Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-05-27
Gongrsfs Of tbe uniteD Stats.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
ThurLdap. Febyuary zs.

entitled g An HI to repeal certain ads
rejecting The orgauisatar: 9 fbs eearts
oftbe q. Stafsf.s'
(Mr. G1gfsvola lpeeeb eoaezadsd.,
The gentleman has likewiie told us
that The Expectations upon our commerce
by the Barbary powers, and by French
cruizers, was made a pretext for CONF
mencing naval eRablifhment, and in
this way Of extending this bug bear OF
executive patronage. Sir, this remark
gives me no furprize. know perfectly
well, that there is party in this country
who are oppoled 10 our commerce and TO
our navy. | ihall long recolletf che de-
precautions which were made upon our
commerce by the French, and the dlih-
Guilty with which gentlemen were periuad-
ed.to repel rhofe depredatioas. cannot
forger that before they would content to,
our firft meafure of defence, that the cruz
GERS of France were capturing your lhips
wirhin~the Delaware bay. 1t is Certain
" true that the old administration was
neither the enemy of commerce, or OF the
navy and it's as certainly.true that they
were equally difpofed todefend your citi-
zens againtt Algerine layery, and the de-
predations of France. And to the mer-
chants and ieamen of this country, and the
community at, large, | am willing to re-
fer the queffion, whether it was proper
TO lurrendsr our commerce to the enemy,
AMI give up our feamen to aavery or defend
both by an adequate naval eitablilhment.
Genrlernen have complained ofthe hate
with which the Taft Judiciary atfwas paa-
ed but when gentlemen indulge them
felyes in thefe tuggeifions, they ought to
examine, whether the fatt Of which they
complain has really exiaed. They ought
to recolleet that the journals of this houfe
will decide this point, and that by thefe
journals it will appear that this very law,
If its principles, was under the eon6dera-
tion of Congrefs for two fefions; thatthe
iubjea had for years been contemplated
by the members of the Legislature, and
that no act of tie government (unlefs we
except the aa Of bankruptcy was ever
paG.d withemore elaboration.
There was, however, one circumfance
attending the paaage of this law whichin
the opinion OF the gentleman from 'Vir-
pinia lMr. Giles cannot be executed the
law received the hgnature of the PRECEDENT
Whit the houfe of Representatives, were
engaged in the late presidential election. I
The gentleman has INDUCED himielf, by
laying that this obnoxious law was ap-
proved by the Proficient Whit the Eouie ]
of representatives were engaged in the
election OF chief magifrate, and inAu-
enced by the violence of party, were at
tempting TO defeat the public will. Sir,
what does the gentleman from Virginia
intend by thefe declarations Are we 70
underfand that the determination is now
ayowed on this floor, which we have heard
70 often repeated beyond the walls of this
houfe, that no man but Virginian is
hereafter TO become a PRECEDENT of the
United States And are we indeed re-
duced TO this; that the rnembera.of this
houfe, when exerciiing the facred right
of outrage, on one of the mott important
.occafons which can ever ariie, are TO be
charged with attempts 10 defeat the pub
lie will, becaule they would NOT content
to violate thei, condolences, in voting fox
particular candidate, merely becauie he
lived on the other Gde of the Potomac,
Sir, this language may, perhaps, accord
with the ientimenis of this meridian, but
give me leave 20 tell the gentleman from
Virginia, that it will not be reliihed by
one part of the limited States, and give
me leave further to fay, tina there are
Rates in this Union, who will never con.
fent, and are not doomed to become the
humble provinces of Virginia.