Virginia Argus — Richmond, Va., 1810-01-16 00:00:00, page 2

A:r Livcrtuo*e declared l.iruse faiso op. t
poseil fo h.‘ c mmuiee’* li-.mg. He t
wul-.td to know \vm wa> the extent of;
tr de now canied on with our ports in i
lh i ish hot oms, and what its a.noun ? !
I f *>*»d he knew that there was a small :
tr;n e c.>rr ed on in small vessels from
Nova bootia to the United States, a:.d
v h.ch i ai very be eficial to vhe ci ize- s
id tie United f>ver^ he stoppag- u
which, as p'oposed. would operate ver
UMt-iju lly. I was a trade when c u*d.
not so v.til be carried on by veasils'if ihi
Lr i>td Slates. II Congies. commerced
th.? business 'hry niigb shew-Grea- Bn
lem how sht. .iso might lay *Od;U tut
rtSTifcliorts. S >m»* . fthe secii >ns ol ilu
b it Mr. Li sa d h“ thought it would b>
ptoper to it am; but ihe e were s. m
that he enurvry disapproved. A>. tn th
nun. m er tout at there was < o occasion for
it| eait g it in relation to Great Britain,
b* c.us I- wus i ot m loice a.-ams: her—.
and this he though, h could d.mjns ra1.
at 3 proper time.
Mr bawye> said if he had much co .
fi< t uce in the cfhcacy ol the bill as the.
ge tieman fr.m Noilh Crrolina Mr Ala
c <n) he should make no opposition to >..
but he cspefcled n thing from it. If, sau
Mr S. we take upon ours.-lv s a warlik-r
a: itude and evince a 'disposition to b:
ii ele; tndtnl, we shall produce such a.
en.barrassme.o that ihe present minis rj
o' G ra. B itain will have to trea with us
oi et»ie ( out p iwer -But if we do no
rrore than pass such a bill as this, wr
shall encoutuge th.*m to gu on lih w
sh- il be stiippvd by oi tiers in enuned, on.
alter anothti, cl every vestige of cornnur
. al rights. What are we afraid ol ?
t- an a.iy change be for the worse ? Why
are we af aid of gome; to war ? bhalt wi i
not have to borrow money lo pay the
cunem t xpences of the yea. ? Wc snouid
oi.ly have o d>» .h< same in war. Never
Wtti there a more favorable mom. m 01
it. By ihc treaty of Vienna, England**
left without a ch.nce ot gaining a foot.
«i'g on the cent.rei.t. If we latte a mao.
if and independent ground we shall com.
pea-her ii.ims ry lo icsptCI our r gh.a.—
A’e we to wan for her-o declare wai tr.s i
If we do, wc may war 1* r tv r. e>hv
w 11 never dccla e it as long as she ca
ca*:y it r.nus she dots n. w wi.hoa dc
chriig it. A) hough i a in opposed o a
i<a y, yet I am desuous when we have
e • e, ih.it us powers shall be ex.:i cd i.
we vtre to »tnd ii o s:aa..u make a
bold inupticn mto Canada wc m.gn pro
dme srure tfledl, but never by suco mta
kUrts a., best.
Mr ShtfTey said that no> having expe£\
cd 'his bill wc uld so roon nc called up
h • had not given .o it iha at ention which
he should c he revise have done , but h
hjd ' a d sufficient a. ention to it .o con,
cc ve o worthy of consideration. It had
breo o' er\ed by gentlemen apparently
opposed to it, iha. was not ^fficien ly
eneigetic on the one hand, and i n the o.
ther that it would embarrass comme ce.
1 aking u for granted -a d Mr S. ilia we
ovghl o ad..p a a.io’ ger measure, is ha.
