The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-01-13 00:00:00, page 2

. , ~J % I
('aiming, as respects the second ditinn. For
it appears, that the conversations related to
the direct trade, front the colonies of belli
gerents to the mother Country, hud for this
obvious reason, that this Was the point in
dispute; a very different thing from all
trade, which is mentioned in the second, con
dition.
( Mr. Fisk's Speech to be continued.)
IN SENATE,
January 8.
A report was received Jrom he Secreta
ry of ITar, on the subject of the Corps oj
Engineers.
Mr. Meigs submitted the following moti
on. which seas agreed to :
R&solvuii, That a committee be appoin
ted to enquire into the expediency of esta
iltshing by law a Land Department cj' the
U. States ; and that they huve leave to re
Jicrt by bill or otherwise.
[it/e#*r# Meigs Gregg, Anderson, Craw
ford and Pope were appointed the commit
tee. J
Mr Giles withdrew the motion submitted
by /Jin on Friday last.
The bill Jor the improvement cf the U. :
States by public roads and canals was read
a second time and on motion of Air. Pope
committed to a self cl committee.
[.Wmri. Pope, Hayard, Anderson Craw
ford and Hillhouse were appointed the com
mittee.]
On motion of Mr. Pope, the report made
by the Secretary of the Tr. usury m pursu
ance of a resolution of the House of the
'2d AJaitch. 1807 respecting roads and ca
nuls, was referred to the same committee.
January 9.
The bill from the House of Pcpresen a
tives for continuing the Aledi errancan
fund was read urid passed to a second rea
dmg.
Air. Gcillard reported a bill relative to
the making certain roads in (he district of
Columbia.
HO USE O F R EPR E SENT A T1VE S.
Mon day. January 8.
Mr. Poydras obtained leave to lay on the
desks of the members ot the House printed
copies of a pamphlet on the subject of the
title to the Butture at New Orleans.
Mr. A1 arrow reported a bill to prescribe
the mode in which applications shall be
made for the purchase of laud at the several
land offices m the United States, and for j
the relict of Joab Garret. Twice read and I
referred.
AIIMED MERCHANTMEN.
Mr l.ivcrmore offered the followin'* rs-'
solution:
Jietoived, That the Secretary of the
Treasury he directed to cause to be laid be
fore the House a Copy of any instructions is
sued to the collectors of the several districts
of the United States relative to refusing
clearances to any private armed vessels o\
the United States.
Mr. Lfifie* moved to amend the motion
hy adding to the end of it the words “ du
ring the. present or any former adminis
tration.”
Mr Livermore accepted the amendment
as a part of his motion
Adr. A hea objected to the motion because
he could not see the object the gen'lcmau
had in view, the laws of the United States
not hav.ng authorised vhe arming of any pri
vate vessels. Mr. Livermore and Mr. Hit
kiu supported it as coiling tor information to i
•winch no one could object, and which might
have a bearing on subjects under the consi-!
deration of the House.
The motion was agreed to, 51 to 21.
Mr JVc/iOJi made the following report:
The committee on the military csta
blishmeiic of the United bi'a'.es, to whom
was referred so much of the message ofihe
President ol the United States of the 3d
instant, as rel.v.es to . raising a volunteer
force, report in part that they hav e taken
the same :nu>consideration, and are of mi
nil ii. that it is highly expedient to place
tortuwi’.h the country in u mure complete
state ol defence and recommend t;ia follow
ing resolution ;
Jiesducd, 1 hat provision be made by law
for i .vising and embodying a volunteer force
Ci. twenty thousand men, exclusive of ofii
cers, ta he enlisted and held to sen e tor the
term or from the time cl their be
ing in actual service.”
The report was referred to a committee
of the whole.
Mr nr*ha presented the petition of Col.
Darnel Ho .nr, stating that he had perform
c'l at different times services for the United
istate.s, for which he asks compensation._
Referred ton select committee.
Mi.niJ ERR VNKAN FUND.
On motion of Mr. the House re
solved itself into a committee of the whole
Mr. Dethci in the chair, on the bill foi con
tinuing this duty. The bill was gone through
reported to the House, ar.d without de
bate, ordered to be engrossed for a thud
reading
AMERICAN NAVIGATION ACT.
On motion of Mr Macon, the House re-i
solved uself into a committee of the whole,!
Mr. Oe«,'ia in the chair, on rhe bill - ies!
pectmg the* commercial intercourse* between
tile U. State* and G. Britain and France
and tor other purposes.”
