Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-06-27
EEG0ILECTI0Ns

- lSas.ut, = being not
only measure oi safety 70 Che merchant ships Of
the United States, with their cargoes, but also a
means of coercion to justice the part of the
belligerents by depriving them of the products of
the United States The question of War with either
of the beligerent Powers was, to all appearances,
indefinitely postponed
Defeated in their opposition to the measure of
remedy and redress for the wrongs of foreign Pow
ers which the Administration had devised, and
TO which large majority of Congress had given
its sanction, the Federalists and Schsmatics, Gas
Mr.. JEFFERSON characterized the Opposition. in
Congress to his Administration obliged to aban-
don their charge against the President of design
to involve the country in War with Great Britain
turned about and planted themselves upon a
ground of hostility to the Republican Administra-
ton yet more absurd than the other; the gst of
which was, that the Administration had, in laying
the embargo, acted under the dictation of the En-
peror of France or at least in collusion with him.
This charge, which was first blurted out in one
or more of the unscrupulous party papers in the
city of New York. found utterance in the House
of Representatives in debate of the several
bills which it became necessary to pass for the pur
pose of enforcing the embargo law.
In that debate which took place on the 10Th of
February, 1908, Mr.. GARDENER, talented young
member from New York, ambitious of party dis
tinction, either stimulated by this ruling passion
acting under the advice of associates older than
himself, reiterated the charge referred to ip the
following passages of set speech made on the
occasion:
8 Why we passed che embargo law itself have been
always unable to tell. Why have passed the subse
quent laws for the purpose of rendering the original evil
mtre perfect and universal, God only knows. It
does appear to sir that led on step By STEP but
By an ansesn hand We urged forward By sort Of
spell TO the ruin Of country Under the of
embargo in truth and in fact passing
course laws"
" The the original fof the embargo1 de-
yeops ITSELF the satisfied that my first view of
was correct that it sly cunning measure; that
its real object not merely prevent vessels from
going out, but effect non-intercourse Are the ma
ton prepared for this? If you wish try whether they
are, tell them at what your object tell them what
you tell them you take part Nth the Grand
Paefcator else stop your present Do go
forging chains asten the the Imperial Con-
gueror."
Wherever we espy hole if ii be no bigger than
wheat straw at which the industry and enterprise of
our country find vent, all powers called into
requisition to stop it up The people of this country
shall sell nothing but what they sell each other All
our surplus produce shall on our hands God knows
what all this means! T. sir, cannot understand it.
astonished-indeed / am astonished and dismayed
see Effects; but Team them cause Yes sir
do fear that there hand rhich guiding
the most dreadful deniss unseen, because it
dure the light Darkness and mystery overshadow this
House and this whole nation. We know nothing,
permitted know nothing. Wesahere as mere autonata
we egsate without knowing, nay, sir, without wishing
to know, why wherefore We told what pe 10
do, aud the Council Of Fire Hundred do It, We move,
but why or wherefore knows; put in mo-
tion, but how, for one cannot tell
These broad assertions and groundless imputa-
tlons upon the Administration could not of course
pass by unnotced Prompt rejoinders to them
followed from several members, of which the one
that attracted most attention the speech of Mr.
g. w. CAMPBELL, one of the Representatives from
the State of Tennessee, who occupied the important
station Of Chairman of the Committee Of Ways and
Means, and who had distinguished himself in de-
bate at the preceding Congress in support of the
A4edcufes Vi Tie AuninlstrdtlOn.s Tn t1& preSent
occasion he addressed himself directIy>and some
what personally to Mr.. GAkDENIER, in course of
remark of which q few excerpts will serve to give
the reader some idea:.
For there is medium in this case; the accusers
or accused be guitymust be enemies to their
country-and it is high time the nation the people of
America, should know their friends from their foes
The crisis calls for it, and the honor and dignity of this
House demand that the gully should be exposed If the
charges be supported that any portion the mem
bers of this House acting under foreign influence
the people know let them change their representa-
tion let them send of integrity who superior
to the influence of foreign Power But if, on
the contrary those allegations found to be false and
unfounded then let the nation kno* this and lei
of scorn point at rho hare Published sueh grounde
aseoods and render them the objects Of public contempt
and detestation."
IS No man Of suppose that France would
wish or dictate measure that would produce great
If greater injury herself than to her Sucf
. supposition would be next to madness. From these
considerations would be supposed that no man who hae
made himself any degree scquained with the stusor
pfhs country in regard to the belgersnt Powers and
had considered the effects thai this measure would has