The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-05-15
{ Vol. 9--------No. 2.


TO inJure any person the memorialists are
all believed to be worthy, but that con-
sideration affectshot the question.
Mr.. RANDOLPH said that to stran-
ger to the proceedings of the American
house OF Representatives it might appear
strange that discussion OF the.merits Of AN
act similar to that now under consideration.
OF an act SO important in it's consequences,
should hrst take place on a motion to refer
ia petition from people complaining of the
grievances OF that act and yet he believ-
cd substantially such was nearly the fact
Tor 1t could hardly be said that the act was
passed on the ground of any information
properly derived from other coordinate
branches of the government, or from any
arguments advanced in its favor on this
moor. 10 one to whom the character of the
times was unknown, it would appear aston
ishing, with the general apathy prevailing
III this House 4 out of it, that a slumberipg
Legislature and people stupefed under the
effects OF this powerful political narcotic the
embargo, should have their dreams disturb
ed oy the thought of war. War when, as
a gentleman has justly asked, where are the
means to carry it on? Not that doubt,
sir, said Mr.. r. that there will be war for
am myself precisely in situation similar
TO what would have been that of one of the
unfortunate people of Caracas, if pre-ad-
country know that we are on the brink
OF some dreadful scourage-sone great
desolation-some awful visitation from that
power whom am afraid we have taken, as
yet, IN our national capacity, no means to con-
ciliate. 1t other civiised people, if the o.
Their nations of Christendom, have not es-
capped, what reason have we to suppose that
we shall be preserved from the Calamities
which Providence has thought fit to nflict
II
termingle in the conflict now going on in Eu-
rope?
But let me, sir, if can, confne myself to
the merits of this petition and, that may
be strictly in order, bring my discourse to the
level OF the insipidity of the Court Gazette.
Amidst this fresh cry of war, the sound
" restrictive system" struck my ear with
dreadful apprehension. Restrictive sys-
TEN Yes, sir, there's the rub. The en-
barge, engendered from a fortuitous con-
course between the Executive and the COM
mittee of Foreign Relations, has been slaid
as the precursor of war and not as re-
stricuve measure and yet it is defended in
TINS House, If not by the same arguments,
Certainly by the same feeling which sup
ported the celebrated embargo of MIR.
Jetferson's administration. In this there
Is ," my judgment the most manifest
inconsistency. An embargo laid ON the same
T.
De defended by such as deemed it constitu.
tionai and wise, and might be stretched to
the utmost extent to give fair trial to the
experiment. But not SO with that laid on
recent occasion. That was sort of
chance medley it came nobody knows
whence, and nobody knows how. Now, for
Its operalon-l say that as precursor of
war,its operation is maniFestly detrimental to
the best interests ofthc county. In the charac.
a n lnI Pp xxh;r Il
imposture, at least utterly inadequate TO
the purposes for which its friends say it is
intended. Its nothing more than sort of
reverend to the old system of restriction
1t is something like what the Rump Parlia-
ment IN the days OF Cromwell was to all the
Parliaments which preceded tit is pork.
still without even changing the sauce. I
snail not step out of the way to prove, as
unquestionably might. that the operation
OF the other part of the restrictive system
hass6een.manitestly injurious TO the'agrcul-
tural g commercial interests for although
Hour was before the embargo at ten dollars.
but for the non-importation it would have
been at twelve because our merchants.
being prevented from BRINGING return car
goes, sustain a loss Of 20 per cent in ex-
Charge, and of course connot give so much
Tor flour by 90 per cent. as if the restriction
did not exist indeed By more, because the
herCnant not only suffers by the difference
in exchange, but by the loss of his usual
profit on return cargo. That very differ
ence CT exchange against Great Britain.
which has been vaunted as showing the ba,.
lance of trade in our favor, was in fact a
dead loss TO the American people. | have
heard it whispered on this floor that flour
yet bears go d price that dollar used to
Dc Consiprred good pLice for a bushel Of
wheat. Is this an answer to be given, when go.
Vernment reduces its price 50per cent. in a
night! But, Sir, what is it that keeps what at
a dollar x -four at seven dollars and half ?
1t IS this the whole operation of this sys-
tenn is entirely upon the grower of the COM
modify, upon the miller and upon him who
purchased previous to the laying Of the EN-.
barge and was unable to get his commodity
out. 1t diminishes the price here two, three
or four dollars barrel, it has the effect a.
gam TO raise the price abroad perhaps as
much, making difference, between the
price before and alter she embargo. of from
five to seven dollars barrel speak from
no theory. but from as authentic CONNER
cial information as any in the nation when
l say, that IfFny persons wish to export -four.
vessels from the eastern states can be got to
clear out coast-wise, take all RISKS on them
selves, and put that -four in any port named
by the person chartering the vessels. for >,
less sum per barrel than the difference in
price between -four here and abroad in
some cases for less than the difference i'm
price here before and since the embareoJ
MS is the actual state OF things! The o.
rlginal grower of the article arJ H. ,,31issa