After the chairman had read through the
third sec .ion (which inteulicts the entrance
into the U S. ol all vessel, sailing under
the flags of G. Britain or France) —
Mr. JAverm^rc said bethought it proper
to examine how this interdict.™ of the en
tra xe of all private vessels would operate.
Me had wallet, hr some gentleman of the
committee to fcxpl. in vhat would be the o
pera.ioo ofthcb.il; but none had come for
Z*rd< .Pet£.n,*ht U ’’or,'iy of enquiry bow
far, .f th.s bill were parsed, Great Britain
might countervail the restriction, imposed i
by the United States. In the present form, '
he conceived the bill tnigh, operate very in- '
junoiii y. I he committee ought to ton*.-1
;ler what article, were to be exported from
« United States and what tube brought!
back in i e.urn. Every article exported was ,
bmky as cotton, tobacro. ike. whilst the
manufactures imported in retort, did not i
• ccupy much space, if this bill as it stood!
' ere to be passed, would not the consequence !
,a Uw to prevent the entrance of nur ves
sels into the waters of Gr; a. Britain? lr it
were in toe |>owt;r of Congress to confine
• he carriage of the- products of the United
.. a.cs absolutely t0th.,,r own registered vrs.
*. some benefit might result to the fchiu
pmg interest of the United States from such
wmcusoic; but it was not in the power of
< ongresH to up the hands of Gieut Bri
Ul *»<11 ra-.c*. U thy faivad S.a;tk *tli
.o enter into a warfare of this nature, it
would be playing a game which would ope
rate to their own disadvantage, and not to
that of foreign nations. He believed it would
be found that the duties on tonnage and the
discriminating duties on imports had carried
this system as far as was expedient ; and he
could no*, see any heiiefit to result from prohi
biting foreign vessels from entering our v.u- !
terv
Mr. Saroyrr said that he too was opposed
to tins section and to the whole hill altnge
ther. bscivsc it was not strong enough; it
was evaporating the spirit of the nation in
mere commercial regulations. After every
insult for so many tears past, our wrongs
were now to be expiated bv restrictions on
our own commerce.' We invite aggression by
continuing the same system. if this was
the neplus ultra of resistance, he said he
could not consent to give it his vote. It w<iu d
not satisfy the people, audit ought not; they
were tired of this mockery of resistance of
these commercial restrictions and resoluti
ons of approbation. The least that couid
have been expected from the committee of
ioreigu relations w mid have been a bill au
thorising the issuing of letters of marque and
reprisal. No reparation had been obtained
for the affair of the Chesapeake, in* release
of our impressed seamen, nor any revocation
or modification of the orders in council; and
yet, for the mere pittance, the slight vestige
of our former trade which the orders left to
us, the House was called upon to continue
to r.arrr .n commerce with Great liritain
and France. If the conduct of the nation
were not more energetic, Ues.nl we should
forfeit the little character we had acquired,
and call down on us the .contempt of every
nation on earth; we should become con
cmptible even in out own eyes, for it was
impossible for any man to contemplate the
state in which we are, and the measures
which had been and were proposed to lie ta
ken, without feeling absolutely debased —
We had, he said, tried this system for seve
ral years; it had dune no good, and it was
time to try some other. Gentlemen were
now persevering contrary to the evidence of
their senses, to the impulse of their feelings,
and, he believed, to the wishes of the nati
on. Whilst no Fser.ch ships and scarcely
any English ships now came into our waters,
the formal prohibition of their entrance
would but give a pretence for the indiscri
minate capture of all our commerce, with
out producing any benefit whatever to the
United States Mr. Sawyer concluded by
moving iliat the committee rise, with a vie v
to postpone the subject till tile 3d Monday i i
February
Mr. ATaron adverted to the very opposite
reasons for which the two gen lumen who
preceded him had opposed "the oill. The
gentleman from Massachusetts thought it
wasstrong that it would ruin 11s hy draw
ing ijp >n us countervailing acts; and his col
league thought its weakness would only
w -.rrant further aggression on us. The com
mittee of Foreign R. lations he said, had
been we 1 aware of the situation in which
they were placed. The message of the 29th
of November had been understoixl to be a pa
cific one. It had been acknowledged on all
hands, that the non intercourse was totally
useless. It was necessary that something
should be done; and the committee had a
grted to report this bill. The gentleman
man Massachusetts had told *he House, that
if they adopted 'his bill, and Great Britain
and France should countervail its ptovisions,
the United States would suffer. At pre’
sent, Mr M said, they captured and con
demned our vessels, and they could not in
jure us much more in that way. The real
question was, whether, as the President in
his message had shewn a disposition for fur
ther negotiation. Congress would lend him
tneir aid in it. Suppose Great Britain did
countervail, and say that our ships should
not go to her dominions, then the bill had
provided that neither Amelia Island. Hali
fax or any other intermediate port shall be a
place ot deposit. But as our exports were
the most bulky, i it were to be agreed that
each nation should carry its own products,
we should carry fittecn or twenty times as
much as Great Britain would, and the ad
vantage would lie greatly on our side.
