The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-01-23 00:00:00, page 2

This tx ing % law without limitation, it could not
be modified or repealed without the consent of
»M tlirce branches of the Legislature, no matter
what injuries should be found to How from it_
These commercial regulations, Mr. V. said, of
ten produced embarrassment, and never ought
to be adopted but upon urgent necessity *iHl
then with a cautious hand-and it was cer
tain that our commercial regulations for several
years past had injured our own citizens more
than foreigners. If such a law was passed, it
ought to be so modified as not to prevent our
citizens from taking the customary licence from
Denmark to pass the Sound.
Mr. ycu-ton said that this bill was only d-sign
ed to prevent our citizens from taking a licence
from one foreign power, fur instance^ngland, ts
trade wi'h another foreign and independent p,,w
er, say France. The only legal trade which lie
knew of, that would be presented by t!i~ bill was
the trade from Batavia to Japan, which did not a
mount to more perhaps than one voyage a year.
With respect to passing the Sound, it was'weti
known that all nations passing into the Baltic
• paid some duty there. He conceived the bill
would not affect this trade.
Mr. Pickman Said that if the bill were as the
gentl man described it, he should not perhaps
object to it. If it was only to prevent our ves
sels from taking licences from Great Britain to
trade to France, it was much too vaguely ?nd
generally expressed ; for the trade to the Baltic
was clearly included within the bill..
Mr. Sht-Jfcy thought that this bill might do a
great deal of mischief by cutting up the car
rying trade—not the colonial trade sometimes so
railed, but the real carrying trade. It was well
known that foreign nations regulated their com
merce, ar.d that in many instances certain foreign
productions were only permitted to be carried in
their own vessels, unless in particular instances
where relaxations were made, which relaxati
ons must be manifested by licences or perm’s.si
«>ns. Unless therefore gentlemen would cut up
this trade, which lie had understood it was net
intended to surrender, they ought not to pass t bis
bill. It did not appear to him, either, that this
bill would prevent Inc evil against which it avas
w ^iuiu. it was uie giving me nou
tral color to foreign cargoes which he tinder
stood was complained of. This bill did not come
up to that object, as there was no provision in it
tending to prevent it but the amendment just
greet! to. The short discussion which !■. t ta
ken place he said would turn the attention of
gentlemen to the bill ; and lie moved that the
commi.vee should rise to give time for further
consideration, before they agreed to pass a bill
which would cut up half the tndo of the Uni
led States. Whether or not a license was ne
cessary on all occasions where it was used, it
ivas certain on some occasions it vras. Where
ever there was a relaxation by any nation in its
navigation laws, there must be something like
licences or permits issued. He wished to see
some modification of the bill or some better deft* !
nition of the mischief to be guarded against.
Mr. AVuiton said he did not know of any car
rying trade intended to be abandoned by the bill.
1 lie committee ot Commerce and Manufactures
in reporting the bill before them had confined
themselves to one object, viz.-to prevent the
prostitution of the American- flag. Would
gentlemen tell him what foreign trade there w: -
from Denmark to any port in the Baltic ? Den
mark was herself a commercial nation, and car
ried on Imr own trade. The trade lienee to Hus
ain was a direct trade, and'did not inteifrre with
the trade from one foreign port to another. As
to permits to trade, he knew that licences liad
been given by nations having colonies to favorites
to trade with those colonies. And this bill would
not prevent tliat species of trade, being only de
signed to put an end to the trade in American
vessel# to one independent power under permits
from another.
Mr. Shejfey snid that if perrmts wore given to
pass mto me Baltic after payment of the duties,
this bill would certainly cut up that trade. As
t°_a nation s never giving trading licences or per
mits except to its colonic?, the gentlem.m was in
correct. England had often given licences to
import particular articles from abroad. Supoo
sing that the importation of corn to England were
generally interdicted, and necessity should com
pel her to give licen»?s to import corn from the
United States. Such a trade would beint rdic
ted by tuis bill. These prude idea3 Mr. S said,
he threw out to induce gentlemen to reflect on
the subject. He had himdf no enmity to the hill,
for he really wished for a remedy lor the eril at
which it was aimed.
Mr./'/cinian said there was a trade carried on
in tl>e Baltic which-was immensely valuable to
tlie United States, and which could not be pros
ecuted without the consent of the Danish gov
ernment. Large parols of cotton had been late
ly sent to the Baltic and had found a favorable
market, and the demand w as likely to increase.
If Ibis hit! should cut up the trac^p to the J1 hie,
it would do more injury to the trade of the Uni
ted States than every other regulation of com
merce which had ever been made. He w as con
fident he said, that on reflection the bill would
undergo great modification before passed, or
would never be passed.