^ reason why this bill should not oe
s> d ai.d ieii.li n in force until' our piese >t
P artful atti ude is changed i If a s <o g I
n.eest.re were to be brought fo wa»ri h j
would probably »up;-rced< this bill. Bu i
via. sir is ihc etic.gy ot wh ch gerric
r tr t k i If they want war, why d.<
thtyno cninc fo.«'d nd iav a de lira
lion e>l *.«'on the tab i Wha ait e
e getic nua.;u«es if ,h:. bt n t wn.it i
mtar>'. f Let us, if it be deemed expedi
enr, give a ugh to our merchah'si-. d •- -
f< nd ihtmseive. against Englai d and
Fr.itce—but do not let us be diverted j
fre m the bill. It doe > not appear to me (
tc be the semicnent of a M„inn „ ,.r .n.
Hr use lira we ough a (Ins time ;o change 1
ihe attitude of the country; it dot - i-o
apptor to be the sen.imem of the c^ el
Mapis-rate Prepsre ho* the wors —bat
go no farther, I his is the energy I wou '
rrcomrT.ei.d M ke preparation, Du. tane
no # eps of hostility,
I ei i s c mider this question on the oh.
j'tf'On from the other side of the IT use
ll gin lemen ar • not willing i0 go to war.
what will they do? O. will the do ar,y
th’rg beyond aprrpaiation for defern e :
\\ I! Ih y ‘Ufler t-he non in ere urse lu
r<mttin in futce? I ee no di^p.-iliun or i
a y side to do thi*. We see iha iht 1
piospenty of agricul ure requires c m '
rreice Nolhit g but the m i ifnpern u 1
c cums'ercei eperaring on a nation ca '
r f'tn ihe < xp r a i< n of cenain pr,
duriOfagririiluir.. Tha non in ercourse ]
rn this oc ( r.nnt is not » nforced i is eva ,
'.ud. 7*hus suua.td what i. its tendin'-y ?
1 o Corrupt the pc< pie Asa rorasur «, .
S rrrion it is ccr a r.ly a phantom- fu 1
what < (lefts does it pioduce ? Are no ih (
frat uloftmers ol England r.ow furnisher (
w:h'h.* isw mate rials necessary lor then i
f«'»rics and w th «?ey thing you could '
g.ve .hern ? V ou make the future. a o 1
planer pay he tircunou* pr ice f.r Eu. 1
rope^n g ods, whilst his produce is re tul *
c d,!y he waniclcompetitioni:. (he rrar !
If? , to the lowest pus ible p ice. l/nd r 1
• here cirturns ances he non iutercouise «
I pi cm. me, is (tot to be coi,iu ucd. ,
Fiance an 1 England, M- S. said had 1
K'an ed na no commercial ngh s j and t
•here was therefore no call f.r libera j . c
,ow» ds il,tm. The U. iied Sia t» „Ugh "
fo c-riy oncrmroetcr became n ee y *'
t «il support of agiicuhtne »rd t|.e "
ri;ht 1o carry it on ic, tfe greatest ad
»r » age In ihor rwn ci iet ns. And wha *
the* ‘h ah; be the c« u■ *e putsu- d t No I ,U.
!< de»jioy con me tee l.y rmr.-importatiof,*)•<
si,<1 t+n inutou.se *cu, but to curiy itJ»v
on*so U>al |i should be 'ben--final o the
i’overtimuu in point of icvenue, a id It
hoe wh<r cared it on. W.ia sh ut
cong ?s» do to make it so ? T hey oug'i
to I >s er the r gluu of narigi.ioii tit
said lie would ask gentlem-n in turn ove:
the page of history and see wh it had ten.