'1 he bill had been reported in such u form.
Mr. M. said, as that such parts as should
not be agreeable to the House should be
struck out. His colleague had thought the
bill too weak. It Congress were to adopt
the bill, did it prevent them from adopting
more energetic measures? Certainly not"
l liis bill differed wholly in its nature from
the non-intercourse law, because it took off
tile i estrictions from ourselves and pul them
on our assailants. [r appeared to b>m un
der the present oituati.i.i oftne country. that
uie committee must have been untoi tuua e
indeed if it had reported a bill for issuing
letters tof marque and reprisal ; for, last
winter, when matters stood much the same
as they did now, the question had been tri
ed in this House with perhaps as few votes
as any thing ever received which had been
talked so much ubout. When the question
had been s ated on issuing letters of marque
ami reprisal forthwith, instead of at a distant
day, where then had been the energy cal
ied lor? A referrence to the Yeas Nays
on that vote would shew how few had voted
in the affirmative.
Mr. M. said it was evident from the whole
tenor ol die bill that its object was to take
tut . eatrictioiiK trom our own nation and lay
them on Cj. Britain and France ; and it was
an object worthy ol consideration in the pas
sage ot this hill, that it was such a one as
the nation could stand to tor any length of
lifiie. It the committee were to strike out
every clause in the biil but that which re
pealed the non intt rcout sc law, he should be
opposed to rising till they agreed to mat
one. At every place a the nation where
even a boat could come, the people were sa*
tislied that the non intercourse law could not
be enforced. If it was a mere dead letter,
it should be repealed, and they should thus I
put every man in the miio.i ir.i the same
lo ting.
Ashe did not with his colleague think this
a very weak bill, neither did he with the o-|
Htnt'isman think it a \tvy energetic
bid. lie said he should have liked to have |
heard this talked of energy when tl.eChesa-l
penkc was attacked, and when the celebra
ted orders in council were issued ; but the
tune for it had passed. They could not all
it seemed, get warm at the same time. It
whs to take such nieasuies now as the na
tion could stand {o, and as would enable the
I resident to settle our disputes with one or
both belligerents ; and this bill was calcula
ted for that purpose. Whether the |>i||
would satisfy the people or not he was total
>) ignorant. He himself could never tell
lieie what would satisfy 1 4'<so whom lie rc
r<yresented, and all that he could do was to
act as he thought right auu depend on such
co,aluct for their approbation. L ut winter
the lucasutes which l.is colleague r.ow ca! I
lea paper measures, were too strong for litm,
for he wanted to open a gale m go t > the I
West India islands. Tills hill w^s inpenm j
from the non int< rcourse law m it opened :
• he world to the Com rue ce <*: the U 'mates, j
and shut their ports to die vessels of Great j
Britain, and France. Mr. M. sai l he had
hardly expected a complaint ..gain-1 the
hill from gentlemen from the'lvisi, though
he had thought iro n auotner part of tin- n
tion there might be a complaint. He cured
very little what was done, so that th re w»»
not too inocli energ in it. He wav not for
a declaration of war just now, a:ui lie to k
this opportunity of saving so. 'Toe ration
was no as ’iiucli prepared » >w for war as it
had In n last winter, or as it bad b'-en when
the Go. sapeake was attacked As to tiie
t>etty t/nai rel between Mr. Smith and Mr
Jack-.on, ne did n Innk that it changed tiie
state of:, ffiirs one iota.
