In the Eastern States the Democratic and Southern indifference toward the terrible struggle raging in Spain helped to stimulate the anger against Jefferson, which had already swept many firm Republicans into sympathy with Federalism. In their minds indifference to Spain meant submission to Napoleon and hatred of England; it proved the true motives which had induced the President to suppress Monroe’s treaty and to impose the Non-importation Act and the embargo; it called for vehement, universal, decisive protest. The New England conscience, which had never submitted to the authority of Jefferson, rose with an outburst of fervor toward the Spaniards, and clung more energetically than ever to the cause of England,--which seemed at last, beyond the possibility of doubt, to have the sanction of freedom. Every day made Jefferson’s position less defensible, and shook the confidence of his friends. With the sanguine temper which had made him victorious in so many trials, the President hoped for another success. He still thought that England must yield under the grinding deprivations of the embargo, and he was firm in the intention to exact his own terms of repeal. Pinkney’s earlier despatches offered a vague hope that Canning might withdraw the orders; and at this glimpse of sunshine Jefferson’s spirits became buoyant. “If they repeal their orders, we must repeal our embargo; if they make satisfaction for the ‘Chesapeake,’ we must revoke our proclamation, and generalize its application by a law; if they keep up impressments, we must adhere to non-intercourse, manufactures, and a Navigation Act.”[298] Canning was not altogether wrong in thinking that concession by Great Britain would serve only to establish on a permanent footing the system of peaceable coercion. The first blow to the President’s confidence came from France. Armstrong’s letters gave no hope that Napoleon would withdraw or even modify his decrees. “We must therefore look to England alone,” wrote Madison September 14,[299] “for the chances of disembarrassment,--and look with the greater solicitude as it seems probable that nothing but some striking proof of the success of the embargo can arrest the successful perversion of it by its enemies, or rather the enemies of their country.” To England, accordingly, the President looked for some sign of successful coercion,--some proof that the embargo had been felt, or at least some encouragement to hold that its continuance might save him from the impending alternative of submission or war; and he had not long to wait. The “Hope,” bringing Canning’s letters of September 23, made so quick a voyage that Pinkney’s despatches came to hand October 28, as the President was preparing his Annual Message to Congress for its special meeting November 7.