f’e-d more to promote the prosperity o
England than her navigation act—an ac
which gave a decided pn ference to British
ni vigaiion ? The object of this bil
wns ont only to give preference in oui
porth to American vessels, but it went ti
the entire exclusion ot the vessels^ o
threat Britain and France so long ns theii
injurious edicts should remain in force. •=
Mr S. said he would s ate Ins ideas on ai
objection which he had understood to bi
n<tde.to V'15* Plao» Vla* tl‘at It would ope
»nie injuriously on the farming interest ne
•: use lucre would be a redund ncy of pro
ducc in the market, to the carriage o
which the tonnage of the Untied State
w<>u d not be equal, and that tnerefori
there wiu.d be a depression in the pric<
of produce. He presumed that a <'onirar]
effect would follow. Tir-re were a
brond, he siid, a numbero: Am rican ves
sel» trading not wi b (he United States ou
between foreign ports, or engaged in cir.
cuitous voyages. Now, the direct tradi
w uld Cerui iy be most advantage..us—al
the vessels thu» employed would Hhinedi.
ately return home to tngege in tb» direc
:rade.
It appears to me, at all events, said Mr,
hhefFey, that the bill is worthy of consid
eration. If energy be wan ing, the passrgt
of the bill will not preclude it, but will b«
continuing the ex sting state of things t<
the greatest advanage uu ll that s.iie ii
changed. Jf the gentleman .rom Nort
C arolina, (Mr. Sawyer) means raising ui
aimy and invading Cun..da as he intima
led, 1 most cordially dis .pprove of it. I
w.li not alter ihe couise wt hav at pre.
se it tak-n. On the other hand I consid
er that we are nut indebted to F. ance 01
Eot.1 • d, and therefore should i.ot act to.
Wilds them in the same spirit as if wi
II.IU utcn mil iy ana >rsay dealt by. *
i.ity would ex rcue noeraiity to us, J
would act coi ri’sp.mdrntly towards tnem
If we hud received „ny liberality at the.]
hands, t would oe improper to exclude
their vessels from our po ts. But as it is
commerce and navigation will be promo,
ted by the bill— bat commace and navi
gallon which mast continue so long as oui
character ol agi cul m al sis ».nd merer a. ti
.s not, conver ed in.o that ol in motactui.
eis, an event which 1 tor one ho,.e nevei
to see. So long as this nation remains ir
•t« picsent state, so long ought we to giv<
to our citizens ad the adv ntages that c.»r
ic derived from commerce. independent,
iy °* th'*, it any tnmg be done, it ought ti
.e promptly done, l'ue n.ercn-mt uoci
.to at present know 10 wnat pur.s to go ,
•ut t y u open to him Hit r giit to go ti
1‘ranee am Ji. guild, your act will not only
operate a v mtageoudy to bi n, hut wit
augment he price of produce in the plan,
er*s bauds.
Mr. Borwell said he did not suppost
hat tins question involved a tiucuss.o.i ol
tue dei. Is of the bin, and he did not there
fore ri*e to discuss tin un ; out he dre.net
it his cuty to say that in ms opinion tnt
cours, pt> |M)9ru .o oe pursued by tb:s bu
was the proper one. it will not be uini
ed (said hey that l tiuVe a.ways been ia,
vora.le to me system ot commercial it,
•tnotion, and that i mve g.ven my appro,
ballon to it so long a» theie was me smai.
lest probability ot its operating advanta.