Mr. Picknan exp-essed his hope, that
the motion fur tile rising of tiie committee
would notfirevail. He considered the hi!, as
a very important one, and sinevreiv Hoped,
that it wnul l meet that on. I and deliberate
\ discussion to which ics i upnrtance, and the
respectability of tiie committee who report
ed it entitled it. There were s >mc parts
of the hill which me his cordial approbati
on ; there were other par s to which he
could not*give his ass. m, hill his objections
to them were removed. The fi st section
of the bill (interdicting the entrance it our
waters to the public*armed ships «>F Grout
Britain anti France.) lie‘'pproved. He said
it would lie recollected, that at the iasi m s
*ion of Congress he hail voted for the mo
; ti >11 for excluding the armed ship-. <>t bo ti
Great Britain and France, lie bud done it,
I because he thought it a disgrace to admit
I into our waters armed shi >■>, bailing under
orders to capture our vesse s ; and ne imp
ed they never would he admili <1 under such
circumstances. With respect to ti:e third
section, he confessed that he had not entire
ly made up his mind, lie did not think,
however, that it would authorise cither G.
Britain or France to p is-> such decrei •. as
his colleague seemed to think they would do;
fot it wouid nit esseuti dly change our cum
tncrciai relations with tiiem, ns they are
now prohibited from carrying on commerce
with our pons, and >ur \> ssels are prnhi
bited from going l>> 'In ns.
Mr. F said it would >ia» be recollected
by gentlemen, that In* had spoken against
the non intercourse law a* the last session,
and did not vice for it, nec.mse lie had be
lieved it totally ineffectual fir ihe purpos
es for which ir was passed lie had thought
then, and * xpenence hsul confirmed me truth
of his opinion, that it w.isi. cal y inefficient ;
that our citizens could n il he restrained
[from violating it and that it weuhl operate
I only on those h >nest men* who were disp.is
ten 10 p n regaru to ne ia'vor meir conn
j try, til * hough tliev doubted their expedien
cy. The 5ih sectioQ ot this bill (prohibit
iug ihe importation of French o. Frrish
goods from anv other part of the doumiotis
of eitlier. than where they were grown or
manufactured.) he said, was li ii.L t isoiue
of the same objections its the non ii.r«* course
law. lie conceirrd it utteiiv in. possible,
thus to prevent '.he importation the pr*>
;duce or inumifactures of Great Praam ai d
j France, as. if prohibited directly, they would
be imported circuitously tit rough St. Far
tiiolomews, tkc and our merchants might
'innocently import the product r manut ic
lure of these cc .mines, alter purchasing
them, as the produce of the neutral country
At present, so numerous and so con.plicated
wer? the various res.rictive laws wuii res
I impossible for the most honest man to con
pect to our co'iimeice, that it was aim si
strue them correctly. This inform uion. in
said, he derived from the collector of ilu*
port of Salem, in Massachusetts, who, he
I believed, was disposed to give as fair aeon
j struct! m to the laws, as any m .n i.i the U.
jbtates Mr. P sai 1, it was very Vcqu.s v
that this, or some suen bill should oas . fur
the reason that it went to lake ofl” a'l the
restrictions from our own citizens, and throw
them upon the subjects of t’-ose nations
which were pirating on our commerce. H
hoped the motion would not prevail fir the
committee’s rising, but that they should go
on :.ncl gi ve the bill a fuil anil deliberate d»i
cushion.
Mr. Taylor said, if indeed this bill was
as nerveless as it bad been represen'ed by
the gentleman from N. Carolina. (Mr Saw
ver.) and from other quarters, he believed
it would lie cany to demonstrate, that the
course which tne gentlemun himself liad
proposed 10 give this subject, was infinite),
more nerveless and doufute even of int.ni
nne strength [.Mr. bit *yer said I"* had
made no proposition] * Mr. Fnylorstid
he alluded to the proposition for postponing
the consideration ot ttie subject ’til! Fcbma
ry. Are we, said Mr. T on a bed of .s.s'
Will the House recollect the situation in
which we aref It is true, that i was not an
admirer of the present project—I did not
give it my support in the committee; but
nevertheless, when I reflect on the situation
in which w« sna i or, il tins lull be pustpon
ed, I conceive it isnectssaiy to vary onr si
tuatiotp 1 tie non imeicourse law li is pro
duced tile clt- cts P>ren>ld You have given
up the carrying trade, the I/one of c- renti
oil, the very object winch the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. tViilnor,) very truly
told you, exci ed 'he envy of (» Pritain, to
your rival. Where ate we now, sir f A
gentleman, upt-n whose information I can
itly a,, correct, has alipt upon my table a
p.iper containing the inform tion. that tl.eie
are now at Amelia Island .one hundred Pi t
tisli merchant vessels ready to take the bread
from our merchant, who tn f ici frtve oniy
tlie alti rnativc of coasting along to Amelia
Idati.i, wncnce our produce will tie imme
diatciy shipped across the Atlantic. Now,
would it not be nerveless indeed to arrest the
consider."*imi of this subject for two or three
months, when tins is the state of thing*, s*
1 understand, that our custom house < [Ft
ces at e hermetically scaled ; that although
British goods ure found on the shelves of cut
merchants, yet, as the non intercourse law
has said, that they cannot he imported, they
get into the Country without the custom
house officers receiving a single cent to p tv
the public, burthens ’1 his is precisely the
situation in wliica the gentleman from N
Carolina wishes us to continue for six or
eight wc:ks i mger. Let this bill U\ adopt
ed or not, 1 do not like gentlemen to Con. I
dcnin it in tli- Pimp, unless liiwy will he 1
k ind enough to make some specified propo
siliun, to substitute in the pi ce of tlie cl m
st’R of it, wnich snail better our situation.
