In October of 1808, President Thomas
Jefferson penned a response to criticisms of the Embargo Act from people in the
town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. In
this letter he argued that the Embargo was the only honorable way to avoid war, and that he believed that both Congress
and the American pubic would cooperate out of patriotism. Here is my translation of the letter in
modern American English:
Dear Elyot Brown Jr Esqr,
I have received letters from many citizens of Stockbridge
[Massachusetts]. Some have written
to declare their approval of our
proposed embargo against Britain
and France,
while others have written to share their dissent and to request that the embargo be lifted.
It is no surprise that the people would be divided on this issue.
Although, if there ever was any issue that we could all agree on, I would have expected that of an embargo instead of War. Let me be clear, these are the
only two choices we were presented with. For the only reasonable response
to the capture of our vessels (which itself is an act of war) would have
been to retaliate by declaring War on Great Britain. But, we are
not all interested in war. For example, consider our factory owners, and
manufacturers, for their own self-interest, they would prefer
non-intercourse over war; a policy which would provide them with rapid growth
and prosperity. Or consider the farmers who would experience
a significant loss of their market due to an embargo and yet would still choose
an embargo over the greater aggravations of war. Finally, even our
businessmen involved in export, those who have the most to lose by a state of
non-intercourse, even they out of love for this country would not choose
war. No patriotic American would
ever choose to put our country through another war with Great Britain and France.
It is so unfortunate though that some are
overlooking the real source of their sufferings, that is the British and French
Edicts which are creating the actual blockade of our foreign commerce and
navigation. Instead, with shallow thinking, these people have blamed
our own laws that were put in place to save them from greater injuries. They blame the same laws that have preserved
our own vessels, property and seamen from being turned over to the British
and French. Seriously, the embargo is
the only practical measure that we can honorably take to avoid war.
It is an embargo which will give time to the belligerent powers to revise their
unjust edicts, listen to the cries for justice, save their own interests
and reputation, and correct their wrongs. If the embargo works, and French and British edicts are
repealed, then our own commercial brethren will realize that we had their best
interests in mind all along even though they were against it. But in
the meantime, it is very unfortunate for our country, that these men have lost
patience and are now exciting others with a false hope that we may under pressure
suspend the Embargo and relinquish our rights of navigation on the open seas,
paying whatever tribute these countries impose. No. Never.
This would give up our nation's independence and essential rights for
nothing but sentimental reason, and would have the effect of prolonging
the very sufferings we are trying to address. Let me be very clear,
while these Edicts are in force, no American can ever consent to a return
of peaceable intercourse with those who maintain them.
I am very confident, that in these trying
times the feelings and wisdom of the nation will be properly represented in Congress. Congress is committed to preserving our
rights, and they know the wrongs that have been done to us. Many congressmen have spoken out in support of the embargo, and I believe they will follow through with strong action. I know there are some in Congress who
disapprove of the Embargo, but I was happy to hear that all of Congress
including both those who approve and those who disapprove will work together to
find a remedy. In closing, I ask you to share these words with your constituents in Stockbridge.
Respectfully yours,
Thomas Jefferson
But, just one month later, Jefferson opened his final
address to Congress with the unfortunate news that neither Britain nor France were willing to repeal their
Edicts.
"It would have been a source, fellow citizens, of much gratification if our last communications from Europe had enabled me to inform you that the belligerent nations, whose disregard of neutral rights has been so destructive to our commerce, had become awakened to the duty and true policy of revoking their unrighteous edicts."
Therefore, Jefferson decided to take a new approach. He instructed his ministers in London and France
to offer a suspension of the embargo if France
and Great Britain
were willing to repeal their Edicts and open
the way for a renewal of trade.
"That no means might be omitted to produce this salutary effect, I lost no time in availing myself of the act authorizing a suspension, in whole or in part, of the several embargo laws. Our ministers at London and Paris were instructed to explain to the respective Governments there our disposition to exercise the authority in such manner as would withdraw the pretext on which the aggressions were originally founded and open the way for a renewal of that commercial intercourse which it was alleged on all sides had been reluctantly obstructed."
Jefferson said that it was
very reasonable to expect that both countries would seize on the opportunity to
restore commerce with the Untied States.
After all, the United
States was a neutral party. Jefferson
gave different instructions to his ministers based upon the unique circumstances
with each country. Because of Great Britain's supremacy on the seas, a deal
was to be made with Great Britain
that if she would repeal here orders of Council, then trade would be opened
with her and remain shut to France. But with France,
there was no promise of trade remaining closed with Great Britain. There was very little expectation, that France would accept the deal, but Jefferson
believed that Great Britain
would accept the offer. In the end, no
word was received from France,
and Great Britain rejected
the offer. Jefferson had to admit that"this candid and liberal experiment" had failed.
"As each of those Governments had pledged its readiness to concur in renouncing a measure which reached its adversary through the incontestable rights of neutrals only, and as the measure had been assumed by each as a retaliation for an asserted acquiescence in the aggression of the other, it was reasonably expected that the occasion would have been seized by both for evincing the sincerity of their professions, and for restoring to the commerce of the United States its legitimate freedom. The instructions to our ministers with respect to the different belligerents were necessarily modified with a reference to their different circumstances, and to the condition annexed by law to the Executive power of suspension, requiring a decree of security to our commerce which would not result from a repeal of the decrees of France. Instead of a pledge, therefore, of a suspension of the embargo as to her in case of such a repeal, it was presumed that a sufficient inducement might be found in other considerations, and particularly in the change produced by a compliance with our just demands by one belligerent and a refusal by the other in the relations between the other and the United States.
To Great Britain, whose power on the ocean is so ascendant, it was deemed not inconsistent with that condition to state explicitly that on her rescinding her orders in relation to the United States their trade would be opened with her, and remain shut to her enemy in case of his failure to rescind his decrees also. From France no answer has been received, nor any indication that the requisite change in her decrees is contemplated. The favorable reception of the proposition to Great Britain was the less to be doubted, as her orders of council had not only been referred for their vindication to an acquiescence on the part of the United States no longer to be pretended, but as the arrangement proposed, whilst it resisted the illegal decrees of France, involved, moreover, substantially the precise advantages professedly aimed at by the British orders. The arrangement has nevertheless been rejected"Jefferson then repeated some of the same arguments he wrote in the letter defending the Embargo act. Jefferson reminded Congress and America, that the embargo had "effects of saving our mariners and our vast mercantile property, as well as of affording time for prosecuting the defensive and provisional measures called for by the occasion" . It showed other nations that we are patient and firm, and that our citizens are united in supporting the laws and rights of their country. It also served to frustrate the illegal and forceful plundering of our merchants and mariners, which if "resisted, involved war; if resisted, involved war; if submitted to, sacrificed a vital principle of our national independence."
And like Jefferson expressed in his letter to Mr. Brown, he was relying on Congress to determine the correct action. Although, here he seemed to be less confident about the prognosis of the embargo being continued. Jefferson was leaving it "with the wisdom of Congress to decide".
"Under a continuance of the belligerent measures which, in defiance of laws which consecrate the rights of neutrals, overspread the ocean with danger, it will rest with the wisdom of Congress to decide on the course best adapted to such a state of things; and bringing with them, as they do, from every part of the Union the sentiments of our constituents, my confidence is strengthened that in forming this decision they will, with an unerring regard to the essential rights and interests of the nation, weigh and compare the painful alternatives out of which a choice is to be made. Nor should I do justice to the virtues which on other occasions have marked the character of our fellow citizens if I did not cherish an equal confidence that the alternative chosen, whatever it may be, will be maintained with all the fortitude and patriotism which the crisis ought to inspire."
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