Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-17

known before their time: for the very same
newspapers which gave this Unofficial notice of
these orders, announced also the departure of
Mr. Rose, aeon n special mission to the United
States. And we now know, that of these aide
ro,,,ing h,sfitneats of rapine, AIR. Rose was not
even informed. Ills mission was profcsscily
mission of concili.,tion and rcpcratoD for fia-
grant, enormous, acknowledged outrage. But
he was not sent with these order, Of council in
his hands, His text was the disavovai OF adini-
raj Bcrkley's conduct-the commentary was to
he discovered on auo,hcr page OF the British
ministerial pulicy-on the face of MIR. Roses
instructions, these orders of council were i'm
visible as they were on that of MIR. chickering's
letter.
They were not merely without official au-
thenticity. Ru,nors had for several weeks been
i'm circulation, derived from English prints and
from private correspondence, that such orders
were TO issue; and no inconsiderable pains were
taken here to Iiscredit the fact. Assurances were
| given that there reason 10 believe no such
orders to be contemplated. Suspicion was lulu
cd lDy declarations equivalent nearly TO a posi-
tive denial: and these opiates were continued
for weeks after the embargo was laid, until Mr..
Ersline received Instructions to make the Off
ciai communication of the orders themselves. in
their pruHcr shape, to our government.
] Yet, although thus nnauthenticatcd, and even
although thus some sort denied, the probabi-
! lily of the circumstances under which they were
announced, and the sweeping tendency of their
effects, formed TO my understanding pownrfnl
motive, aud together with the papers sent by
the president, and his express recommendation,
a decisive one, for asserting 10 the embargo
! As precautionary measure, believed it would
rescue an immense property from depreciation
| if the orders should prove authentic. If the a.
larm was ground'css, it must very soon be dis
proved, and the embargo might be removed
| with the danger.
The omission Of all notice ortlesc facts in the
pressing enquiries 'swly the embargo was lad;n
IS the more surprising, because they arc of all
| the facts the most material upon fair and i'm
partial examination of the exped iency of that
act, when 1t passad-and because these orders,
together with the subsequent s'retaliating" de-
crees of France and Spain, have furnished the
only reasons upon which have acquiesccd IN
its continuance to this dav. Ii daily weiehed
they will save the trouble of resorting to lea
lousics Of secret corruption, and the imaginary
terFors OF Napoleon for the real cause the en-
barge. These are fictions of foreign invention
The French Emperor had not declared that he
would have no neutrals-hc had not required
that our ports should be shut against British
cn'nrncrce;--but the orders of council, If sub.
miued 10, ,cnuid hare degraded MS to the contiit,
on Of colonies. If resisted, would have fittcned
the wolves of plumber with our spois. The
embargo was the only shelter from the tempest
tho last refuge of our violated peace.
| have indeed been myself of opinion, that the
embargo must in its nature be a temporary ex-
petient. and that preparations manifesting de-
termination of resistance against these outrage
Gus violations of our neutral rights, ought at
! least TO have been made subject Of serious
consideration in congress. Ihave believed, and
do still believe, that our internal resources are
! competent TO the establishment and maipte-
nance of a naval force public and private if not
| fully adequate TO the protection and defence OF
our commerce, atleast sufficient to induce re-
treat from those hosilities, and to deter from
sencwa of them, by either of the warning par
ties; and that system to that effect might be
formed, Ultimately far more economical, and
certainly more energetic, than three wears EN-.
barge. Very soon after the closure of our
ports, did submit to the consideration of the
senate, proposition for the appointment of a
committee TO institute enquiry to this end
But my resolution met no encouragement. At.
te,npts of n sirnila: nature have been made ir
the House of Representative but have been e.
qualIv discountenanced, and from these deter
limitations, by decided maoritics of both houses
am not sufficiently confident in the superiori
tv of my wisdom to appeal by topicaI an
rlication, Ia the coueseniai feelings of any one
not even of my own native section of the union
/ The embargo, however, is Il restriction al
ways under our own control. Ii was mea
sure altogether of defence, and experiment. (
it was inudiciously or over hastily laid, it ha:
/ been every day since It's adoption open to re
peal If it should prove intellectual for the pur
noses 1t was meant 10 secure, a single. ,iay vii
suffice 10 unbar The doors. Still believing it ;
| measure justified by the circumstances of the
| ,irIe. am ready 10 admit that those who though
otherwise may have had :, wiser foresight of e.
vents, and Il sounder Judgment OF the then ex-
isting state of things than the majority of the
! nat0nal Legislature, and the president Ithas
5ecn approved by several OF the state Lceisla-
nres, and among the rest by own. Yet o
! HI lis effects still unable to Judge with
certainty. Il must still abide the test offuurity
shall add that there were other motives ,whicbhad
their operation i'll contributing to the passage o.
! ;ieact unnotiCed by MIR. Pickering, and which
having now ceased, will also be left unnoticed by
me- The orders ofcounci ofthe lth Nov. stillsub-
| .ls IN all their force: and are now confirmed
"Hh the addition of taxation, by acI of pa,'iia.
ment.
As they stand in front Of the real causes for
the embargo, so they are entitled to the same
n-c-enincnce in eHurnerating the causes of hos
| ihty, which the British ministers are accumu.
| iafing upon our forbearance. Ihey sty-ike M
The root q orr indePendfnce. They assume the
| principle that we shall have no commerce in
! time of war, but with her doininions and as tri.
| butaries TO her. The exclusive confinement Of
| commerce TO the mother country, is the great
| principle of the modern colonial system; and
shonld we by derelIction Of our rights al
| this no;ncntous stride OF encroachrnc,t. sjIrren
der our commercial freedom without a struggle
/ Britan has bit single step more TO t4A-e, ana
she brings as bac7c to lie stamp act anil Tie tea