Mr. M'Kim said that if a doubt existed ns to no
interference with that trade, he had no obj~( ti<,n
to the introduction of an amendment expressly to
exempt it from the operation of the bill. He
«. said that be ns a merchant had no knowledge of
any such licences as those which Mr. Siicfiuy lied
mentioned. He explained what trade he wished
to a fleet by the bill. England, having West In
dia Colon!* .s, was shut out from tiler continent,
and her own ports were filled with West India’
produce. She l.ad prohibited the vesscL of the ‘
United States from goirtg to the continent, for
the purpose of smuggling this produce there
herself. American vessels, however were em
ployed in this smuggling trade, ant! t in * d
with permits to proceed on their voya.p a fin" illflt I
purpose. They then proceeded tin 1 r licenc's *
on h voyage which every independent union h .d I
a right to prosecute without licence or permissi
on from any other poner. This lie was desirous
to prevent. As to the committee’s rising, |,e
s id he- had no objection to it, for lie was con
vinced the more it was considered, the mote
evident tlie necessity of die measure would ap
peal*.
The committee then r»*» 5Q to S8, reported
progress and obtained le»ve to ait again.
PREVIOUS QUESTION.
The Hous.j again in committee of the whole
Mr. Pnxtv in the chair, on the rules Mid !
orders rep< rted for the government of the House.
Mr. Quincy's motion yet under consideration,
via to amend tho ruin respecting the previous
question ' v adding to it substantially as follows :
*' Provided that the previous question shall not
be put until after e-o-ry member «/,0 chute* it
•peak shall hunt spoken once on the mum questi
on.”
Mr. Basset moved to strike out the words in /
iatic and insert “ reasonable deb re ”
Mr. Csx supported the rule m Messrs. Lyon
and Upham oppos 'd it.
Mr. Bibb moved that the commitiee should
rise, not because h<* was opposed to tlierule, but <■
because he thought he could get r»t his object i
with less difficulty another way. There was m <
existence at present a rule which had alwftvs ex
ixted and been enforced until, about two years (l. I
go, by .r Construction put upon it by the House, it 1
hud been gendered null. He was in t»,e majo’ri
ty on that vote, but confessed he had discovered
his error, nud hid no doubt that * mj icily of the i
House would now reverse the d'-cision tl / h->; •
then made and rrnsute the rule in its former 11
s’at.on With the view of trying this qnesti >n 1 r
inlirv opportunity, he vielied the c imin.Ue- la j
rise, Thf rommut* <■ . os**, .*4 to 4H j
^ fitetet cxor» ased a hope, if tf is rid- Wrs !
t* remain m tt ooiif present, i„Hi -a lilv. „iU |,
rules would be retained, trd Clt© committee
should be refused leave to sit again.
On this motion debate arose. Messrs Quiney
»nd Pitkin spoke sgniust the role, and Mt ssrs
Smilie, Holland, Bibb and Southard;n suj port
af it.
A motion for adjournment put an end to the de
bate.
Ti'Udav, January 1»».
Mr. Win* appeared and l-*ok his seat
On motion ot Mr. AnJermn the memorials of
the ollicers of the navy of tlie U»*i*.-<1 Si nes,
heretofore presented, were referred to the com
mittee on the naval establishment.
On m-oion of Mr. i^uinct, the report of the,
Comptroller of the Treasury of the 1st Decern- !
bsr last, of the balances due from individu l« <• I
the Ikdlcd States, was referred to a select com- !
mittec. I
A report was made by Mr 3fetch on the peti
tion of Daniel P.-ttihone, recommending the e
rection of a rarefying air stove lor the a-cn.mno
dationol the House in the Representatives Cham
ber.—After donate it was referred, on motion of
Mr. Stanfoi <1, to n committee nf the whole.
PREVIOUS QUESTION.
The order ot the day on the unfinished business
was resumed.
The question still under consideration, whe.
ther the committee of the whole should ngum
have leave to sit again—
Mr. Qrv<a expressed a desire of having the
whole subject referred to a .select committee,
and spoke decidedly against the rule lor tne pre
vious question
Messrs. Moseley, Shelley, N’t Ison, Dana and
Pitkin also opposed the rule; and Messrs. John
son. Alston, Rhea, Boyd ami Hess suppm-ti-dit
The committee was refused k ve to so strain.
53 to 48.
The House then agreed new to consider the
rules.