V\ e must act on it. \\ c are, as ttie countrv
now stands, the enemies of the commercial
interest; f r we are giving foreign nations*
the entire benefit. of onr comm rce, and tic
privlng our honest cilia. ns of the ad van tar...
whicn this hill will offer to them. If it is’, t
importance, thatrarr flag should beuniui;-!
cd blithe ocean jh* a Cornu.ticial uauvii, u|
is necessary that we should now act. r,vc
rv commercial town, port and harbor knows
' fu* course the thing is taking. The Ame
rican vessel takes iu departure with uur
go of produce, and reurns to this country
tin more, unless it lias cast away fts cliar.ie
ter ot American and become a foreign ves
sel It is probable, sir, that auioi.g tho e
ves. eU at Amelia Island, arc ui ujv that
were American, but arc new changed to
iiogl.sn.
I mi decidedly against the committee’s
risiog. Some part** of the lull may be good,
some bit! ; loit tiiere cert u dy is a clause
in the •) 11. *liich will keep pirates and piun
tlerers from "ur ports and li irbors—and as
loenrrrv I can tell loose who talk of if,
tli if there is a clause in -.his hill, which may
prevent us from being C-dirnftagened ; thuf
a port may be so well unified by nature uu/l
art combined, as to oppo.ir.an armed free
it'/irouc/nnef and yet. widen may not lie
; com 'den; to repel it after it he.a been re
ceived iu peace and friendship, within our
I (i a ts and <*•«. b.-rs. •
| Mr Livermore •Iccluvd himself also op
| posed to the committee’* rising. He wished
i t. know what was the extent of trade now
; c ifiied on with our ports hi BrivGh bottom*,
land ■ hat its amount? He :.at.»i he »sa*.
j that there was a sroail trade carried on in
I ill 'll vessels from Nova Scotia to'he United
S ates, and which was very ben* licia! to the
\ citizens of the United S-. io s ; the stopp ig*
ot w*.,icl» as proposed, would operate very
i unetpi.diy. It was r, trade xx hit h could not
I vn well be carried on by x*> elsoftht United
'States. If Congress c« mmeiictd this busi
ue»», thev mig-u shew Great Bnitain how
slie also img'nt lay additional n strict ions.—
.Some oi the sections of tins bill. Mr. I,, said,
he thought it would be propel* to re ain ;
bu lieu, were some dia lie entirely u;sa*i
pi o', ed.
A.i to the non intercourse, there was no
• '•ccasi M hit* repealing it in relation to Great |
Biitain, because it xvas not in force against
her —a.id this he 'h aught he could demon
strace stt a proper u re.
Mr. Sawyer *-:iid if he had as much con
fidence in heclh 'no of the bill os the g>m
tb n> n I com N. I * (Mr. Macon) he should
make r.u opposition to it * bn he expected
•lotning from it. it said Mr. S. we take up j
or. ourselves u warlike attitude ami evince j
.1 >’ vi. sl'an to he independent, we shill
pioduce such an etiiliarv'-.ssuipnt that i lu
ll'■ ’.l' ministry of H will have to treat !