gcoasiy, and so long as the peop.e of th<
Umteu ates expected good edicts from
this couise. But J am of opinion mat n
has b en fairly abandoned, and that any
turner attempt to coerce oy commercial
restrictions vn.uid be filtile ,’,ud r.d.cuious,
I b.tieve die pres nt situation of the woriu
is tavor.tble t>. the assertion of our right]
itga tut one ot the be.ligerenu, v.z. Great
bill., n. But, sir, i think iiu. the spirit
>f the nation is evajioraied, «.n.l we h .vs
uien so long tricketi by her aroficts, that
l despair u. H king auy measu.c U the
it.n.l at Ihu time wn c:i w. u.il no. meet
v mii u*<cless
n tOict A sing.e tact Will sultiei to r.w.tse
:ne attention ut the H use to uur present
i. uut.uii. 1 lie effect ut me nt n .m,ei coui »o
aw is to snk to me luw<.st pi.ee me v.lue
j our produce and to raise still nigiier
,h »t of uitick-soi loieigti growth or m°.nu
actmo I- i- . -it peitectly notorious
hat the couuiiy is as lull oi l,reign arii
.ICS a» It h..s I) JO to» years past, and that
ue proouc's ,! . ;•<• souitheiii conotiy iiuve
jteu rt I- ,i ui ne low at s;a.e oi d^pres
,iort—an v*- .c i it is puvious mat, so |ar
m ui pioduui g n »tfeet a >mad, the non
m« rcourse is n n reg riled at all, I a*,k
yiiv pt sc v e t **i i , wot'u against your own
nUlest i j> j s pill.on is that it shouij oe
rt moved j ami wneu removed, we shall
tithei e j y sik u a com in < ice as will g»vc
rent to our surplus produce, or we snail
ltscover the me cli r >c(tr nt the edicts
n loice agamst si, Jl it Oe loon * th -t all
he tins comp a.n d of as I) ivvii,6 frJin
.uo own gove.muent proceed u ihy irom
d« belligerent dentes, the nation will u,
..le in support oi our lair tom/ncice.
I will be recollected, said Mr B. that
offered the other d..y a tesolu loo eat
ing upon the I’rrs.diut lor any nforn.
loii he it.ay possess relat vv to the pil|Ky
' the northern powers. It ..ppe.,r» to me
hat we «*qrht co tVaoe io tvery country
¥ P ru> op » to us. J o lUustra e
• y dra, if th* powers m the north ul Jbi
opc an* wills* g in receive ..in productions
hd exchange (he is, slmougu me BriUsli
y their orders m council anu the French
y their blockading decrees m. y interdict
tn entrance, I :s.ss.k every Am ncan h?re
r.d ^Iswhfre wchi!c| force a comm rce un
/•r thov ettcu instances, whatever may be
hr consequence For my own part, as
tbpects Fiance and England, J Contes*
• a I think ihe honor oi tins reunify re*
civvs a S'llto liomihe cotidui.t ot these
r-tinns ; for such at the present is the'Un
’tthd s’ate m commerce, although we
''ght conipd tl., ui t > a temporary telsxa.
on. rhe »,inc sy . t m wouid »£„ *, i»e |C<
>r ted to w lien opporiumy offered. Am!
nil there shall ne a reasonable pr. spec; j
.** *,liC* °.r political rror,inly if, ,J, be }
mrrtd to. J am clearly of oprimn that I
6 "V1* l« r» to tfir w.m nc- her o« ■
them, bat maintain peace if possible. S* ,
i 1-wig ns any nation perm is to us a recipro
cai commerce^, 1 a n one of those who are
w.lling to unite and force that commerce,
f would not force a contraband trade but
the carnage of our own produce I would
force o the utmost power of the nation
i My coleague (Mr. Sicffeyy made some
L remarks on one part of the effect of the
, bill, via. on the transportation wf our pro.
| duce, in which he was Certainty correct.
Our tohnag* is more than competent to the
transportation of all-eur produce ; anti this
’ view does awaV a very strong (if correct)
oh ecu on to tlte bill, tuat by restricting im.
poriation it would decrease the competiti«
• on so as to raise the .price of freight ar.d
destroy the price of produce. S> long as
• we have suRicien’ tonnage^ this cannot f.,ke
place. We shall ai least be justified in
• making the experiment ; and if tt be found
that it will foster our navigation, certainly
' ,l'e gentlemen from the Eastern states
Wwuld n t complain of a provision which
[ gws to thtm an exclusive advantage ; for
; »l perfectly immaterial to the Southern
country, in point of interest, if its produce
• gets to market, how it gets there. I should
• "'deed be surprised if Eastern gentlemen,
L wl»o are so much concern d, should oppose
■ a regulation intended exc uiiveiy for their
! benefit.
