Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-30
JAMES MADISON.
Congressional.
From fhe National IntelGgeacer.
TINE SESSION OF coNGREss.


Which has just terminated, has given
o'Fta 10 an aHusuIl n.:.:ber of laws, large
proportion of them of a private nature. ma
ny OF which we have already officially pub
.lshsd, aud the remainder Of which shall be
published as soon as they are transmitted
TO us. 10
we take the first leisure moment briefly
TO review the acts Of public nature, and
exhibit In one view their general tendency.
Inc measure hrSt in Importance during
this session. and by which the greatest sen.
satlon was created, as well on is enact
ment rs on its subsequent repeal, was die
general embargo on all vessels in the waters
OF the United States. The policy which
hrst dictated this measure, and that which
afterwards induced its repeal, together
with that OF the on-importation act, have
been SO recently and repeatedly discussed
on the hoor OF Congress, that it is not ne
cessary Tor US to enlarge on it. We take
the opportunity of saying, however. that the
measure was loudly called for by The people
at the moment that Congress convened, aud
that we douot not the President, in then re.
commencing Its adoption, acted under the
impulse OF public feeling, az well as from an
honest and sincere conviction of ;ts r roh.hle
effect, in arrestirg that intercourse with the
enemy which was deemed essential To the
support OF his military posts in the vicinity
and elsewhere. and his fleets ON our coasts
There was certainly rational ground 10
nope that IN this view the best effects would
result from the measure. But, after an ex
pertinent OF four months, although the inca
sure might and did produce desirable effects,
its repeal became necessary, because it
could no longer be expected TO iniure the
enemy more than it injured ourselves. 1t
had already produced perhaps all the effect
which could have been expected from il nm
the enemy's stations aad fleets in orr neigh
borhood. Having been proposed, ON it's en-
actment, to Continue in force more .han
year, the enemy OF course had matje,a the
arrangements which were necessary. and
been put to all the Inconvenience to which
he could have been subjected By it, by being
compelled to provide for supplies from a
distance Tor full year in advance. A fur
ther continuance OF this measure was uDne ;.
cessaTy, therefore in this view, unless the
e.enactment of the law in January next
was contemplated, which we have not
heard limited at by the most jealous adhe-
rent to the system. In the next place. az,
10 the effect or operation of this measure on
the supplies to the British army in the Pc.
ninsIla, which was one motive for adopting
1.-THE total change of circumstances in
Europe, which gave to our enemy the KEYS
OF It's most abundant granaries, had entire
" neutraiized the operation OF our embar.
go in that quarter. This remark is forci-
bly, excmpiied by the fact that -four could
for some weeks sntecedent to the repeal of
the embargo, have been exported from Eu-
rope to our Eastern ports, and sold there at
The current prices to considerable profit
to the importer. With such facts staring
us IN the face, who can doubt but the repeal
OF the restrictive system had become expe-
pedisnt! But, suppose we are somewhat
mistaken; and that the measure was not at
, the time OF its repeal, as we believe it t.
have been. entirely inefficient as weapon
OF annoy ance to the enemy. Were not tn
wells attendant on it, the shackes it impos