Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-04-22

it's They asked you for relief, and you sent
them embarrassment, They asked you Tor
defence, and you imposed embargo. They
asked q bread,' and youss gave them stone.
They asked fish, and you "gaye them
serpent Grant that the fault was great
suppose that they did mistake the nature and
character of the government; IS the penalty
they incurred by this error neverto be remit
ted Permit them once to escape, and my
word for il, they will never again give you an
apology forathi destructive protection. II
they do, they will richly deserve all the MI
sery which under the name of protection, you
can find means TO visit upon them Your
tender mercies are cruelties. The merchants
hate and spurn this ruinous defence.
Mr.. Quincy then TOOK notice OF an inelma-
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 neces-
sity ofspeaking of that matter, by distant alu-
sion as if there was any thing, that sought con-
cealment. That is not an affair, said Mr.. q.
that shuns the light had the honor and the
happiness, in conjunction, with another mem
Der of this house from N. York, Mr.. Emott)
and senator from Massachusetts (Mr LLOYD
to transmit that intelligence to Philadelphia,
New-York and Boston, by an express, which
started on Tuesday afternoon. In dong tins
we violated no obligation, even OF the most
remote and delicate kind. The TACT, that the
Committee of foreign relations had decided
that an embargo should be proposed on We'd
nesday, was openly avowed here on luesday,
I &C hot n
rious members of this house.-Among Others
was informed of tt shall always sc
grateful to the gentleman, who gave me that
information. Indeed the whole commercial
community are under great obligations, to the
members of the committee of foreign relations
for their feeling and patriotism IN resolving
on that disclosure. It enabled US, by anucl-
pating the mail, to give an opportunity tor
great masses of property to escape from the
ruin our cabinet was meditatlng tor them.
Yes, sir. To escape into the jaws OF the Bri-
tish Lion, and of the French Tiger, which
are places of refuge, OF Joy aad delight, When
compared with the grasp and fang OF this Fly
ena Embargo. What was the effect OF this
information /? When it reached Philadelphia,
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 plague, and 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 country, when destroys
under the mask OF preserving.
1t is said that this Embargo is "mere no
tice" to the merchant. Ifthis were the case,
WHY all these pains and penalties why these
grieyous bonds, imposed on our coasnpg
trade? If you really intend war, it this mes
sure is timely preparation and not substitute
for il, Law your embargo---But let 1t be mere
general prohibition, without penalty. You
will then have done your duty. 1t they go and
are captured, they have no cause OF complaint.
But it said, /" shall we feed our enemies e
That question unrayels the whole plot. It's
an embargo for coercion and not tor prepare
ton. In reply, say, yes. Feed your enc
mics. Ifthey are in no dangerof being reduc-
ed by famine, and if the article of food you
do not want and it will perish without mar
ket
The gentlemen who advocate this bill seem
to be much offended that some OF Us do not
believe that it is their intentlon TO declare war
at the end of the time limited. They treat
the suggestion as reflection on their person
al veracity. I question not either the slnceil-
ty, or yeracity of the gentlemen, who make
these declarations. But those gentlemen must
excuse me, if l prefer to reason concerning
future events, rather from the nature OF things
than from the state oftheir 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, shall not
hesitate both to make suggestions and to state
.reasonings.< And | shall not deem myself
precluded from the use of my understanding
concerning the result of measures, because
my calculations contradict any mans declared