Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-21

standing but to neither Of them wou!
he consent to yield any or,ion of od
neutral national rights
The difficulties exhibited in. the minis
'erial correspondence, DR.. M. said wer,
thus removed. With promp,itude tina
deserved to be admired, congress inter
posec It's authority, Tor the purpose a
cnce OF doing Justice to our neishbors
regulating our com merce, and tranquil
eng the Mexican seas. With these sa
intary provisions, he believed tie two
complaining nations, hnd been satisfied
1 AT least we had done so much that they
ought IN all reason 10 be content. Con.
Sress had already manifested due re.
gard to all that France aud Great Bri.
tain had offered upon the branch OF West
inu'an commerce, and in the true spirit
% sood neigliborho,d, aud correct pr;n-
pie, had modified and restricted the
intercourse with Hay;i. And so fully did
the Europeans seem to acluiesce in our
conduct, that he had not heard any fur
| tner remonstranccs made by either of
them about it. He thought the obser-
va'ions of the gentleman from Sisssa-
chuse'ts (Mr. Adams) very much in
point. Under conviction that we had
done as much as public faith and nation.
al Honor required, he had given his vote
against the introduction of similar bill
during the last Session. Nothing had
occurred from that time to This day, to al
ter the circumstances OF the case, or to
make 1t necessary for him to change
his conduct. He thoGgbt now, as he did
then, that there was danger of overaS.
ing our part and Of doing TOO muc'f; OF
being gcsd TO our neighhor,, TO such a
degree, and IN such manner as 10 be
very cruel to ourselves.
Alter all this cond-scensiou on err mart.
alter inquiring into the alledged miscon-
duct of our people, aud taking immediate
measures TO preyen, the repetition, and
alter having done all that we politically
conid or that We honorsbly ought, the sub.
Iect IS once more introduced to the Sc.
nate. 1t comes nov, not from the exs-
cniiVe department., not from the cabinets
OF the nations concerned nor from the
recommendation of Senatorial commit
tee, bat from, The suggestions of an indi
riduas member Of our ewn body.
ne commerce Of the United States he
SAID, was an astonishing spectacle. II
reached from arctic 10 Antarctic: and
was CO extensive with the circumference
Iof the globe. Most Of the inhabited
countries Of The earth were visited by or
navigators, and the striped nae of the
union liuttered in the remolest harbor,.
Our countrymen have made material ad
ditions 10 the science of GeopraDhv.
They have found markets unknown In
commercial men before. They have de
rived cargoes from the depths Of the o.
cean, and laid the cod, tie seal and the
whale under contribution. They have
exported the Pro!Betions Of .keir own
happy country, so fertile in the articles
which sustain and cherish life, to al! pla
ces where they were wanted, and brought
home the crude materials or the manu-
factures of those regions in return. Ry
AN energy and enterprise unexampIed in
the history of the human species, tbsv
have excited the jealousy of foreigners,
whs are not only behind them in mcr.
Camille exertion, but who cannot weigh
an anchor or reef a top-sail equal TO the m.
Such was our situation, peaceful, in
dustrious, and DESTROYS Of measuring cut
liberal justice TO all our neighbors. Bu,
this was no prote clion against commerce
, al rivalship. Emulation and comhcfifisn
erisfed in all cai1ngs and hrsfessisns.
Mercantile jealousy had been alarmed By
1t. Experience had shewn To the most
active of them that they were unsuccess.
full competitors. Wha was the conse-
/ quence? They had eudeaVored to inter.
rupt by force or stralagem, that pretlo-
nIinant trade which they could not Guido
or equal by fair means. In the Ravens
of Britain the port-charges were OF the
most exorbnsnt kind. The money paid
by US for passing their lighthouses was
excessive. The fees for performance Of
: quarantine, were out of all proportion TO
the good expected or service done. Con.
Yoy-duties were also freqasraly exaGied.
I And the custom houses collected high
er rate OF charge upon merchandise ex-
ported to the United States thgD 10 any
part of Europe. In addition TO all this
the cruisers Of that nation had made The
most ungenerous abuse OF the power Of
searching our vessels. They had taken
out and impressed itto their service, ems.
grants coming TO our county. They led
violently drawn into their service, our sea.
men, natives os our land. Naturoliscd