‘ l it ns or ietire front power. But if we <h j
n. no’e I* xix pass such a b 11 us this, we |
sit ill sveoumge them to go on til! we shall
he s ripped by the orders ia council, o ik af |
ter another, of every* vestige of e rax urn.*rein 1
' 'g i s \v u u sue we airaiu o r i an any !
clia ■y,~' he for the wov.se f V\rl»y are we a I
fi ;ii i oi g >iiig to war ? Shall we'n.it have to j
v Money to pay the cm rent exp' ores
>>t Me vcui ? \Yc should miiy have co.ilo the j
-atnr in w it* Never was tiicie h more fa
vocable moment for ir. By the treat v of Y i •
- i n i England is leit without a chance of
gaming si footing cn the continent. If we
t ihc a otaiilv Sital independent gtound, we
, *‘hail compel her ministry to respect our
rights Are we to wait for'her to declare
w*r firs', f IT we ilo, we may -w.-iir forever. •
S.ie wili never declare if sis long as she ran i
carry it on as she does no w without ileclariu 7 :
it Although I am uppotvd tost navy, yet l ;
am desirous when we have out*, that its 1
powers shall be exerted. If wu w ore t«» senid
i' to sea .m l m s k a bold irruption into CNu<t •
da, we nfigi.t jo .rfluce smut cITi.ct, but never
l>> such no 1 sin s as these.
M bhiffcij s:: d that not having expec
ted *is b 1 w-.i’iid so soon be c;iH< d u;>, he
1 had not given t.. if *iioc attent- 11 which he
sh i d • the r wise have done; liui he had
i»» ... . j
p 'tii s ;;u •ieui ’tenrioa '. > tt to conceive ic >
• ■ < iv 1 c.ni 'iiiern i .1. It had been ohscr
ve 1 lit* g* ith.'iien sipo.irentlv opposed to it,
ih is it a is r.< , Mirri lently energetic on the
'■lit- Man i, and ott file other that it would em I
b.irra .. c in iicrce, F iking it fur granted, I
said Mr n drat we ought to adopt a strong I
tr measure, is Ih.v a feasiiii why this Mil!
s!i ,i.l n 11 b.* p.iss''(l, an ! ie.T;ii;i in force j
unci: .urpieseiit peaceful atii'iidc is chan
ged? I: a strong measure were to i*- bro’t
forw.it:!, it v,-._;d pivbthly supercede this
bill. Hut Wliat. sir, is the energy' of winch
I gentlemen ’alk f If ihey want war, w hy do
|'.hey not co oe forward and lay a declara
tion of war on the table ? What arc .■ i ige .
ic measures if this be not wl.-.r s mfnad- ’
Let us, if it be deemed expedient, **, ve a
tight to our merchants to def< nl t»» *i:ist ivt:.
gains'. Luglm..land France—bat d . not I. .
jus be diverted f»oni llie bib. It d'»c not ip
see.r t(> use to be the sentiment of a tnaj t ay
it llie II 'Use tb.it wc oiighl sit this rime to '
j ■-hange the atti; ide of the country ; .t d^ s
j • appear to be the sentiment i f the Chief
Magistrate. Prepare for the worst—In* go
no farther. This is the energy i would ie
cominentl Make preparation, but take in
steps of hostility.
Eet us con ider this question on the objjc •
lion from the other side of the lions*. 1!
gent emeu are not wiling to go to war, j
what will t!n*y do? Or will iney do an/i
ihing beyond !• preparation for defence?
Will they, sutler the non.intercourse to re
naiinn finer? i see no disposition on any
sire to do this. We see that the pr< speritv
of ugncuinte requires commerce. I*,.thing
i.ut tne most imp riou4 circumstances opera
' big on t nation c to prevent the exportation
<>t certain productsoi agriculture- Mhentm
i’de' ufse i’ii this account is not cno.rce.l or
is evaded, Thus ntuated, what is its ten
dency? To con u,>t the people. As a mea
sure of coercion, it is certainly a phantom—
for, what uTec's dors it produce? Are nor
• he inannlacturer-) o England now furnished
•.vim me raw materials nccessaiy i r their
l-i’n ii sand with every thing you could gite
theo? Yr it make the latmer and planter
pav the circuitous price lor European goods,
wniist !ifi produce is reduced, by lue want
of competition in the market, to (lie lowest
p msible pi ico. Under these circ tinstances
the non intercourse, 1 presume, is iua to be
continued.
