The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-06-19
IN s.NA'i'E u. \.

In SENATE U. =.
M. Smith, of New-york, presented the follow
ing petition OF sundry inhabitants, merchants, and
others, of the city Of New-York, praying that the
nucd as substitute for against &. britain
MEMORIAL.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiOes Of the o. s ef .ane.ied in Con
Gress assembled, the .uemoyiaf Of the Snbscri-
6ers. Merchants, and Others, ;ahabitan,s IF
she city IF .Vssr- fbyk, ~.
zEsPEcrruLLY SHEwErH-
That your memorialists feel, in common with the
rest of their fellow -ctDcns anxious socitu,e for
the honor and interest OF their country, and equal
determination to assert and maintain thcis:. -
That your lemorE,iists believe that continuation
Of the restrictive measures Ia operation will pro-
suce all the benefits, while il prevents the caam ties
OF war. That when the British ministry become
convinced that trade with the United States cam
NOT be renewed, but by the repeal OF the Orders in
Council, the distress OF their nferchauts and
tacturers, and their inability to support their armies
IN Spain and Portugal, will probably compel them to
fsiat measure.
Your mcmorialists beg leave TO remark, Mat such
Effects even vi,ible and it may be- reasona-
bly, hoped that continuance OF the embargo and
non-importaton laws few moutls beyond the fourth
day OF July next, will effect complete and bloodless
etiuinph of our rights -.
Your mernoraiists therefore respectfully soci. Of
your honorable body, the passage Of law coitinu-
ing the embargo and giving TO the President Of the
United States power discontinue the whole of tho
restrictive system on the RESEMBLING Of the British
Orders in Council. -.
The conduct Of France in burning our ships, in se-
frustrating our property entering her ports, expect
ing protection in consequence Of the promised
of the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, aud the delay in
completing treaty with the American minister, has
excited great sensation, and we hope aud trust will
sail forth from your honorable bouy, such retaatory
sacasures as may be best calculated to procure jus
Zee.
Here follow the names of So subscribers)
After the same was read Mr.. Taylor said, Z" That
presented to this body, and the importance of the
matter thesc:a contained, had occasions
been used inducements to to give such petition
. respectful. disposition in the course OF our pro-
eeedinss He recoliected case in point. 1t
the case of the petition of an eminent merchant of
Massachusetts, presented by honorable senator
from that state and which at the suggestion Of that
honorable gentleman was by the Senate ordered to
he printed. He was of opinion that the petition Just
read ought not to be treated with less attention.
That he had seen the petition, and had enqured in-
20 the character OF its snbscribersand had been III
formed that the hfty-eigrt sgners to il among
the most respectable, wealthy and intelligent mer-
chants of the city of New-York. There are to be
found in that list the OF presidents of banke
presidents OF Insurance companies, directors OF
banks, besides other Of pre-emircnt standing
in the mercantile world. They had hill united in the
sentiments contained in the petition, notwithstand-
ing, that there existed among them difference in
political opinionsor he understood that of the pc.
ttoners AZ were federal and I6 republican, Mr. II.
added, that he considered some of the sentiments
contained in the petition RS of the highest impor-
tsnce. he hailed 1t as an suspicious occurrence,
that these hoiorab.s merchants, in praying that the
evils OF war might he avcrted from them and from
She nation, had neverthcs held fast TO the principle
q resistance to the aggressoDs and unhaowed con.
duct of Great Britain ards our nationand lad
exercised the candor and frmncss to hear testimony
60 the efficiency Of the restrictive system for obtain
ting redress of our wrongs, and of course the in-
.cegrtty and honor OF those who had imposed this
system for that purpose. He hoped that tho exam-
teuu m
those strenuous ~ unremttng eNertions of passion,
prejudice and party feeling, which had attempted
20 stamp upon the majority in Congress the foul and
unjust censure of being enemies to commerce. That
however Questionable snd obstinate il might appear.
he still believed that the embargo and non-inport-
ton laws, if faithfully executed, were capable OF
reaching farther than our cannon. We were Mt this
very time rendering an urgent argument, argu-
ment to be felt by each city, village and hamlet in
England. This touching to the quick the vital inter
ests of that empire, would demonstrate to the peo.
pie at least the folly and absurity ofthe Orders in
Council. The ordeal Of the 90 weeks of scarcity
which the people of that unhappy country are un-
dergong, to relieve which, but for the madness and
folly of their rulers, every yard Of American can
vass would be spread to the gales--the thousands
OF starving manufacturers thrown out Of employ for
want of CUSTOM which CUSTOM but for the injus.
tee OF their masters, VIC were willing to give, noqu
feel the efficiency of the restrictive system. These
matter otfact arguments want no sophstry long
speeches to give them weight. But Great Britain is
proud and will never yield to this of PRESSURE
Hunger has no faw. Where was her pride during
the last year when she exported to her enemy on
the continent more than eleven millions of pounds
sterling for provisions and meanly trucking to her
enemy, consented to buy the privilege of laying out
her guncas for bread and actually submitted en-
the compassion of Napoleon to buy the wines, bran
dies and silks Of France, which she did want D.!
This restrictive system, when commenced under
the former Embargolaw, encountered every opposi-
ton among ourselves, which selfish avarice, which
passion & party rage could suggest and success
sui its assailants that while it was operating
with its fullest effects (Which the prices current OF
that day viii shewJ some Of its greatest champions
IN the national legislature abandoned is-yes, sir
IN the tide Of victory they threw down their arms
How were the mighty fallen, and the shield Of
Che mighty yileiy cast away The disaycwal Of
Erskine's arrangement was the consequence Of this
retreat. But il may besaid that the sentiments in
the petition wore extorted by tbs apprehens Of
greater eyil-sbar. In all trials, those who had
have anticipated this alternative Let those who by
their acrimony, snecrs and SCOTS, have thrown away
tis chief defence OF nation, be held responsible
for the compusion they have imposed on us to take
This dire alternative. He said that although he WIS
unwilling to abate single psny whish we might L.
rally inlet upon orr enemy, and might at the pro-
per time oppose any thing ike the swap proposed
ofone ystem for another, when had the power
and the right to impose upon enemy both the
one and the other, he nevertheless thought the
petition deserving of the attention wich lie now
moved it should receive. He moved that the pc
Ytion should be printed. Which was agreed to.
FROM ST. VINCENfS.
The Bridgetown Gazette Extraordinary, Of the
sth Of May, 1919, contains the following melan-
et..I,. fE 81 laf. ~