Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-20

ara mad leave to sit again, without taking
inc question on the amendment.
House adjourned half past three.
-: ):-
from the PHILADELPHIA { Federal Regists,.
SECRET DEBATE ON THE EMBARGO.
1--WE have been favored by friend at
washington, member of Congress. with.
tne following sketch of the Debate on the.
Embargo Message.]
Continued, }
Mr.. Seybert said, that on voting for tho
several important measures which conerese
nave agreed to this session, he felt himself
pIedged to go to war; that he was in favor
Oh an embargo as a precautionary measure
ana precursor to war, When we voted for
the $4,000 men, he supposed the executive
htenoed war-but he has now such infor-,
nation from friend in whom he con6des
as leads nm to believe that offensive ope-.
ratiohs are not meant. We ought to be bet
ter prepared before we engage in war n.
had observed in the Baltimore papers. that
the British have ordered a squadron. and
10000 men for our coast
MT. Smile expressed his surprize az tho
observations of his friend and COLLEAGUE III.
did not know from what quarter he had OBJ.
talheu ms information, that the President
does not mean war. Does he believe ne hoe
all this time been deceiving the legislature )
he had heard but one sentiment from the
president, which is, that gye must make 7ro,
unless U Britain relents. The President had
always supposed that embargo must precede
Wharf.-The only difference has been as to the
III. lime winch mas been finally compromised.
he embargo is intended as a war measure
In rOlla =
ed by both the executive and the comm;tte.
OF foreign relations.-That being now IN he
would observe, that at the beginning of the
SESSION, he was not SO warm for war as manv
were, but he was for commercial RESTRICT.
ons. lie was not for the IS 900 men: but
as the house have determined otherwise. he
would now so to war-If we now recede We.
shall be reproach among all natiofs.
Mr. Seybert then spoke, that his intention
was to resist seriously Great Britain: he
would be plain; but he was not for going TO
war unpreP9red. When the bill for raising
the q, 900 men was before the house, it was
then declared to be according to the wishes
Oh the secretary at war-since that time, the
secretary has said it was not his wish. from
which he concluded it was not the wish oftbc
President.
Mr.. Randolph proposed to read from me,-
moranda in his possession, of what occurred'
IN the committee of foreign relations, and a.
conference between them and the secretary
OF state, which was objected to.
Mr. Basset (chairman) considered it in
order.
Mr.. Calhoun appealed.
The Speakers decision was confined. aves
go. - -
Mr. Randolph said, it will appear that the
embargo is not preparatory to war, that is
10 say, 1t was necessarily so, and of course
not OF the character which the speaker has
considered it. From his minutes (amone O..
| ther Iacts) 1t appeared, that Mr.. Monroe
| said 10 the committee, that the President
thought we ought to declare war before we
adjourn, unless G.. Britain recedes, of which
there was no prospect-That there was con.
versatinn about an embargo. MIR. Monroe
was asked by some Of the committee, whei
ther the President would recommend il bv
! message, he answered that he would if he
| could be assured it would be accountable to
the house. He also said, MIR. Barlow had
been instructed to represent to the Frebch
| government our sense Of the injuries receiv-
ed, and to press upon them our demands for
| reparation-that if she refused us Justice
the embargo would leave the policy as re-
| spectS FRANCE, and indeed Of both countries
III our hands. He was asked if any esscntil
i "iNSi hbiOilS WOulu De maze within 90 CaES
IN the defence of cur maritime frontier or
seaports Mr. M answered, that pretty
considerable preparations would be made.
lie said, New York was now in a respectat
bic state of defence, but not such as 10 re-.
SlSt formidable fleet--but, that it was not
to be expected that such a kind of war
would be carried ON. 1t was replied. that
we must expect what commonly happens in
| wars MIR. M. said, that although a great
distress and injury might take place in one
part OF the union, 1t would not essentially aF-
feet the population or resources of the union
at large. AS to the prepared state of the
country, he said, in case of a DECLARATION of
war, the President would not feel himself
bound to take upon himself more than his
share ofthe responsibility. Mr. NJ. said, the
unprepared state OF the country was the on
| ly reason why Interior measures s.Culd be
| deferred.
Mr.. Randolph then said, b,atthe stcp we
are about taking is too high pre-. pay for
tho consistency ofgentleOep, VINO THINK they