e,
so to speak, "spoiling for a fight," and they chose to have it out with
England rather than with France. Not that there was not quite as much
reason for resentment against France as against England. Some, indeed,
of the more hot-headed were anxious for war with both; but these were of
the more impulsive kind, like Henry Clay, who laughed in scorn at the
doubt that he could not at a blow subdue the Canadas with a few
regiments of Kentucky militia. But war with England was determined upon,
partly because the old enmity toward her made that intolerable which to
the old affection for France was a burden lightly borne; and partly
because the instinctive jealousy of the commercial interest, on the part
of the planter-interest, preferred that policy which would do the most
harm to the North. On April 1, 1812, just five weeks after the writing
of this letter to Barlow, Mr. Madison sent to Congress a message of five
lines recommending the immediate passage of an act to impose "a general
embargo on all vessels now in port or hereafter arriving for the period
of sixty days." It was meant to be a secret measure; but the intention
leaked out in two or three places, and the news was hurried North by
several of the Federalist members in time to enable some of their
constituents to send their ships to sea before the act was passed. Nor,
probably, was it a surprise to anybody; for war with England had been
the topic of debate in one aspect or another all winter, and the purpose
of the party in power was plain to everybody. That the embargo was
intended as a preparation for war was frankly acknowledged. An act was
speedily passed, though the period was extended from sixty to ninety
days. Within less than sixty days, however, another message from the
President recommended a declaration of war. On June 3 the Committee on
Foreign Relations, of which Calhoun was chairman, reported in favor of
"an immediate appeal to arms," and the next day a declaratory act was
passed. Of the seventy-nine affirmative votes in the House, forty-eight
were from the South and West, and of the other thirty-one votes from the
Northern States, fourteen were from Pennsylvania alone. Of the
forty-nine votes against it, thirty-four were from the Northern States,
including two from Pennsylvania. On the 17th, a fortnight later, the
bill was got through the Senate by a majority of six.

Mr. Madison for years had opposed a war with England as unwise and
useless,--unwis