Responding to howls of protest in New England, Congress hastily passed a bill repealing the Embargo. Jefferson signed it three days before the end of his term, on March 1, 1809. In its place, Congress passed a Non-Intercourse Act. While it did open trade with other nations, it continued to ban American vessels from carrying cargo to Britain or France. It promised the United States would resume trade with the first of those two nations to repeal its economic sanctions.
When Madison took office, New Englanders continued to be enraged. The new Non-Intercourse Act did little to address their concerns because the Enforcement Act of 1809 remained in effect. Courts in New England did not sentence smugglers. The state legislature in Massachusetts condemned the Enforcement Act as unconstitutional. A rabble of angry New Englanders took to the streets damaging federal property. William Duane, editor of the Democratic – Republican Party’s newspaper, the Aurora, proposed use of federal force in New England, and accused New Englanders of treason. Early in 1809, Carey criticized Duane of war mongering, and urged a moderate course of action.[1]
“Yankee tricks” of smuggling continued because Jefferson and Madison ignored the economic interests of a powerful group of merchants, clergy and judges in New England, a stronghold of opposition to their Democratic-Republican Party.
“Yankee tricks” was a phrase that disparaged New Englanders for their devious business tactics. In December 1809, Mathew Carey published “A Miserable Prejudice—Yankee Tricks.” He wrote, “…when I first visited [New England] I was a slave to the miserable prejudices that so generally prevail respecting its inhabitants. I imagined that a large proportion of them were sharpers, solely intent upon deception and fraud. I have lived to see the extent of my error…I have beheld with delight the decency, the neatness, the elegance of their dwellings—the order, the decorum, the propriety, the urbanity, and the hospitality of their manners…the yeomanry of New England are the pride and glory of the United States.” [2]
Technology may change rapidly, but human nature changes slowly, if at all. Sections of the country are characterized in much the same way today. Citizens in the South are “stupid” while those in the East are “arrogant.” Can we solve problems and remain unified if we demonize opposing sections with uninformed prejudice? Does ignoring the interests of the opposition create willingness to compromise?
Next: Why Mathew Carey was alarmed that secession and civil war were imminent.
Look for it Monday, January 7, 2013
[1][1] Edward C. Carter II, “The Political Activities of Mathew Carey, Nationalist, 1760-1814,” PhD. Dissertation, Bryn Mawr College, 1962, 306; Letter by Matthew Lyon to Carey, 19 Feb. 1809, Lea and Febiger Collection, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in Carter, “Political Activities,” 306, ff. 52.
[2] [Mathew Carey] “Yankee Tricks,” The Port Folio, (1809) 533, reprinted in M. Carey, Miscellaneous Essays, Vol. I, (New York: Burt Franklin, n.d.) 376-8.
