Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-05
.NEG.47YVE or EA1B- gPGo

The renewal of the Injunction Of secrecy
In relation to certain late PROCEEDINGS OF
Cong, ess, has put the pubic in possession of
a message from the President Recommend
ing IN Embargo; bill for which, we find.
~as promptly enacted by the House of Re.
representatives.. The Senate, howevey. re
jected it by al majority of trvo.----It is. we
think, much to be regretted, that there is
no prospect OF publicity being given to the
arguments which induced the r.nubiics,;, sen
ators to v0,e in the negative. We should
really like To see what can be said in refutn.
ton of the very solid considerations which
the President offers for the measure. Inre
-laticD to scch OF our ports as Are blockaded
by the enemy, an embargo, 90 cease with
eShe CT ssa'iOn Cf the block ade, could inf,ct
very little additional res! riction; whist TO
ports which the adversary has loft omen
and avowedly left ope. to suit lis own nn,..
poses, that is, to supply his Own necessities
through the medium of snugglers. tca;.crs.
and sham Dcutrals, one would think that the
deprivation to the enemy, which would Ger,
tainly distress him very much, and thus cumc
In aid OF the military means Of the country,
thereby shortening the war, might be On in
ducement to bear for a while the burthep of
an embargo, considering that the weight of
it would not touch the honest part of the
community and would only check Tie r1eues
The Federal senators froUa tile easern states
may have strong motives for their votes. in.
asmuch as they may labor under the convic
tion that their part OF the union is i'm a state
of fassiUe r 5eAion II the general govern
nent ard i'll sach alliance with Grca, Britain
ard that an embargo would destroy their an
ti-lcyal beIigereit trade, which a, any RATE
is sanctioned by the renowned legislature Of
Massachusetts,. But now such Il motive con Il
operate upor rehtl6Hcon senators from the
eastward Is difficult TO imagine, unless we
suppose they are in secret treaty with rhe
Essex Jnnto and have stpulat.d for the
prosperity OF tie RcffiGrces OF Boston, who
drive trade to Halifsx in omen day Iiqbt
And more difficult still will it be for certain
southern senator's of q branch of the =, nub
ican school, to justify their negative votes
on this occasion to their Constituents.
trust that some OF them will come ouf. in a
handoillor pamphlet, or some other kind
CT paper, and frankly set forth their rca-
sons III ORDER tiEtwcmay ascer. ain distinct
~ "hethei~they were governed by national
logic, oY wise arguments, by jrdcious views :;
Oh, whether they were overwhelmed by rhe
torical furnishes, the contagion of nolitical
sympathy, orEhoked by h-.t,fe g.iefs-
Most undoubtedly the reasons ought TO be
strong, that would induce the Senate to put
down bill specially and consii,utiomaily re-
commended by the President and enacted by
majority of thirty in the House of ReDrc-
sentatlyes. The constitution makes it the
dutv OF the President. from time to time, to
recommend measures 10 Congress; and if
such Recommendation is not to be regarded
Iii 1t is to be treated with contempt by the
Senate, contrary to the broad sense, IF the
popular branch of Congress, then the con
suiutcna injunction is altogether ridiculous.
he eXercise OF the recommendatory power
ought, at all times, to be used with the great
est discretion; and there is 10 instance ON
record wherein Mr.. Madison has i'm the ,east
Nabussd 1t; when, therefore, a discreet Pre-.
9dent decidedly recommends measure, it
leoght to be adopted upon executive respon-
Hsibihty: Any ether construction of the CON
stitution is farcical, surprising the Injunction
on the President to recommend To- be, as it
Is, imferatipe. we recollect the time very
well when certain senators screened them
selves from the blame, for nor adopting
strong measures against Great Britain, by
saying that the President would not recon-
mend them. And we recollect z. eat ma
ny more things which, in.good time, we shall
net fail to notice. At present, We shall con
clude this article, by observing, that by the
negative Of the Senate the British armies
VIII be ted IN Canada by our produce, which
they o'herwise would RoS have been and
that the negative vote succeeded through the
same means and the same men who. fro,n
the commencement Of the war, embafrass.
ed the Executive by advocating an eXten.
sion Ct our military means AT an irarropef
inomennt, and thereby posponing blow in
tended IN .he North, tie Influence # which
embarrassment is felt, even at this day, ~
our armies in that quarter.