Mr. Duvstn moved to strike out the role for
the previous question, for the purpose of insm-i !
iiig a rule t«* the following effect:—That l’ic pre
vious question should be tuk- n on the demand of
one fifth of the members present, and should be
in ibis form, via. “ Shall the main question be
t;d;» n ?” And if determined in the negative, tl>e
subject shall not further b? discussed ; if dec id
cd in tlif affirmative, deb-ile shall proceed.
Mr. Nelton called for u division of the questi
on, so as to take it first on strikii.g out the rule as
reported.
Mr. Sheffey called for the Yeas and Nays on the
question.
Further debate took place. Messrs Nelson
and Pitkin supported the motion, and Messrs.
Porter and Basset opposed it.
An adjournment again put an end to the de
bate.
January If.
Mr. Garland, elected f-cnr. Virginia in the
place ot W. C. Nicholas, resigned, appeal ed and
took his seat.
. Mr. P-indexttr imported a bill e'ctenchng the
right of suffrage to the inhabitants of Madison
County, in the Mississippi territory—Twice lead
and referred to *t committee of tlie whole.
Mr Johnson reported a bill for the relief of I
saac Briggs.—Twice lead and referred to a com
mittee ofthe whole..
WEST POINT.
Mr. Gold after some remarks on the state ofthe
public property and the doubts existing as to the
boundary line ofthe Public I.and at West Point,
on the subject of which suits bad been or were a
bowt to be brought 1 y claimants, offered Inc iol
lowing resolution which was adopted .•
I{etol\.-d, That a committee, he appointed to i
enquire into the state of ihe Public A i> -nal at I
West Point, in the state of New York, and tlie
condition of the public property there 'deposited,
and to consider of the means necessai v for tlie j
security and preservation thereof : and dso to
enquire into tb.e expediency of providing by law j
lor ascertaining and settling the controverted i
boundary of the public land at said place,!
and that they have Icarc to report hy bill or other
wise.
Mr. Fisk rose !o offer a resolution in semr de
gree connected with the subject embraced by
the resolution submitted by his colleagu It was
well known that tins fortification had been s* ..1
might be again a very important station. It was
now out of repair, and might be put into a state
of repair with a small sum of money- For the pur
pose of enquiring into this desirable object, he
submitted the following resolution :
“ Resolved, That the committee appointed on
so much ofthe message of the President of tlie
United States as relates to our fortifications, be
instiacted to enquire into ll c rxpedi ney of re
pairing tbe fortifications at Wes* Point ; and
that they have leave to report by bill cr other
wise.”
This motion was rgre°t1 to.
AMERICAN SEAMEN
Mr. New ton reported a b.ll *• lor the benefit of
American seamen.”
[This hill provides that410 vessels shall heremf
ler enjoy the benefits ,.nd privileges appertaining
to vessels of the United Slates, tmle.,* the m.ue
[t > ..ell as the captain and the mariners or crew
if llie re**. 1 or at least of them shall be ci
lia nsoftle United States j
_ I he bill was twice read and referred to a com
mit ice of the whole.
Mr. Sammons presented the petition of Peter
Sternfc-rg, of the county of Montgomery, New
ifor!;, stating that he had f>r a long time per
tdived the effects of smut in wheat, and for a
ivimher of rears applied himself to the study of
discovering a preventative, and lias effected that
itijcct ; that the discovery is of siii.lt a nature,
'hat by the present laws of the United States he
r; n receive no benefit from his invention ; an i
praying that lie may receive a compensation in pru
portion to the utility of the discovery—Referred ;
lo a select committee.
CONTINGENT F.XPENCES. |
Mr. Burvsrll offered the following resolution : j
' Aes'jfor .l, That the committee ot accounts he
instructed to enquire into the manner in which
llie contract witu the clerk for supnlying this
House with stationary lias been executed ; and
dso the expediency of changing the pre sent mode
>f supplying the members so far us to furnish at
die commencement of every fn'ure session to
facli mem . r a quantity of vtanoiiary not ex
ceeding dollars in value.”
Ai.t r debate the first clause of the resolution
was agreed to without a division ; and the se
cond clause was agreed to by Yeas and Nav«, 111
to 8.
fire unfinished husinsss of yesterday was post
poned till to-morrow, 59 to 47.
FOREIGN LICENCES TO 'ERAHE.
The House resolved itself into a committee of
lie whole on the hill it, deprive, in certain cases,
resicls of their American character*, &c.
