POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL 31 



while the embargo might, and probably 

 would, lead to their failure, it would really 

 benefit the country at large by concentrat- 

 ing business in stronger hands. The vil- 

 lage store-keeper, the rich merchant and 

 farmer, the whole creditor class of the coun- 

 try were soothed with the information that 

 the embargo would give them an excellent 

 opportunity to collect old debts and fore- 

 close mortgages. The manufacturing class 

 was congratulated on receiving what was 

 really a prohibitive tariff on foreign goods, 

 which would enable it to extend its business 

 and extract large profits from the commu- 

 nity. The rich would undoubtedly become 

 richer, and the poor, poorer, but the satis- 

 faction of those supposed to be benefited 

 by the bill was somewhat dulled by the 

 fact that debts, difficult to collect in time 

 of prosperity, would hardly be collected 

 with greater ease in time of financial dis- 

 tress, nor would creditors be anxious to 

 levy on collaterals which the act itself ren- 

 dered of little value. 



