2551. EMBARGO, Evasions of.—[continued].
Should these reasonable
precautions [to insure adequate supplies of
flour] be followed, as is surmised in your letter,
by an artificial scarcity, with a view to promote
turbulence of any sort or on any pretext,
I trust for an ample security against this
danger to the character of my fellow citizens of
Massachusetts, which has, I think, been emphatically
marked by obedience to law, and a
love of order. And I have no doubt that whilst
we do our duty, they will support us in it. The
laws enacted by the General Government, have
made it our duty to have the Embargo strictly
enforced, for the general good; and we are
sworn to execute the laws. If clamor ensue,
it will be from the few only, who will clamor
whatever we do.—
To James Sullivan. Washington ed. v, 341.
Ford ed., ix, 206.
(M.
Aug. 1808)