Mr Fitk said, as he was in favor of the bill,
inJ the principal objection which hadjjpen made
:o it was, that it could not >c enforced, to meet !
that objection he thought proper to oiler the fol- j
iwiog amendment as a new section to the bill: |
" dud be it further rnttcu J, That for the pur- |
msc of enforcing obedience to this act, the Pre
tident of the United Stotts shall be, anti hereby I
* authorised to employ such portion of the navy
if iV United Slates as he shall deem necessary,
srliicii force so to be employed shall act, in con
onnity to instructions to be furnished to the
•einmanders by Ute President, directing them
/> ex siiae and send into the nearest port in the
United States for adjudic lion and punishment
liotr detected in vinlatmg tins art.”
Mie Committee then rose, repotted progress
ind obtained l-avr to sit again ; r.nd Mr. Fisk's
iiiiendment was ordered to he print d.
(^11 motion r,f >*r. Ilrim*, the li.nise rasolved
’self into a committee of tlm whole, Mr. Has
'u 1 in the '•hsir, on *he Ntl tot the relief of liar
y CaMv.UI and fun »*# ji-.c'-jon.
fTh:* bill it to release the brig Joseph Tlichet
soi», se.zcd under the act prohibiting the impor
tation ot' slaves, for having, on the 25lh dav of
July l*»t, taken on board three refugees from Cub*
with their domestic slaves, s»x iu number, and
landed them at i»ew Orleans J
This bill wa-vAjociuted so as to include similar
cases of Levin Jones and Janus Reynolds ; and,
thus amended, reported by the commuteeof the
whole, and ordered to he engrossed for a third
reading.
On motion of Mr ffohr.toi, the House resolved
itself into a committee of the whole. Mr Helms
m the ch.iir, an the hill for the relief of John N
StoMt £ i In* hill authorises the settlement of
the claim of Mr. Stout s keeper of the district
j*'d in Kentucky, for certain sei vices J The bill
w i« gone through, repo-ted to t ie House, and
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
tin motion of Mr. Lo%,\ the House resolved
itself into a committee ot the whole, Mr. Hki.m*
in the chair, on the bill authorizing the removal
ot slaves from one part ot the district ot Colum
bsa to another, The bill being gone through
without objectioa, war. reported to the House
and ordered t«> be ougisissed for a thir l reading
htUClIMKNT OF MILITIA.
On m »t!e n of Mr. 'J'aUnutdge, the House re
solved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr
11 a ssr. r in t he C h.ur, on the biii authorizing a de
tachment of the inilifiaof the United States.
[ Mils hill provides for a detachment of 100,000
rnuuia, to be ready to inarch at a moment’s warn
ing. but not to serve a longer ri.ee than six months
after they arrive at the jd >cc of rendezvous.
Volunteers may be accepted.J
On motion ot Mr. TaLrn^Jde, the blank for
the sum to he aji.irop'-iatoU . ml m id in r» auilli-ss
to eprry into cPei-t the intentn^Tof the oh. when
necessary, was lilted with cue million of dollars
And, the hi'.l being gone through, the commit- j
tee rose, reported progres* atul chained leave to ;
sit again.
The lesson w>’y the committee did m t report
the lull to the House, was, a suggestion by Mr.
Dam of a wish to obtain information on f*-c man
ner in which the former a* ts of a similar nature
had hern carried into tilrct. For which purpose
Mr. Dana moved a resolution calling upon the
Secretary.of War for information of ihe manner
in. which the File laws authorising detachments
of the militia ot the United Slates hud been cxe
cu. d.
Hut befo'c a question was taken on the reso
lution, the House adj turned.
tnmmrv IS.
V MERIC AN NAVIGATION ACT.
.The House resumed thu consideration of the
bill concerning commercial intercourse with G I
Britain and France.
Tne following .s the state of the votes on a mo'
lion made by Mr. Livtrtnore to strike out the
litih section (a tnotibn in some degree striking at
the principle of tiie hill )
YEAS—Messrs. Anderson, Bacon,-lllaisdell,
Breckcnridge, Campbell, J. C Chamberlain, YV.
Chambe'lain, Champion, Chittenden, Clopton,
Dana, Davenport, Elv, Em >tt, G.,rdenier, Gar
1 ind, Goldsboro,igh, II I. , Haven, Hubbard, R
Jackson, Jenkins, Key, Livermore, Livingston,
Lyon, Matthews, M’Bride, Milnor, Moaely,
Rickman, Ritkin, J Porter. Potter, Quincy,
Root, Ross, Seybert, Stanley, Slcdm m, Stephen
son, Sturges, Taggart, Tailmadge, Uphnm, Van
Dyke, Van Rensselaer, YVhealon, Whitman,
WilsiMi—50
NAYS—L J. Alston, YV. Alston, Bard, Bibb,
Bovd, J. Brown, 1< Brown, Byrwell, Butler!
