2539. EMBARGO, Congress and.—
The
House of Representatives passed last night a
bill for the meeting of Congress on the 22d of
May. This substantially decides the course
they mean to pursue; that is, to let the Embargo
continue till then, when it will cease,
and letters of marque and reprisal be issued
against such nations as shall not then have
repealed their obnoxious edicts. The great majority
seem to have made up their minds on
this, while there is considerable diversity of
opinion on the details of preparation; to wit,
naval force, volunteers, army, non-intercourse.—
To Thomas Lieper. Washington ed. v, 417.
Ford ed., ix, 238.
(W.
January 21, 1809)