1 As for countervailing regulations being
anticipated, I should presume gentlemen
need not m ,ke themselves very uneasy on
that score, for they already exist. Al
though the orders in council have under,
gone a mod.fication somewhat favorable,
yet the act of Parliament on the subject
has laid a discriminating duty so great tha.
» a merenaot saves the price of the freight
‘ by g ving the preference to a British sh.p ;
uid th ugh the duty has b.-ea somewhat
lowered, it is still so hign that it is impos.
*iUle for American ships to come in com.
petition with British vessels. And let me
• ask, S r, when the British government has
set the example, ought we not to give a
similar adv ihtage to the American flag in
our ports, to put them at least on a re.
ciproc d footing ? What I have stated are
facts whicn cannot be controverted.
I d not Slirmnup hmvpvar a...
« lation which we could adopt would k.:ep
the tonnage of the U. States on its present
respectable footing. I do not suppose any
i act could have that effect ; because, if
- gentlemen will only turn jheir attention to
the ports closed against us, they must be
. satisfied that our trade can never again be
1 as exams ve as it has Oven, it must dL
in msh at Uast one half ; and it does not
appear possible for us to be <ble to give
1 employ in.in to all our present ton*
!j““ge*
1 Mr B concluded by saying that he rose
• only to express h>s anxiety to see this sua
' jtet acred on. He Wished to see every
1 commercial restriction done aw y. Altir
th^ exper ence w.i ch the nation would
> have und'-r a trial of toe syste n proposed
by the bill, Congress would be b- tier able to
judge wbat course ©ugm to be pursued_
■ and if it were found at last absolutely ne
cessaiy to the protec ion of our r guts to
take the attitude of war, he flattered him.
se.t there was still sensibility enougn in the
I nation to point rheir resentment to the pro
per course. He hoped the committee would
persevere till they got through the bill.
Mr. Sawyer s motion tor the c mmittec’s
ruing was then negatived without a divis
ion. This was understood to be a peremp
tory decision against postponing the consid
eration of the bill.
The Chairman proceeded to read the 4.h
section of the bill, which provides ** that
from and after the passing of this act it
shall not be lawful to import in o thj U. 1
States or the territories thereof, in any I
vessel or vessels not owned wholly b"
citizens of the Umled States, and regi*.
tert^d according to law, any goods, wares
or merchandize, !tc. from any port or
place situated in Great Britain or France."
8cc. fee, *
Mr. Livermore said he cou.d not c-m.
ce.ve why a d scrimiuuiion was here made
between registered and sea le ter vessels,
as b >tf» w re known to the laws of toe IT.
States. Hu wished some member of the
c ‘inmittee who reported the bill to explain
it.
Mr. Taylor observed, that, if Congress
adopted the idea suggested oy the gentle
man from Virginia (Mr. BurweJI)in wmch
he (Mr. T.) concurred, that the Untied
should protect their fl.g in its com
meico w.ih whaltvi r nation should hold ;
out the hand ot fellowship towunls us, it j
s emed important to the nation mat they
should U'lder-tand for what it was they
had undertaken to adopt this principle.
W uld gentlemen hold out the sain t pro
teci'on to a vessel condemned and purenas*
«d l>y one ot our citiz-ns in a port of
f rar.ee or England, or to a vessel bu It a
brotd, as they would to our own register
ed shipping ? It was indeed singular tnat
gentlemen, who represented mat port on
of toe people of the United states who were
‘he aln.o,t exclusive ship builders, should
c 1 a h*-« 'avit a in embracing this pr uo
s.uon. . rr
i
Mr Quincey conceived that this was a
proposition which mo.e properly belonged
i > .he Cu.nm.uce of commerce and Mauu
i.utdrs as i permanent commercial reg
ulation ; and m let-d he had understood
that comn.ittee had this subject under
consult ration. Some exception too ought
to be m .de in favor oi sea.letter vessels
u^w owned by citizens of the United States
to pr. vcnt the law hav.ug a retrospective
operation.