Calhoun, Clay, Cobb, Cox, Crawford, C'ist,
Cutts, Dawson, Desha, Eopes, Findley, Fisk,
Gannett, Gardner, Gholson, Gray, Helms. Hoi
land, • Ho ward, J G J ickson, John,on, Jones, i
Kenan, Kenedy, Lvle, Macon, Marion, M’Kee, I
M’Kim, Milnor, Montgomery, N. R. Moore, T I
Moore, Morrow, MumfoK', Nelson, Newbold i
Newton. P II Port, r, Rhea. (T.) Richard<v
Roane. Sage, Seaver, Sha vt.ShetTey, Sni-lt, Smi- i
lie, G Smith,J.Smith S Smith, Southard. Stan-'
ford. Swoope, Taylor. Thompcc-n Tracv,-Troup
Turner, Van Hum, Weakley. Whiiolml, YV i-j
therspoon—72.
Majority against striking out 21—absent nine
teen members.
Mr. Macon moved to amend the b*il so as to !
limit it to t'uc present session.
Mr. Jihea (T.) moved to strike out the clause !
limit tig its duration altogether
Tibs'motion was not#decidedbefore the H^use
adj j timed.
IN SENATE,
WrosESDAY, J.-.n.ir, 1310.
The hill for incorporating a company for nuk
ing certain roads in tbs District nr Columbia was i
on motion of Mr. Smith of M-iryl mil, te-comm’P
V'd to a select committee consisting <>f the follow- i
mg gentlemen Messrs. Smith of Md Brent,1
Goodrich, Bradley and Gaillanl
Tlie bill authorising tlie fitting out, officering ft
manning the frigates of the TJ S was road in com
mittee of the whole and ordered to be engrossed
for u third reading.
VOLUNTEER COUPS.
The bill to engage a corps of volunteer* for a
short period in tbV service of the U. Kt-nc., was
on motion of Mi'. Bradley, postponed till Monday
next.
[Bvthis bill the President of the U States
is authorised to engage in the s rvi<m of the IT.
States for the term of one year, the following
military force to be engaged as volunteer compa
nies :
From Vermont 20 companies, New* Hamp
shire 20, Massachusetts 40 lthode Island 10,
Connecticut 20. Ne>v York 40, Nr w-J-rscv 20,
Pennsylvania 40, Delaware 10, M ,r-, l ml 30,’
Virginia SO, N mih-Carolina 30. South-C-iroliiva
30, Georgia 20. Tennessee 20, Kcnttt kv 30, and
fiom Ohio 10 companies ; each to consist of on*
captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four ser.ve
ants, four corporals, two mi.debuts. and nut lets
than forty nor mot e than sixty pri- at s One in
•pector to be appointed for each state from the
officers of the army now in service, whose duty
it shall he to repair to the state for which ke is
appointed and receive the written engagement of
t he. companies Sic. The corps of volunteers to be
liable, during tlm per:od for wh clt they » • m
gaged, to he ordered into actual s-rvice hy the
President of the U, States, and whilst in service
to be entiled to the same pav, rations, fir.ige an-1
emolument of every kind (bounty and clothing
excepted) with the regular troops of the Uri-tcd
Slates. Wben these volunteer corps shall be en
gagt d, mustered and accepted hy the President,
they shall be entitled to the following bounties :
to each commissioned officer one month’s pay •
to each non-commissioned officer, musician and ‘
private of such companies who arc dresser] in '
complete uniform and arme 1 and oqnipppd f ,r I
service in the field, twenty five dollars ; to each I
private, fco. in complete uniform and not armed,
fifteen dollars, and one musket mi l bayonet, and
one cartridge box. The corps to be firmed into
regiment* consisting of ten companies each, from
the same state, one colonel or lieuten.ut colonel, I
and two major* )<> each regiment to be selected j
hy the President of the United State*. Ifatttilfi* !
cienl nuintier to fill the quota from each a.ate snail
not engage hy the day of
the President is to accept stf many upcirttiTn'»ra
ry Companies from tlie stale nea • t to it, *s n ,y
be necessary to supply the defic tncv ; hut when
more omprnies shall engage then the. quota re- i
attired, those whose writien cngsgetnenis were i
first received shall he accepted hi preference,
T- e oiti'-e of inspeclor of volunteer , to lie discon*
tin tied from and nf.er the dtfy of
and tliei-fficeis appointed shall re I urn hom-j or
sootier it the President shall think proper. A
,U,T> d<»l|,rs is proposed tu pe ap
propriateu to cany the plan into ellcct J
Jilwntv 18.
