The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-04-30
WASHINGTON. April rs.

Which has just terminated, has given
birth to an unusual number Of laws, large
p:' portion of,hem of \ private nature, many
Ss which we have already officially publish |
ed, Il the remainder of which shall be pub
hshed as soon as they are transmitted 10 us.
We take the first leisure moment briefly
10 review the acts Of public nature, and
sxhiIt III one view their general tendency.
The measure first in importance during
this session, and by which the greatest sen.
sation was created, as we'll on it's enactment
as ON its s. bsequert repeal. was the general
embargo on all vessels in the waters of IN
United States. The policy which first die
tated this measure, and that which after
wards induced its repeal. together with that
OF the non importation ac,, have been so re-
Gently and repeatedly discussed on the floor
OF Congress, that it is not necessary for US
TO enlarge on it. We take the opportunity
of saying, however, that the measure was
loudly called for by the people at the mo.
ment that Congress convened, and that we
doubt not the President, in then rccommen.
ding Its adoption, acted under the impulse
OF public feeling. as we'll as from an honest
and sincere conviction gifts probable effect,
IN arrestng that intercourse with the enemy
which was deemed essential to the support
OF his military pots in the vicinity and else
where, and his fleets on our Coasts. There
X
IN this view the best effec,s would result
from the measure. But, after an expert.
ment OF four months, although the measure
might and did produce desirable effects, it's
repeal became necessary, because it could
no longer be expected TO injrre the ENEMY
more than it injured ourselves. II had al
ready produced perhaps all the effect which
Souid have been expected from il OF the c
nemy s stations and aeets in our neighbour
InN hoe n
ment TO continue in force more than year,
the enemy of course had ma de all the
rangements which were necessary, and
been put TO all the Inconvenience TO which
ne could have been subjected by il. by being
compelled to provide for supplies from d s.
fance Tor full year in advance. A further
continuance OF this measure was uunecessa
ny therefore in THIS view, unless the re- en-
actmeut Of the law in January next was
contempt ed, which we have not heard hin
: ted at by the most z alors adherent to the
system. In the mex. place, as to the efF.c,
CT operation ofthis measure on the supplies
to the British army in the Peninsula, which
was one mo i've tor adopting 1.-THE total
shangs OF circumstances in Europe, which
gave to our enemy the keys of its most a
bundant granaries, had entirely neutraliz.
the OF .ralpn of cur embargo in that quar-
ter This remark is forciby exempt. he'd
by the tact that flour could, for some weeks
antecedent to the repeal of the embargo.
have been exported from Europe to our
Eastern ports. and sold there at the current
prices to considerable profit to the i'm
porter. With such facts staring US in the
face, who can doubt but the repeal of the
restrictive system had become eXpedent ?
But, suppose we are somewhat mistaken ::
and that the measure was not at the time of
Its repeal, as We believe it to have been,
entirely inefficient a weapon of annoy-
ancs to the enemy. Were not The evils at
tendane on Ii, the sSackles it imposed on the
sa erprize Of our CT liens, On the ooastinp
Trade particularly the difficulty Of its ex
ecution ; lis oppressiveness ca on some
Glasses OF cur cIt,ZenS-were moi all these
evils more than sufficient 10 counteibalai ce
the almost impercep;ible eject il produced
on our enemys We think they were and
we are therefore gratihed at the RECESSION of
abe embargo and with itOf the non impor
Taticn system, which had become nerveIess.
ana I'm Potentfr from the operation partly of
Sae same causes. There was another cen
siders'ion that strongly recommended the
repeal OF these measures /; over which, we
Know not why, vcll OF cnncealment was
studiously thrown during the scussi1ns in
Congress on this topIc--the necessity of
providing revenue. Let US raise the vel,
aud exhibit the fact. The al ernatiye pre-
sentcd itself of repeating the restric i've svs
tenn. or OF DOW imposing additional taxes for
the sext Year (iS15) Amounting. in case the
war continued, to more than i've millions
annually, and more than uhlii q the pre-
sent rates OF internal taxation. Had an ad
herence to the restrictive svsterD been ne
cesssry to an energetic prosec ution Of the
war, these taxes would have been unhcsita
tingly resor'ed to. Blc il was not neces
sary-and The repeal of the non Import ton
and emb rgo, without Weakening in any
respect the force of Our military arm, has
obViated the nece sity of mp sing additional
ourtnens on the peope, which tSe COM
ed prob hi'ion ofeXports If the produce of
gheir labor void have rendered them. in
some parts VI lhe Country at least, unable to
pay.
We have mt mentioned the concurrent
advantages expected to be derived from a.
pening our p2rts to the commerce IF Russia
and Sweden whose Ministers, il is pretty
yell understood, had pressed our govern
Dent very urgently n this head, as veil as
from the commerce OF such other powers as
should be amicsbiy sposed and neutral be
tween Us and Great brif ain. To all these
weighty arguments in favor IF the course
which was re muIended by the Executive.
and which the government has adopted. was
opposed the objection Of inconsistency. TO
this we have only to reply, thst Consistency
- relative term. and is valuable or
otherwi g as it is applied to wisdom or to
error. As a man who walks the street will.
~ he t,avftuactn,ol, .Jt .,ea 4 .