Mr. Taylor said he ahouM h tve no ob.
ject.on to an amendment which should
m >ke an exception in lavor of sea.letter
vrss Is now owned I y American citizen,.
Bui if the door wire left < p-n to a) *e*.
letter v s els, there in ght ot pers m* w f
would be very wil mg 10 lend a cover to .
trie ships of Britain, France or any other |
nation, provided they got handsome com <
mission for landing the American n line, ,
H-r wished not to leave ro.m for die a- -
t»u*e here ofoie charged upon os of c'v t
foreign ves,cls wuh onr character.
Mr. l-ivcrmore moved to strike c-u' the
4tb sec. His reason was that in practice v
no behefic al eftect- would be produced to '
our own merchants, and much injury '
might resu t. 1 hough nthe.uy register
e . ves.He|>, o? the United Sates werv built
•nd wicily owned by American cit aens, ji
yet In practice r?g:s/.red tnd sei.l-tter,
vessels were In sains x-ts-s equally own *.l
by foreigner-,; and it was ini pass ble by
law to prevent f.neigne-rj from h iviug a
concern i'» them. Ai this section there
fore wo.ild lie imperative or useless^ Ue
moved 10 sirik.4 it out. **
Mr L verhiore’j motion was nogitived,
24 only rising in the affirmative.
rhe 5th section was read [This sec
i tio-i provides thu n» goods, wares or m?r
chandize wnntever, being of the growth,
produce or manuf icture of Great Britain
or France, or any of their colonies or de
pendencies, shall be imported into tht U.
States after the 15th day of April nex^, in
any manner, fron any poi^ or pile-* other !
th in in the countries colonies or dep^-ii. }
dencics of those powers .u which suen
goods shall hive been grown or mauuftc- !
tured ^
Mr. Chittenden, after a few remarks
not distinctly heard by the reporter, mov
ed to amend the section-by add ng to it-a
clause to the -following eSVc ; *• Provided,
that nothing in this act contained shall oe
so construed as to prohibit hha iinpor a
tion of salt from any port in Great Britain
or France and their dependencies.”
Air. P.ck nan moved to strik-* out the
whole sect-on^ because he conceived it ut
terly impossible to carry it into effjet if
adopted, and it did not comport w th the
declarations of gentleman that they w re
dtsif/us of dhing away ah restriction on
ourselves In case of a war between king
land and the powers in the N >r.h of l£a_
rope, prize cargoes might be parch tsed
to great advantage by our c.t zns m the
Baltic or elsewhere; but this bill would
prohibit their importation, although Bri
tish goods might be scare? here, anl acn^
ous inconveniences ensue from their scar
city. Whether su~h a traffic would he of
advant .ge or not, it w mid be almost im
possible to prevent ii. Mr. Pickm »n men
tioned an instance m which he h.mself had ,
j lately seen goods with -French marks on a
j merchant’s counter; and that, when ex
pressing his surpriz ? at seeiug French
| goods here in the present state ofcon
inerce> he had been told that they were
! Emgrsa. gooas m .used by the Br tisu m m
ufacturers wi h French marks w.th a view
ot facilitating tuetr imrodu-: ion into coan. I
tries wh.*re tne importation of Brit'sh go ds
was not by the laws permitted. Tnis siC. !
tion he dlsn conceived would further tend
to .ncre .se the practice or suu.lgliug ,
Mr. Taylor ask d oe gentleman whe. !
ther tne merchant, on a voy ,ge to obtain |
Brmsh or Frencn g>vda for the supply of
his neigimois, would send to S:. Feieruarc '
or Stocku 1m or to Archangel round t
Northern pant of the continent for t.ie3c i
Bnt.sh goods, woen he cm!J g.t mem so-1
muen less circn.itooily ? N > system wuicii
ever was adapted (su.d Mr. T ) c u. l em
brace extreme cases, VVc are not now e
g slating to ensure a goo i b .rg on to the
merchant who m y happen to be at St.