Mr. Jltcdfubinittedthe following iv»u.^.»oafor
1
•n amendment of the eofuti'.ution ; which «h
nrad for consideration .
“ ftetofvett by the Sen tte <imi ff-ute of Rep*f
tentativet of *he Uniteii Statet «• America u
Congrett eittethJleil, two thirds of both House
concurring, Thai thte following section h^ any
milted to the I.t-gisl.ilure» of the several st.it ei,
which when ratified by the Leg-sl.r.i ires of tin*
fourths i f the stiles, sh»M be valid xml bu.(.
i"j; a part of the coitalitutioH ot tiie Uniutl
States :
” If any citizen of the U S shall accept of a$
title of nobility from .my king, prince or fnreitn
state, Hitch citizen shall thenceforth he inenpaiie
of holding any office of honor or profit. under tit
U.S"
Mr f'ope reported the bill for the improv»m*nt
of the United States by public road- an!.-,,
nals, with considerable alterations and a ,»d
menu.
DEBATE
On the bill concerning commercial inter
course, and Jo r other /lurfioscs.
Tuesday, January op
In committee of the whole—a motion ha
ving been made to strike out the 5th sec
tion of the bill.
Mr. &ryhert—Mr. Chairman, I am un
accustomed to public speaking, ant] there
fore reluctantly lav before ibis honorable
committee the sentiments and opinions
which I entertain on the bill now under dis
cussion. My duty iippels me to exhibit to
the A merman people in general, and id my
vwmowvuvmv.i 111 I Viuil.ll, IIIC |iTmCI]}iP!| I
which actuate and govern niv decisions as !
one of the representatives of the people. 1 !
hope tl»e committee will indulge me for a 1
few moments wi'h their attention.
It cannot he denied, that all the commer-'
ciul regulations of the United States male- j
rially alfect »iie district wuich I have Uie
honor to represent in this assembly, it
would be a u-eless task to detail the extent
of the commerce of the city of Philadelphi
a, it is wl-II known in all parts of the civil
ized world, from that port the American
flag has proceded to the remotest regions.
I do acknowledge, that the city of Philadel
phia, in common with every part of the U.
S:>*es, owes much of its prosperity to com
merce ; from this cireuinstance it may be
inferred, that 1 should-on all occasions, and
at all hazards, step forth as one of the cham
pions of any commercial system, which,
in the least of ivs features, bore a semblance
in favor of mercantile interest. To this 1
answer, sir, that every vote which I shall
give in this House, shall be pronounced no- i
on principles wnich 1 can reconcile to my
judgment, and which my reason shall pro i
claim to me to lie right. I consider the hi
ere gained by commerce, or any other branch
of industry, as sordid and beneath the dig
nity of freemen, wiienit is to be obtained at
the expence of national honor and sovereign
ty. Whenever, sir, I ean support any c no- !
niercial regulation, of au opposite tendency J
it shall receive my warmest approbation. 1
maintain the doctrine, that “ the only sure I
foundation of commercial prosperity, is nu-i
tional independence and civil liberty.”_
These sentiments, if 1 mistake not, comport
with the true character of a republican le '
gislator, and they are generally ad. pled l*v
the friends of niv country. It is proper, that
the provisions in the biil should now be ex
amined ; for this purpose 1 will take, a re
view of such sections of it as seem to me to
be connected with the g;tut principle in
question.
In the 5th section of this bill, its most pro
minent features are apparent. As uii.- >ec
tmn is new under cons deration, I wi.i pn,
reed to state the vi<»\v whic.h I have con
ceiv'ed ot tiie system contemplated by the
bill. - ‘ }
By the 5di section, a direct trade-between
the American states and Brituin and her de
pendencies, and also h direct trade with
I ranee and her dependencies, is declared to
ha admissible, provided, that said trade
shall be carried on in vessels wholly owned
by American citizens.
The S h section contains a revr king clause,
which, in case Great Britain and Trance,
or cither of them, shall rescind the rcstric.
lions which they have respectively laid
upon our commerce, enables the President
to make void the condition contained in the
5in section, whereby the necessity or the
vessels being wholly American, in which
such trade is carried on, is done away,
that the vessels of either natidn, so resci* J
ing, may freely enter our ports Ik harbors,
with or without cargoes,, as was the
before such restrictions were laid.
