Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-09-19

% he republican party should dissent to this
atsir. go should vote against Measure thus
urgently pressed on them? Aud shall This
course of conduct justify their denunciation
- abandoning tire party? o. does il not On
he contrary prove that such men all, purely
md Independently the representatives of the
people, and above III. reach of any other nilu-
-nre than the dictates OF their own judgments
or The declared will of their constituents? But
the case Is one of strong Justification tn Mr.
Crawford for his vote, when the facts already
detailed are scrutinized. He was the Junior
member of the senate had been hut DAYS
one of that enlightened body This was the
only measure deserving attention which had
been under consideration from the period of
his taking his seat Two days for reflection
had been asked, twas refused he then asked
for one day, aud in this desire Messrs Gaiard.
Mathewson, Milledgc. Pope, Thruslnn and
Turner united with han men of as unques-
toned republican principles as any living of
that day. This poor boon was denied by a
majority of votes, and he was reduced tn
the alternative Of voting for or against IA mea-
sure upon the eXpediency Of which he had
formed no opinion, and without days op-
pnrtunity for reflection. A high minded and
intelligent 81 Independent representative, ought
not, could not hesitate in choosing between the
alternatives he would be lost To SENSE of
ms duty il he had given any other than neg
alive vote. That these are the true reasons
why Messrs. Crawford and Sumpter voted
on the 18th day of December against the en-
barge law, is made manifest by the subsequent
history of this measure. II has been already
shewn IN what manner the bill got through the
senate, and il should not then excite surprize,
that in its details it was defective and would
he imperative. Accordingly the very con-
gress that enacted this law, were required Ito
give it life and eDergy,) To pass supplement
tary bill without which the dishonest traders
aud srnusglers were alone TO be benefited,
while the honest citizens and merchants were
tn be the sufferers from the law.
On the 4th of January 1903 message was
received by the senate from the house of re-
presentatl, es that they had passed " an act
supplementary TO the act, entitled an act
laying an embargo on all ships and vessels III
the ports and harhors of the United States"
This bill was passed by the senate on the 9th
day 1.-THE same month, much amended, and
among other amendments of deep conse-
quence was the following In the cd section
and 18th line of the bill after the word cargo
To insert" and shall never thereafter be allow
ed credit for dniies on goods, wares or mer-
chandize, imported by him or them, into any
of the ports of the United States."-After this
X
by the senate, motion was made to strike il
out, which lift had succeeded would have ta-
ken from the law one of its most valuable and
ethcIent provisions-upon this motion Messrs.
Crawford and Sumter voted with TIE maio-
rlty constituting % members, while Messrs.
Bayard, Goodrich Hillhouse, Pickering and
White voted To- remove the obnoxious amend
ment from this period to the day of the re-
peal of the embargo, Mr. Crawford voted
Tor every amendment or proposition that was
calculated To give il effect-the amendment in
question was deemed of a vital character a.; il
imposed an alarming disability on every mer-
chant who should violate the law, and present
ed so fearful penalty, as by its single opera
tion to do more towards its execution than
the whole military and naval force of the
country could have eifected.-The motive To
obey held out by this improvement of the hill
was too strong TO lie dlsrrgarded by the trad
ing part of our people.
Between the 18th day of December 1907
and the 9th of January following, Mr. Craw-
ford's and General Sumter's reflections had
satisfied them of the wisdom of shutting I'M
our commerce, and of outstanding our resour-
ces for that resort Ia arms then anticipated
by all parties ; time had been afforded toread
and consider the 90 communications" referred
to by the President in his message of the for
mer date (; and above all ON the 9th of Janu-
airy 1908 the British orders in council of the
November preceding, and which were bv
paper blockade To sweep orr commerce from
the ocean had been promulgated in this coun-
try, and afforded a conclusive argument in IA
YOUR of the embargo Iaw.-AI,hough there
fore 1t IS true that Mr.. Crawford voted against
the embargo, this insulated fact is not the
whole truth, and it is submitted to Roanoke
whether candOr did not demand of him
more foil statement-Thef foregoing will entire
~ Justify the course pursued by Mr.. Craw
ford.
But one other objection insisted upon bv
Roanoke remains to be considered and that
consis IN the vote given by Mr.. Crawford fnr
the renewal of the charter Of the Bank Of the
United STATES in 1911. II would he well if
practicable to- ascertain whether this act is
seriously urged by Roanoke, as calculated to
deprive MIR. Crawford of his confidence, or
whether II is not intended solely for the me-
ridan of Virginia Whether Roanoke does
not subscribe to the doctrine held bv Mr.
Crawford Oh that occasion? Whether, finally,
me object IS not, TO play off this vote on the
vTglnlans with view TO destroy Mr.. Craw-
lords well deserved popularity in other re-
spects III this state? For, If such are the oh
lects, they deserve the execraiiOn Of every
honorable man. Respect for myself, for those
political opinions which have ever held and
openly expressed, require that should can
dIdiy acknowledge, that upon no ground can
this vote he justified. 1t is indeed "a spot on
MIR. Crawford's escuicheon," but it is a SOLITARY
one: lfremoved, there lives not man save
Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, in this union.
whose whole political course, and public ser
vice gives him stronger hold on the affections
and gratitude of Virginia than VIM II. Craw-
ford. That Mr.. Crawford erred, and that the
error IS one of magnitude, | admit hut he has