France and England, Mr. S said, had
granted ih iiocommercial rights ; and there
'•as therefore no call for liberality towards
toeui Tile United IS ales ought to carry on
commerce because necessary to the support
"f agricultuie, and they ought tocarrr it on
to the greatest advantage t<» their own citi
•4ti.s* And what then should be the course
pursued? Not to destroy Commerce Ly non.
imp.irtHtion and non intercourse acts but to
carry it on so that it suotiid be beneficiai u
the government in point of revenue, and to
’hoie wiio carried it on. What should Com
grtss do to in.4k«* it s >? Tuey ought to tos
ter t rig1,'* of navigation. lie said tie
won id ask gcrttlemvii to turn over the pagi
•t history in 1 ,ee what hart tended more t»
promote tile prosperity of England tlim hei
lavij. *,;ion act—tall ac; winch gave a d,*c.i
ded p eterenC.: to B.-itish navigation? 'Flo
COv w vu.c. oil. WHj *jvw oiliy to |,.Ve p**
icrence hi our pons to /vmr.* >r.:in v«*s3 r’ •
but it wenc to the entire rx in ..on .if th v i
sets of (iivat Britain nod Fiance so lo ig s»
their injurious edict s stuxtlil i uuin in force
Mr. 8. said he would state hi* ideas on a
obicction which ho h id understood to b
•tie to this plan, vi.: thi; it would op-rate
injuriously on the funnixg interes', becuu***
there would be a rt 'lomla .cy of produce iti
tb- market, to the c u r ,:g : of which the
tun tge of the United States would not be
■(juil, and that therefore there would he &
depression in the price p induce. He pre
sumed that a Cwtitraty elf.at would follow —
There we-u abroad, hr said, a number of
American vessels tradhig, not with the Uni
ted S’ates b »t betw-eu foreign ports, or
engaged m circuitous voyages. Now, the
direct trade would cer aitdy lie most advan
tageous ; all the vessels *hus employed would
immediately return home to engage iu the
ill red trade.
It appears fo me, at ull events, said ^Ir.*
Shetfey, that tile bill is worthy of conside
ration. il energy he wan ’mg the passigeof
the bill will ini’: preeiuiie i;, but will lie cnii
Jtinuiiig ilie existing sta'e of things to the
greatest advamagr on il that state is chan
ged. If tin* gemlem m from North Carol! -
a i (Mr. S iwyer) memis raising an army £c
5 i.tv.,«ling C. iiada, a. he intimated, 1 no-st
jcordially .^-approve uf it. 1 wilt not alter
the course we -..we at present taken. On
the other hand 1 to-''; !»■»* that we are not
indebted to France ui i.viglaiid. and there
fore slum id not act towards them inw.ysatne
spirit as if we had been fairly ar> jurrtjT
dealt by. Ii they wouid exercise liberality
to ns, A would act currespondently towards
them, it vre had received any liberality at
their hands, it wotlld be improper to exclude
'heir Vessels from our ports But as it is.
commerce and navigation will be promoted
by the bill—-hat commerce and navigation
which must continue so long as our character
<<t agriculturalists and merchants is not con
verted into that of manufacturers, an e- ent
W iiir.li 1 for one hope never to see. bo long
as tins naiion iem iins in its present state,
so long ought we to give to our citizens all
the advantages that eat be derived front
commerce. Independently of this, if any
thing be don*.*, it ought to be piomp.ly done.
The merchant docs not at present know to
what ports to go; but if you open to him in«
right to goto France ami LT.vi.md. ymr act
wul not only operate advantageously i him.
but wilt augmentd*»e price ol pruduett in the
painter’s hand.
Mr. Bur7.*v// said hr did not suppose that
il:is quest! involved a discussion of :kt* de
tails nt the mlf and h« did not therefore rise
to discuss them—hut he deem-d i: hi. date
to say that in i.is opinion the course proposed
to be pu su d bv this mi was .tie proper one
it will not be denied (said he) til i* 1 u .ve al
ways been tav.irab'e to the system <f com
mercial res'ricti' u, and that I hive given
nV approbat'd}! to it s> long as there was the
.smallest pr,.ba‘ji(i v o' its operating - dvMtitu.
geotisly, a id m long as t1.- * people < f do- IJ.