What will this nation g tin by the passing
of this bill ? Or, rather let me rsk, what
shall weflose by such proceedings ? 1 could
readily answer this question, by declaring it
as my opinion, that the act itself would lie a
direct submission 10 the views and interests
of one of the great belligerent powers, I
mean Great Britain. In fact, we should
thereby prostrate the national sovereignty.
Whether weenrich England, at the expence
ot our neglected industry, is a matter of small
consideration. But when we do it, at F e
expence ot our sovereignty, it i*-. blow
which divides the roots, the tree falls, never
t’> roe again. Any gain to this nation, which
the supporters ot this bill can assert to be the
consequence of its passage, is entirely ima
ginary. A pretended advantage is, that ot
confining the trade to our own vesse's
This is mere pre'ence , for it is well known
that British agents themselves do now, and
ever will give a preference to a trade with
our ships, ns long ns there is a discrimina
ting duty in their favor. The doctrine of
the British is, bring your raw materials tod
take away our manufactures. It would be
well enough, if b«th England and France
would agn • to the terms therein express
ed ; but is n probable that they will? J.for
my part,think they will not. What change
nt measures has taken place in the Europe
an councils to induce this change in our
commercial system ? It may tie just to ie
mark, that I am no advocate for the present
non-intercourse Fiw ; for 1 believe it to be
worse than nothing B . will the passage
o| the bill in question make things hotter ?
I think it will not. Have Britain and France
become more just, as respects our coxmcr
eta. rights? Can We persuade ourselves,
that Great Britain will permit our Vessels
to puss to the continent unmolested? Agnhi,
wli ;t assurances h ive we, that the vessels
a/id cargoes, which might arrive in France,
will be received and respected f This is
inconceivable to me, and must only be tie
reverie of a fertile imagination. Fast
| * > tencc should prove t<> os, the de^ion of
s icii a "doctrine, we cannot flvdoce such in
futences from the data, derailed in the let
ters of Jackspn and Champugny, asc .m.ru
ideated to us in tiic Fresident's mcusaje of
November last.
That Great Britain will not permit toe <,
peratlon of ttlis hiM, as 11 spe * s ' nt ^
of Europe, mu a be * videat to every rtli-r
iii^ (inua, wli ) //in use tne pum to cji^
*
me tacts detailed in :ne rtrtmtrs of the House
of Conun.iiis, pi tor i » our independence—
she evinced nn hostility n> the progress of
these stages, as respects her comme. re and
muiiufactuius. as eody asihe rear 1763 It
i- unnecessary o»* me to i elate the particu
lar restrictions , they may be seen by refer
ring tqPaiU.intotitary den rtes, vdl. 28, page
207. 1 will also refer you to the questions
proposed to the celebrated Franklin, by the
British House of Coin m«>ns—-the questions
prove tne uncasine's of the government,
tearing that we should meet with success in
our manufactures, and the answers do im
mortal honor to the American patriot. At
this period, it was h popular sentiment in
Great Britain, concerning these states, then
colonits, "that every thing was to be dread
ad fiom their increase ot population and
skill in.agriculture, the arts and manufac
tures”—as early as the year 1750, the Bri
tish Parliament enacted, that no slitting
mill or forge, or any iron works should be
established in America. The British have 1
ever been desirous to keep us in the "gris
tle,” and were intent upon preventing our
ever hardening into manhood. They ajways
entertained views equally hostile towards
Ireland ; and their system Oi oppression is
continued, ahhn* they have incorporated
Ireland as i> part of the British empire.—
Can we for a moment suppose, that she now
will favor our commercial intercourse? We
caniur fora in unent allow, that Great Bri
tain wiil admit our communlrati m with the
continent of Kurope, uni ss under her infer
nal system of granting a licence to trade.—•
I’crgp: int* to take a shost review of the
pi 'in.-lines ■ :'.u practice aoupieu on tnese oc
casions. Jinw ill founded in principle to
carry «>n a trade with nations, with whom
they are at war, and to inlet diet the same
trade to neutrals, unless they act under :t
special licence. This is in direct proof,
that “self interest is, among nations,certain
ly the grc.it moving principle ; no national
measure, perhaps, is, at any time, the re
sult of pure generosity or good will.” Forg
ed papci.» are 'issued, and vessels arrive from
one European port iti another, in the course
ot a tew d■ • v, as if they h *d be-n canied
by mag e influence across the wide-spread
ing waters of the Ocean, from the United
States—Can we f«>r a moment think of a
sumbission like ibis ? Our pati-nal sove
reignty is thereby relinquished; we are de
graded beneath the rank of colonies N e
vurtlieles, some of our merchants, who pre
tend to reputation and character, do not
hesitate to accede to tne terms of this dia
bolical system of oppression.'
