew
how easily the same power which originated
could continue this oppressive measure.
He said that his objection was. that it was
not what it pretended to be and was what it
pretended, not to be-That it was not Embar
60, preparatory to war-But that it was EN-
barge as a substitute for the question of de-
claring war. 1t was true that it was advocat-
ed as a step incipient to a state of war, and by
way Of preparation for it, by gentlemen whose
sincerity he was bound to respect. He could
not however yield the conviction of his senses
and reflections, to their asseverations nor de-
clare in complaisance to any, let them be as
respectable as they might, that he saw in this
measure, more or less, than its features indi-
Gated.
Is this Embargo what it pretends to be,
preparation for war? In the first place, no
sudden attack is expected from Great Britain.
1t is not suggested that we have a title of evi.
dence, relative to any hostility of her temper,
which is not possessed by the whole commu-
nifty. The President has not communicated to
us one document or reason for the measure.
His message merely notifies to us his will and
pleasure.
An Embargo, as preparatory to war, pre-
supposes some new and hidden danger, of
which the merchant is unapprised, it may be
wise to stay the departure of property, until
the nature and extent of it can be explained.
But not a moment longer. For, let the state
of things be that of war, or of peace, the prin-
ciple is precisely the same,-the interest WHICH
the community has, in the property of iadivi-
duals, is best preserved by leaving its manage
ment to the interest of the immediate proprie-
tor; after he is made acquainted with sill the
circumstances of the time, which have a ten
dency to increase its exposure.
The reason of an Embargo, considered as
an incipient step to war, is either to save our
property from depreciation abroad, or keep
property which we want at home. Now it
happens that the nature of the great mass of
our exports is such that there is little danger
of depreciation from the enemy we pretend to
fear abroad, and little want of the articles,
most likely to be exposed at home. The to-
tai export of the last year amounted, as APP
pears by the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, to orty.fve millions Of dollars
1t also appears, by that report, that our ex-
ports to Great Britain and her dependencies,
and also to those Of Spain and Portugal. were
thirty-eight millions .fUe hundred Mous and
doHars-NEARLY SEVEN EIGHTH in value of
our whole exports have been, and continue to
be to the dominions of that very power, from
which so much is pretended to be apprehend-
ed. Now, it is well known that these articles
are of very great necessity and importance to
her, and whether, even in the case of actual
war between our countries, G.. Britain would
capture them might be questionable. But
that she would capture them, on the mere pre-
p~aration, before one really hostile act was COM
mitted on our part, is not only unreasonable
but absolutely absurd to expect. This very
commerce, which by the passing of this bill,
| you indicate, it is her intentioneto prohibit or
destroy, it is her obvious and undeniable poll
| cy to unite and cherish besides, the articles
are in a very great proportion, perishable,
which by this embargo are to be prohibited
| from going to market. Which is best ? To
keep them at home, to a certain loss and pro-
babe ruin, or adventure them abroad to a
possible loss and highly probable gain ? Ask
| your merchant. Ask common sense.
But it is said " we must protect our mer-
chants" Heaven, help our merchants from
embargo protection lit is also said that "the
| present condition of things has been brought
| upon the country by the merchants-that 1t
was their clamor, in 1905 and 1906, which
first put congress upon this system ofcoerciye
restriction, of which they now SO much COM
plain"-It is true that in those years the mer-
chants did p~etition-not for embargo-not for
commercial embarrassment and annihilation,
but for protection. They, at that time, really
thought, that this national government was
formed for protection and that 1t had, at
heart the prosperity of all the great interests
of the country. If it was a grievous fault,
:" grievously have" the merchants " answered
it.o They asked you for relief, and you sent
| them embarrassment. They asked you for
| dafanca cd xou i,nposed emharOO. They