Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-21

feyson to Cong ress as the sole grounds On which
! ne Recommended an euIbarso.* ~ ~
| remarked above, that Mr.. adams bad sup
Piled iniorn'aiion which accounts for part Of
the sentiment L ascrhed 10 him. He says III.
objected, IN the Commi.tec, that the documents
With the message were insufficient to Justify So
EstroDg and severe u measure as an embarro and
inquired whether thss Executive had other rea-
sons for the measure, which il might not be con-
yenent to assign. He was answered by the
| Chairman, that, cit was expected and hoped
that the act would have favorable effect, to
aid the Execut,voin the negotiation with Mr..
Rose;i and also that it was intended as substi-
tuition ioy the nonimportation act, which pass
ell ON the 18th of April, 1906" Here we see
some of the secret reasons locked up in the
PRESIDENTS breast, or communicated only To a
few o his most confidential partsans, for recon-
mcnding the cmbargo-and the origin of Mr.
Adanss expression, hour afterwards, In the
Senate, that "dUIbiless the President possesses
snchfurtier information will justify the mea-
sure" Thus he admits that the embargo bill
passed in the Senate, rot for the causes pre.
sen,cd to them by Mr.. Jefferson, but for reasons
winch he ind not think IL convenient to assign;
and MIR. Adams contributed all that was in his
power to promote this blind legislation.
| But Mr. .idams suggests that, in advocating
the embargo, he had reference to the existing
state OF things, of public notouety, and denomi-
mated In the message the present crisis / ask
| hun to look once more at the Presidents mes
Usage; and he will see that, in regard TO the re-
commended embargo it contains no reference
to 1.-The present crisis" but that, in this phrase,
| the President refers To some uifeJior' measures
respecting events which ''night gro,o out OF the
| present crisis.n
! Mr.. Adams says, e'this bill was opposed in
the Senate very feebiy on IFS merits, and exclu-
svcty by the federal members, then only four in
| number" This is true: they were taken ty
surpriIe: they were astounded by the solemn,
Presidential recommendation, and the bill pre-
scented In pursuance of it, TO impose an embargo
whlch was 10 PROSTATE the whole commerce of
the United States Therefore, they urged the
allowance OF tune to consider, to deliberate; and
Tins Mr.. Adams veheinently opposed. Although
about four hours were occupied in the whole
affair, but a small portion uf that short space
was gwen to the discussion of the bill. In that
short space the Presidents message and the four
documents were read-thcy were referred TO n
committee chosen by baIlot--thc committee re-
urcd-'iiaited and reported the bill-it was
read once--it was moved to read it immediately
second tHne-this was objected to, as contrary
10 standing rule of the Senate, which required
every bill to he read three tilues on three sew
erai days, lnnless otherwise unanimously arreedl
before 1t could pass to be enacted 4nd the
impression rests On my mind, that more than
discussing the question, whether that salurary
standing rule should or should not be suspend
ed, IN order Instantly TO pass the EMBARGO bill.
II may not TIC aInlss here TO remark, incident
ally, that MIR. Adams, in saying the federal
members then in the Scuate were only four in
number,( Goodrich, tIitlhouse PICKERING. Wbitel
OF course excludes himself. His present fede,a
lI'ehds may notice this if they please: John
Quincy Adams now arows (and the ayo,yaI at
Tins time Is not without an object) that, on the
18TH OF December, 1907, he was not a federal
ISL ana TINS Justiiies the new title given him af.
ter mat WisChieYous measure, the EMBARGO ex-
pFesslVe oi his remuneration of federalism. TO
winch he hai formerly been zeaiously attached.
In my Review OF the Adams and Cunning
ham correspondence, stated that Mr. Adams,
the father, had earnestly condemned the embar
go, on first hearing of its imposition: but that
when, afterwards, he learned what :, canspicu
ons part his son had taken in imposing it, he al.
90 pronounced 1t a wise measure. But the son
himself soon became alarmed for the CONSEQUENT
ces:. alarmed, presume, by letters from some
oil ms friends in Boston, shelving the miscbiefs
with which the embargo was pregnant, and
prooabiy suggesting a substitute, to authorize
inc merchants 10 arm their vessels for defence
For, on the 18th Jan. 1908, onh 90 DAYS after
Mr. adams had displayed such a laerant zeal
10 eject the passing of the embargo law he of.
iered formal resolution for the consideration of
the senate, Tor the appointment of a committee
10 cohsidcr anu report when that law could be
perpendicular on the expectancy of authorZ-
iAg the merchants to arm their vessels for de-
fence. hut iIe found, at once, that it was east
er 10 impose, than to OBTAIN repeal of the law
WY rcsoutiontsays he met no announcement.
lie himself also abandoned it; and in less than
three months afterwards, published LIS pa,npl,e,
letter to Mr. HARRISON Gray Otis TO Justify the
embargo
Mr.. .9da'ns says, s.that, but for the cmbarro
tIe British Orders in Council wonld have swept
three-fourths Of the tonnage of the United
states into the ports of Great Britain for confs
cation Surely, every merchant in tie United
states IL he can suppress his disgust, must smile
at this strange declaration. In affected retaIia-
tIon tor the orders i'll council, the French En-
peror issued his Milan decree, on the Eth of
December, 1867. This decree was dstin-
grished by It's outrageous provisions. One was
that, II neutral merchant vessel suffered her
sell to be S-nrcheG by a British armed vessel
HAT alone subjected her to capture and con-
domination. Yet, with this decree, and the or
ders In council, all in full force, the american
mcrcharts'were weak enough TO rcmonstrate
against Tie embargo; and 10 persist in their op
position until it was repealed. And tben--so
great was their foliy-ihev repaired tbc;r voc,
seis and pushed them out with all practicable
|or the convenience Of the reader, here pre-
sent him with the entire message.
"Io the Senate and House of Jeen,e,e,,,,,;ro, or ~
United States.
~ he communication now made sl.eu.;,r a.,