The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-12
[Vol. 1o.-----No. 90.

90 not think him quite crazy. I
should prefer him to the prince regent, for
he possesses the charities 1T domestic life,
with which his royal highness does not APP
pear to be overburthened. should prefer
him to bonaparte, because, though he is a
MI tary man, do not believe he is Capable
OF d'ng alt so much mischief.
| Having said this TO pacify the Hon. Mem
Der on his favorite subject, shall now pro-
coed to examine that part of the answer
! which relates 10 the Embargo. Gentlemen
have a wonderful faculty ofdenouncine laws
as unconstitutional. 1t was to be expected
that those gentlemen who regard their re-
putation as correct lawyers. would have de-
liberated before they decided. At least il
was hoped. that inasmuch as we have tri
lbunal competent to- decide this question,
and that very speedily. gentlemen. instead
OF threatening to legislate against the legis
tion OF Congress. would have taken the
means toshave decision in the Courts of
the United States. Are they afraid to trust
the Federal Judges? Do these gentlemen
lack wisdom and integrity Or is it this wis
dom and integrity which they are afraid of,
The other Embargo was deemed by SOME
unconstitutional, because it was unlimited
but it was decided otherwise in this s ate
and if mistake not. the Hon. Member from
Worcester argued in favor Of it's constitution
ality. The objection to the Embargo is that
1t restricts the coasting trade, and gentle
men seem to insist, that the right to regu-
late commerce among the several States,
means 6etzueen State and State. ] will
read you the opinion Of General Wash
ington on this subject-GIere NJ Holmes
read communication If President Wash
ington to the Senate, 2sth M rich, 1894 and
insisted that It was in point.) But that clause
in the consti ution which autho:iz Com
gress to provide for the common welfare is
amply sufficient. Who can doubt of the inn
portanee OF this measure 10 the common de-
fence Our enemies suffer exceedingly
and perhaps this 10 cause of more than half
the Glamour. Gentlemen feel compassion.
ately towards the District of Maine. The
people, to be sure suffer priva,ions, and
they are wiring to endure them but they
are not starving, nor severely distressed -
and very few Of them would thank us for
our condolences. The Embargo wa mes
sure called FOR BY both parties and the
people had rather bearit hard as it is, than
that their enemy should be fed But qrn.
tlemen threaten Legislative interference.
Are they prepared FIR this They mean
surely. by State law, to repeal the Ent,,r-
co. and enforce the repeal against the Off
GERS OF the General Government. This ia
cNming out. If they are in earnest, like .thil.
You have talked long enough. We begin 70
doubt your nerve. Your rich men bay.
probably ma te up their minds, as well 80
those OF desperate fortunes. They proba.
bly, Understand the meaning of the word re-.
Voiutlon. They have probably thoueht
where thev Sha'l be when the wheel stons.
but gentlemen magnify the ill success and
disgrace OF this war. This was exDected
1t seems to be subject of exultation. 7 too
regret, as much as any man, the Disasters
OF our arms. But it was not entirely unex-
pected. We had been thirty years at peace. =,
ne art ut war was Of course neplected F.
Our revolutionary heroes have, one after a.
mother, passed oft the stage of action. In
Tree country, must begin hostjlities
~'th1ut prePara@on. IT you prepare, the
people will know for what and + On vn,
tell your enemy. and preparation will he
correspondent. If so, you NAV as well he
at war at once. We had to encounter the
preJudices of people Injured TO peace &
to resist desp erate faction y. no were advo.
eating he cuemy and throwing every oh
et'c'e IN the waj OF the government. These
obstacles are overrome.-And have we met
Nm, MN nouihg Out disgrace and defeats?-
Were the defence of For. Meies Fort Ste.
vtnSon, Sacke ; Harbor and Cranev TsI,nds
aisgraoefnl Are our unparalleled triumDhs
on Che ocean, dissraceful Was the success
OH Lake Ontario, and the complete and sip.
nal victory on Erie, when, with an interior
force, we captured in fair battle, a whole
fleet, d'sgraceful? Give me ,ueh disgraces
- 'uC 'c, dHU you are welcome to all the Lam
rels which thcken round the brow of the
mighty Cockburn
Inc Speech and reported Answer sneak .
OF debts and taxes. We we're once told that
a national DE- was national blessing.
never believed it. In war we must have
debts, and in peace we must pay them
Taxes sufficient to pay the interest. are all
a people at war ought 10 endure and this
is all we hail be obliged to endure. But
his Excellency intimates, that the debt wiz
continue as long as the union OF the States.
was this intended as a hint to the peaple.
that tn AVOID the debt, they must divide the
states do not apprehsnd that the people.
OF this Commonwealth are yet ready to paw
their debts this way.
Our government, it is said, discover no die
y 1sition to peace, and that they have taken
40 measures to put an end to the var
These are groundles assertions We offered
to remove the former embargo, as to Eng.
land, il she would remove her edicts. We
accepted of ErskIne's propositions We de-
ciared war on account of impressfnent and
the orders in council. The orders were sns-
pended, and we Immediately proposed a ces-
Sa ion Of hostili'ies. on the single condition
OF susDcnd!kg the practice Of impressmert
during the arm istice; and offered the ex
clusi"n OF British searnen from our euploy.
III Britain would abandon impressment. A
10 81. 4 ~