J eters urg wi.ea a cargo is condemned
1 lie supposition ot such case indeed is
too subumat.d ; lor, in case of snch a war
tue peop.e m lue north of liu ope, not ie!
ceiviiig British goods tnmugh ad-reci chan
nel, won.d gve at 1 aat us uuc i fjr t-.e
prize goods as our merchants c md B.r
in come nearer home, u_t us Uxe Amelia
Island, Halnax or any o.her port in the
Brtish provinces. Suppose tins section!
were struck out of the biil-wtiai would
be the consequence i Great Britain w.ni d
s »y “ you shall noi enter our port-* true I
we want your produce ana want you m •
take our manulacturs—.he exchange is
convenient to us, but you sh-Ulno. have the
monopoly of carrying u on—you shall not
touen our pons in Europe, out wc will leave
Hd.fax open to you” Way, sir, we
shou.d revert o tne vefy state of th.n<s
from wh.cn we are en te.virmgto exui.
cate ourselves Tnatwouid be the erf.Ct
ot sink.ngcut t*»e sect.cn. It was the ob.
J‘-c. ot the com in i .te. wuo report d th.s bill
so to place n.s system that, m tie retail- i
anon winch might be *..* „y G Britain !
it any were a.tepipted, s.ie snuu d nave ui !
advan ages, but s.iouid do .t *c n-r n-r 1
il».it eve.y step of retaliation shou a serve
as a b-Hin.y to the manu actor,ng interest
now springing up a nong os-mat wc
soculd affect her iom-.wnere, woat ever
-----a laatr. 4 uo no. say but
mere may be deiects 1.. the Ml, bu ,m is
not one. It is 10 prevent any intermediate
British port from being uiaUe tue. nt. cp.»t
for tne exchange of cur produce t >r ner
manui.icaires. The same observation will
app.y wKh equal toice to any commerce
'vmUi may ex-sc between this country and
r ranee, Sne has 131.tn.lt, iri t.,e vV In
purj^e'.^ m,g,U hC USCJ ‘°r tll“ aaine
Mr. Gardenier asked if it wu the in
tention of the committee to prohibit tne
importation of B. itish or F.ench goods
trv.n neutral por s l
Mr. Taylor. Undoubtedly it is.
Mr. Sheffey remarked thit this was a
CO'Opl c .ttd b tl, and requ re J m tura con
sideration. As ttie committee had pro
gressed cons de: sbly, he moved that i> n„w
r se to give an oppor.u ity to icfl ct at
iosure 01 its virions provisions.
Mr. Macon said he had no objection to
give time for cons.deration, and tint the
SoinnMtee should riso for that purpose.
Bu; he hoped the committee would o.mor
row again resume the su >ject, and decide
r>n the bill as early as possible^, as t le
inn-intercourse law at present in exis
tence was dady evaded.
The committee rose, reported progress,
tntl obtained leave to sit again.
CONTESTED ELECTION.
On motion of Mr M Inor, the H »use re
mlvi d itself into a committee ot tne wti •:«
-Mr D.iha in the cha r on the report of
iie committee of Elections on the {ictHion
>f l Ik-inas K indnjpn, praying that tne
e>t of Johith m Jennings, tn~ titling de|r4
;ate from Indiana territory may be vaca
t'd.
I I15 committee concurred in the report
'hich r» con fiend* a rQaoiution (hst tne
14cdon of Mr Jennings w s illegal an I
•id, and r* >orted Uie.r concurrence to the
louse. *
On motion o Mr. Snilie, the House a i*
u.ned w thou taking it up,
Tuesday, Jannar
Mr. Southard presenter
of iu’i Iry pap r-makers i
New-Jcrsey,praying auwi
ty on imp »rted pap r.— .t
On motion of Mr. Wh
R solved, That a com niccie be ap
p minted to enquire i ito the efcp-diency
of altering the time for hiding tia e
two ter na of the district court for tiia
district of Maine, no v bv law h >lden
o a the lust Tuesday of Ma»- Sc fhe first '
Tues lav of September, so t»a: the for
mer sh ll be hefca.ftcr boldeu oo the
fourth ( uesdav of June, and the latter
o i t ae second Tuesday of September.