states i. reeled, good i Hi ct f o .1 this course,
lint 1 am of opinion that it hr' been f.i riy
abandoned, and that any further utt< mot ' »
o.ierc.r by comnierciwi iv; ric'tions would be
tutile and ridiculous. 1 '.’cheve the present
situation of the world is fa . 0 • abb- to tire as
sertion of cue rights ag linst < t.e l .ucbilli
gerems, viz Great Imiain. liut, sir, 1
ihuik that the spirit oi the nation isevao.'.ra
ted, and wc liave been so long tricked br iier
aitiliras, that 1 despair of taking any mea
sure 01 the Icimi at this time which would not
meet vv»*h such opposition as .omake it use
less in ctfuct A siatpe fact will s'.HKe •.©
awake the attention id the house to our pre
sent situ*’ inn Tn« effect of the non iutur
c. .usi 1 iiv is to sink to tlie inwtst price uc
value of our produce and to raise sum iitrj'ter
that of urtici"^ ... foreig- 'pnwb or nt .nu
facture. It is a fact | erfcciiy itoinrious mat
the cour. ry is.ss full «.t’ foreign articles as ic
has befit lor yearn past, and that the p <>
iiuc's ol the southern country have been re
do rod to the lowest stale of depression — t ucL
w hen it is obvious that, so far from produ
cing an eff.c.t abroad, the non inlercouse is
no: regard'd at all, I ask why p-r.wt e " a
it, witen against vour'own interest? ..ly
opinion is tin* it *di*>uld Ik* removed ; and,
Vvheu removed. v»e shall either enjoy such
h commerce ns v« 11 give vent to our sum'll*
produce, or v-e shall disc »er the true cu
I'.'n t.M* of the (diets in f.ire. against us. if
it *(* found that all the evils comp’ - ned of
is M r-vitg from mi • )»'i g .vcrnmr.nl pvoce .* I
hc ualiy from Ih >eilig vent decrees, tne
nation will nti.irm support of our fair con
uicrce.
U w : -j recollected, s:iid Mr B t’t .t t
cffi.r- J o li.r day a res. In. i >u r *1!* g ip .
Oil President fur any i f ru i io*. ne nm/
* s relative t<» Un- p U:y nt die u V-r \
/eta I? appear-. *■> m • v'u u wi* cngir to .
rude to i . eiy c untiv wa >s-. p r’s ,»re oma
to ns. 1 o idusM i'ic my ufa if the powers
in .the nortii of I. trope are will! ig o rerei ve
our prod ictimis £c exchange i h • s al l.i iglv
toe Hfiti'ii by their orders in enn tcil null toe
Fri-om by t-lieir blockading der.iecs m iv in
terdict oar entrance, i think e»ew Aim t icon
lici e and elsewhere would l .a cc i commerce
under those circum:- ances. v. i.v.ever tna/
be the consequence. Form*/ own part, as
respects France and England I confess that
I think the honor ot ibis country r< ceives a
s.dvo from the conduct of ir.ts - na ions; for
such at the present is the unsettled • state of
commerce, although we migut compel tin m
to a temporary' relax .'.ion, me same systeii
would again be resorted to when opportunity
offered. And until} there shall i>e a reasona
ble pivi,pi*ct thift justice or political] m raiity
sha'i be adheieil to. 1 am clomly of npnu >n
that \ve ought to go to war with neither of
them, but maintain jienr.c if pov-mne !v»
i -ngas any nation permits to us ■> reciprocal
commerce, 1 am one of those wlu» arc wil
ling to unite and force tltat commerce, I
would not 1 ires a contraband trade, but the
carriage ot our own produce l would lurco
to the utmost power of the nation.
My colleague (Mr. Shctfev) - ule some,
remarks on one part of tnc effect of the bill,
viz. ou the transportation of our pr-aiuce, iu
which he was certainly correct- Our ton
n tge is more than competent to the trans.
pollution a all our product'; and this view
dots away a very strong (if correct) objecti
on to the mil, that by res riding importation
it would decrease the competition so as to
raise die price of freight and destroy tie
price ot produce. So long as we have autfi.
cie. manage, this cannot take place. We
•ball at l£a»t be justified in in..king the ex
periment; and it it be found that it will fot'er
i. navigation, certainly the geo lenten from
.he 1,astern states would not complain of a
provision which gives to them -hi exclusive
advantage ; for it is perfectly Immaterial to
• he Bo’illurrn country, in point «.f interest, i,
ra produce geis ta narhei. Uj\9 >1 gets there
I shmiKi indeed be surprised i / .-. e«
iiSltifli, WliV 41» -»a U)Uwa wii.w.m.c, UmU.m.