New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-23


The deep sca. The two greatest Powers in En-
rope. locked in q dcatl-arip. cared not al all what
incidental injury 10 neutrals might result from
their conflict Perhaps Mr. Adams allows rather
100 much WEIGHT 10 Cannng's anti-American pol
lev under the circumstances. That he was per-
fcctly willing to kill two birds with one stone
by helping British commerce at the expense OF
America. al the same time that he damaged
France may be admitted: that the policy which
was injurious 10 America was adopted because Of
that secondary effect is less credible. 80 far as
American interests were concerned however. this
was point Of practical importance The
fact WAS that ENGLAND, by the Orders in Council,
and France by the Berlin Decree, did assume
and exercise something very like absolute con.
troll over the commerce and navigation of a
neutral and independent Power and the question
was, how TO meet these a4HcssionS. jefferson
saw the opportunity for bringing forward his
/ policy Of peaceful coercion. and proposed an en-
barge, which, ne was careful to insist was the sole
alternative not only with war but with war
nj the same time against France and England.
lie argued and believed that an embargo would
exercise so powerful an influence upon British
commerce that i'm a few months Canning's Gov
crnmcnt would be compelled to repeal the Orders
! How jefferson forced tie embargo upon Con
ercSS and the country forms one of the most in
tcrcsing Of Mr.. AdamsS striking pictures. Con
NO. an no., ,on,.I ,l,a ,tor and ,ho
100 vi" .'' "''' '''"" ''' INV
opinion Of thc people was not taken. One of the
craNcSt and most far-rcaching mcasurcs-one which
strained The Constitution to the utmost which
intcrfcrcd i'm the most arbitrary offensive and
cNaSpcntng ways with personal liberty, which
parolyzcl commerce. threw scores Of thousands
ont Of cmplovment suSpcnGcd Great industries
and brought want and suffering TO countless
+ LomcS-Was actually made law by stealth with
/ ont debate without cNplauatior in compliance
with tbc outocrotic viii Of q rcnublicon pres
H.,
Nothing in American history IS more amazing
thar the tame Submission of the people 10 this
outrageous experiment, and il can only be-
counted for hy their complete ignorance Of what
tie embargo would effect 4 few months trial
of the new law changed the situation in two
important particil,rs: -EnclaLd finding her
SELF Threatened with ruin. began TO grow angry
and insubordinatc Tie Administrations. finding
That the provisions Of the law were benz every
where cv,dcd and resisted began To demand
larger powers and more drastic methods. Con
ercs> with its Characteristic docilify. and in de-
spite Of the Fcdcralst minority. passed everything
that was asked for What followed were logical
and Inevitable consequences. The attempt TO
apply the embargo with increased severity led
to open defiance and the organization Of con.
spiracy against the Union New-Englan1 became
ready for ANYTHING 4 Constitution which allowed
an Executive end a plant Congressional majority
~ destroy 1u,cr,- and ,.irtpoUv ia confsc,te
millions Of private property was not an IhStrn-
nen' ihe old Puritan spirit would toleraie'
I1'hcr TIE embare" must be removed or secession
must occur. inns was the @lst OF the SITUATION.
II was no longer OF any use 10 remind the people
that if the embargo wa withdrawn war must
follow. They knew in their own hearts that
they were resolved against war, and equally
resolved oeuins' the embargo IS JcNcIson's
second term drew to 10, close. the utter failure
# Li. .......I ...rci.r ,nli,, bco,IYe p,icuf +,