Page:Henry Adams' History of the United States Vol. 4.djvu/251

1808. published a vigorous reply, but lost his temper in doing so, and became abusive where he should have been cool. When Pickering's letter was received at Washington, Adams wrote an answer, which reached Boston barely in time to be read before the election. He went over the history of the embargo; pointed out its relation to the Orders in Council; recapitulated the long list of English outrages; turned fiercely upon the British infatuation of Pickering's friends, and called upon them to make their choice between embargo and war:—


 * "If any statesman can point out another alternative I am ready to hear him, and for any practicable expedient to lend him every possible assistance. But let not that expedient be submission to trade under British licenses and British taxation.  We are told that even under these restrictions we may yet trade to the British dominions, to Africa and China, and with the colonies of France, Spain, and Holland.  I ask not how much of this trade would be left when our intercourse with the whole continent of Europe being cut off would leave us no means of purchase and no market for sale.  I ask not what trade we could enjoy with the colonies of nations with which we should be at war.  I ask not how long Britain would leave open to us avenues of trade which even in these very Orders of Council she boasts of leaving open as a special indulgence.  If we yield the principle, we abandon all pretence to national sovereignty."