Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-16


lew principle of blockade imterpolatel into
he laws of nations He should suppose G.
very man of candor and sober reflection
would ask why we did not go to war twelve
months ago! Or would it be said we ought
to make up, by our promptness now, for our
slowness tken?- Or will it be said, that il the
wheat for which we have received two dol
iare per bushel had been rotting in our barns,
we should have been richer or happier.
What would the planter say, ifyou was to
ask him which he would prefer the honora-
Bile. chivalrous course advocated by the spea-
ker--with the consequences which will at
tend it, the sheriff at his back and the excise |,
collector pressing himi He would laugh in
your face.
1t an embargo IL months ago would have
been Il folly and ruinous, he would request a
| ny gentleman to say what makes il wise now
1t is not generally wise to dive into futuri-
ty but 1t is wise to profit by experience, al
though it may be unpleasant. He felt much
concerned to have the bill on the table one
ionr. No one can tell the great injury to
the mill owner or the merchant By the mere
mention of an embargo in this house. 1t be-
ing limited only to sixty days, it can do no
possible good to the public, or be the means
OF bringing our property from abroad; but
as occasioning great speculations, it will be
ruinous to many, and give great fortunes to
a few.
| u Mr.. Randolph declared to his certain
knozylcdye, that the French minister, M. Sc
rurier, ever since his arrival here, had beet,
] pressing our government to prohibit the ex-
portation of our products Spain and Por-
tugai, which the government have hereto
tore eluded. And is this the way which the
honorable Speaker, with so much gallan-
rcd Ia.
rob our own people, to crafty the malignant
ambition the imperial tyrant in su5duing
the poor Spanards, in starving the enemies
OF France ? Will the people of the United
States thus manifest their sense of injuries,
In becoming the passive instrument and tools
of Frances! He said it was not the public
sentiment. He said, that as a caveat or a
precautionary measure, there can be no ne
cessity for the astsectiou and the penalties
contained therein, unless, instead of a pre-
cursor, 1t is intended as a substitute for war
| He said he had other considerations 20
submit, most of which are detail of facts
which occurred in a conference between the
committee of Foreign Relations and the Sc
cretary of State, which, however, he W ould
for the present defer
He would observe in the words of the gen
tleman from New York, (Mr. Stow that
war Is not to be considered as matter of
pleasure. He hoped we should not act as
thoughtless young couple sometimes do, who
are il hurry TO marry first, and then look
aroundto get something to make the pot boil
He besecched the house to act with sobrie-
ty and solemn consideration. Whatever his
opinion might be about the war, he said, If he
wasnot in thehabit ofwithholding his pledges,
II we should uliavoidably plunge into one, he
believed he should not be backward in affor-
a fN hf-rta fNo l.
But he did not believe war to be the object,
and his reason was because there is no pre-
paratson for it.
Mr. Clay (the Speaker) said, the gentle
man from Virginia need not have reminded
us in the manner he has of that Being who
1 watches and surrounds us.
He thought from this sentiment we ought
to draw very different conclusions than what
the gentleman had-It ought to influence
us to that patriotism, to that spirit, and dis
play OF those qualifications, which are sohon-
orable to the human character. The gem
| tieman asks, what ne7v cause of war? He
would ask, what old cause of war is una
venged? He ageeed the affair of the Ches-
apeake is settled--but why to paralize the
spirit ofthe country. Has Great Britain alb
stained from imprcssing our seamen-from
dePredating upon our property He had in
MS hands a paper giving an account of the
capture of the ship Hannibal worth with
the cargo, S 100000, Ethc cost was little
more than half thisl a short time since, and
near our coast on voyage to France. He
had no doubt but the late indian war on the
Wabash, was excited by the British /; and
what is to be thought of the emissary who
was sent to one of our principal cities, to ex-
cite civil war? Is this not a cause of war !?
We have complete proof that she will do
every thing to destroy us; our resolution
and spirit are our only dependence. Altno'
he felt warm he prided himself upon his feel
ings, and should despise himself If he was
destitute of them. The gentleman aysthere
is no cause of war
Mr.. Randolph said, he had never asserted
there was no cause of war, but that there
was no ncqy cause Of war.
Mr.. Clay said, those who voted for the
| former embargo, are bound now to vote 70,
war. 1t ought to have succeeded the ter
minatiCn ofthat measure, which would have
been the true policy. He said he was at is
| sue with the gentleman as to the pubic sem
| timent-That it is with us, is proved by the:
| glowing resolutions of fourteen legislatures.
| He said there were no divisions in the SOU
thern and western states-federalists and
republicans were united for war.
Mr.. Randolph then said he wished to state
to the committee detail of what happened
before the committee of foreign relations, in
a conference with Mr.. Monroe
MIR. Widgery objected to'it, as not in or
der; and the Chairman said he thought it ir-
! relevant.
Mr. Randolph said, his object was to show
| that the proposition for the Embargo oriei-
naily came from that committee, and 7oas not