Under a state of things like this, who can
pretend that “ virtue is honored, and vice
always detested,” or that as republican ci
tizens “ ve leaf blows tuore than punish
ment.” Facts have lately been pub’isiied,
which prove to what extent tuts b aud on na
tions is can irrl'in Britain. 1 will call to
your recoilec ion, the cn-e of “ the Oooti
Hope, a neutral vessel, lr.de > with Biandv
anu bound from Rochelle .<» Hall—she was
captured and sent into F.ug and—she was
tried on the 7th of November last before the
British admiralty court—her licence had
expired, but Sir Win. Scott observed, that
under the obstructions existing in respect to
the commerce of England, the most liberal
construction should be given to the li enees.
She was therefore restored," paving the ca;>
for’s expences ” 'i he Mer.v.irj under • "mi
ll r Circumstances was tried at rite - .me
tithe, and w is iv-utov'-i w>n i < igand ex -
pences. l\li.-.t Anicnc-in who a as ever
beard of.the spirit of ’76, would r.« . resi-t
smell infringements of neutral righ>s A sum
v elutions of sovereignty i i uis state tit
tilings reminds me ot the answer made hv
Auacliai is to Solon, when he conversed,
'vi'fi I’m about his intends} reformation in.
the ,l ai.is, said he, all your laws will
be ioun-i to resemble iptder webs ; the we a V,
•tnrl small ft.us will be canght, and entanirh-d,
bat tin* g'ent arid powerful will always have
atreng h enough to break thri-.igi.” Jihouhl
ti.is bill fib ail. pa ,s tins li">e-c, I »i;h)k we
may reasonably conclude that the following
wo1! c i raiidy be sonic «>» the consequences
of its adoption.
V/U! vcr *guvy oe-rg rnus prostrated ;
'■he lii'U once laid lr.\v, will V< assUme l.’.s
dominion a: d triumpImiiMv tv i an.iis* over
ail mankind; the banners >*t Britain, with
ner system of oppression, will be tarried
from p >le to pole ; her former .csllcss co
lonies will not pass unobserved, i.-t me ark.
would it not be Wore becoming'hr* dignity of
a weak nation, bv a voluntary oiler •n her
part, to re a sums Iter former secondary
character ? We might then have some pre
hensions to th** protection and mercy of out*
ancient parent state—nn , we might de
ceive the world, by declaring, that it was
the wish ol the ir.ajovuy of the sovereign
people.
| The passage of this bill will certainly lend
■ to a war with one or both of the great belli
gerent powers of Europe—f< r according *o
the orders in council, we bare tint trade with.
Fi ance and her depend ncies; according to
the decrees ot France, wc dare not trade
v itli Great Britain and her dependencies,
i nis bill adrni s of a trade with b th powers,
under the restriction, that it is done by
means of vessels wholly American. Since
nci’her ot 'he belligerents will rescind their
orders or decrees, to enforce a law founded
on th:s oill, we must permit our merchant
men tokt'in for theirdefence; (he cons* queue©
of which will be, resistance to attacks from
c i-lier belligerent. Tims -.hall we be led to
hostilities with both of them ] ant opposed
t » this system ; it is well X us to avoid a
Contest wall either ol them, and far better to
avoid it with lh<th.
If we are tr» adopt a preference in favor of
one or the other of u.e belligerents, since %
they will not act upon lair principles them
selves, i* is proper ihat wr suoiihi take a fair
I view ot the American commerce Carried ou
with G B £cthut with ihe continent ol Europe.
It is of moment to determine, which of tne
two is the most advantageous to the LI States.
1 his can ooiy be answered, by taking a cor
rect vievy ot the->X'ent and importance of
each, as shall be denionsirated bf artlrr
ence to the amount of our eXpor » < imports
to and from each of thor.c countries. We
will now proceed to ties investigation—ic
shul! be founded upon toe ntftci.il reports of
'he .Secretary of the Tr*-as>ii v. 1 will tiike
toe cslc'daliuos for three ytai i — lkty2, loc->
and l«ol.
In the year 1202, domes’ * pro
duce wav* xporttd tuEurope
to tiie mm um of g 36,180.00U
Foreign articles exported same
I year 35.77.5.00'*
T* amount of exports 7 .. Q
fluff* the U. S. lor ioO^ > , . > . o
In ‘he year 1803, rtmr* • » *.
tides were exported b < ,.»«
IJu ed S’-ttes amour* to g \ . , 35*
t -i'Ci^i. ..r Xii, -apu.•.,iue