And that the com nittee h ire leave to
report brbill fir otherwise.
A letter was-received from toe Se
er t irv of the N ivy containing n sche
dule of the contracts entered into by
that department during the last year ;
and also a letter enc'os ng a li >c of the
clerks, & *. in the Navy Depirtmenu
-—Ordered to be primed.
MEDITERRANEAN FUND.
The engrossed bill “ to revive and
conrinu.4 in.force for a further time
the first secti mofau act entitled, «* An
act farther to protect the coni nerce St •
seamen of the United Stt.es agiinst
the Uaroary po vers,” was read a third
tine aaJ pisied wiuiouc oppoiiti
bn.
The consideration of the report of
the committee of the whol; on the con
tested election of Joialhan Jennings
w s taken up and, after debate, post
pone l till to-morrow.
ANEUIGAN NAVIGATION
BILL.
i ne iiouse ago n resolved itself into
a committee of the whole^ Mr. Desha
in the Chair, on the bill concerning
commercial intercourse with Great
Britain an 1 France and their depen
dencies and for other purposes.
•Mr Pickm m s motion yet under con
sideration—
Messrs. Pickmm, Livermore, Pot
ter and lloss sup >orted, and M.ss s.
Macon, Fiskf Sneifey and Taylor op
posed the motion.
'Those who supported the motion
contended th it the 5th section ol rhe
bill, having for i;s object th; proht 'iii- .
on ol the importation lro n neutral
countries of g >oii tha produce or ma
nufacture of France or England, rnd
also the importation from tile col u ies
of the belligerents of the prodoc or
manufa ture ol the m >tner countries,
and vice versa, wts inexpedient ia
practice, and could not be executed y .
tha: it would be i nposdble to distin
guish between the productions of dif
ferent countries; that it was a notori
ous fact that large quantities of pro
duce were daily imported through b .
Burtholomcivs, whi.h, losing a small
is1 and, it w is known was not capable
or producing the qiagt tics of produce
exported from i:— u. that it was and
a!w«ys would be iinposs ble to distin
guish between the produce of that i
slun 1 and thus: contiguous t > it ; ihac
suit, f.r eximple, was an article, the
place of m mat icture of which co.dd
n v.r be ascertained ; th a this section
wo od iu this respect possess the incon
veniences ol til u »n-intei course 1 *w,
as it could not be carried into execu
tion ; that if one belligerent, viz. G.
Hrit nn iir.-ro r,» i i
an 1 inter course was to be renewed
with the nation so tiling, he produce
of the colonies of France might be in
nocently purchased at Broish ports as
the product of the latter; that there
were certain article* of English ma m
fact i're, viz. low priced woollens,
which w. re al noU necessaries of life
and as su>.ti would li 1 I their way into
the country; thit this section was at
war wiih the other principles 0f the
nil, wh en were said to be to remove
the restrictions from cur own citizens
i d impose them on the dozens of
France and G. Britain; that many e
vms would result from this section
which could not now be foreseen. It
was also said th it the principle of re
gulating commerce on the ocean by
su;h provisions was absurd ; that it
woul.l be curious to hear of J.ouis
a v III. issuing decrees for the g »ern
ment of France, which would be food
for 1 m h:er lor NapoUbn j that we 1
should act equally absurdly in p assing
such provisions as these which co .hi
not prove effectual, that the wh >lc bdl
might be a p etty thing in thsorv, lifts
me plan ol a building or chart of a
road-—'bur, when reduced to practice
would amount t > nothing.
( fo be continued.)
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