Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-29
C Q n G. r L S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MonDAr, March 10.
DEBaTE,
on Mn. GREGC'S RESOLUTION.
TcoNTINUEp.

me, Mr.. Chairman, to offer few remarks
on the subject under consideration. The
measure nov under discussion appears 10
me to involve the best interests of our
country, the prosperity, the happiness
| fore it. In the hands Of the resolution
are contained the issues of life and death,
and it would be criminal in M not to
threw in my mite to rescue our common
country from the impending danger.
| The course which / shall take will differ
1 in some degree FROM that pursGed by
those who have spoken in opposition TO
the resolution. shall not attempt to
draw any marked Discrimination between
the varying Interests of the coun,ry, or
invidious distinctions between the agri-
cultural and commercial interests. think
! they are SO essentially united, that one
cannot fall TO lhs ground without tumb-
| ling the ether head-long into ruins. i
shall Consider the subject relatively to its
general policy, and whether, on the priD-
cip!es of tina. general. policy or consti,u.
ional compact, as has been contendsd by
| gentlemen, we are bound 10 adapt The te-
solution. If shall succeed in couvinc-l
ing single gentleman now in favor OF
! the resolution, that We are not bound by
1.-The constitution, and that it will b. impo
litic TO adopt it, shall consider this a.
mnngs, the happicst events of my life.
| The great ohi-sts of our federal en-
( gagement in forming the compact undel
! which we now 1--we, were to establish JUS
!, lice, insure domestic tranquility, and pro-
] nj s. q
raj welfare of society. Under this con
stitution gentlemen call upon us, unde;
.hc pretsxt OF promoting the general
welfare, 10 adopt a RESOLUTION which ma
nifes.ly goes to the promotion of mi
nor INTEREST. This compact, in proyid
ing for the general welfare, must mean
q that OF the whole, or at any rate, of the
larger portion of The comm unity il wa.
never designed to promote subordinate
interest at the sacrifice Of The general
tprosperity. Are we then bound by the
constitutional cornpaet 10 adopt this rcso
luton think not. Thus much as u
the constitutionality of The question.
! | must consider this resolution as a
war measure, and viewing the policy and
present situation of Great Britain, agains,
which it is pointed, have no hesitate u
to say, that in my opinion, it will pro-
duce instantaneous war. "A maritime
war, for such an one she will wags, will
not add enc item to her present expen-
SEES; neither will it embarrass her mea-
sures on the continent! 1t can have no
such effect. She has eight hundred ships
on the ocean, flushed with victory and
conquest, and part OK her navy is at lhi.
moment triumphanty sailing almost in
sight OF your shores, ready at any mo.
ment 10 seize, should thai course appear
expedient to her, all our vessels navigat.
ing The ocean. 1t cannot affect her con.
, ltiuenIal operations. The war she will
wage will be altogether maritine---Ilel
navy cannot be essential against her con
, |unental enemies in Europe. Already
: have their heets been annhilated. The
VICTORIES off Trafalgar and in The West
I Indies, have cleared the ocean OF almost
every sail, and there remains 20 employ.
msnt for her navy but to depreda:e youl
commerce and she will do il, YOU Inay
rely upon it. Those are but ind,ffersDtlY
acquainted with e.. Britain aud The &c.
MUS Of the frat minister, VINO suppose
all the power w tn0lr hanuS VIII DOt De
made use of. Gentemen tell you this is
not contemplated as permanent system
OF commercial arrangement, but tempo.
, rary e&psdient, winch by its pressure is
10 bring our rival to a sense of duty, and
make her do us Justice. But This tempo
rary measure viii have on Britain all the
effect OF war. Declare war 10 morrow,
and it Tan only affeS her trade. Can you
believe that she will, with all her advan.
,ages, remain quieil IT'S not her cha
racier; she will not DO il. should think
contemptuousiy Of her If she should.
VIII she suffer you totaIse war measures
, and not telaIistei VIII she be more 81
fraid of you with yonr four thousand
troops, dispersed over the whole western
country, and your thirteen aimed vessels
rotIing in the Eastern Branch, than OF
that power whose eonqucring arm has
: extended the limits Of his sway beyond
former comparison, and whose ambition
!, is bounded only by the habitabIe world.
T What was the conduct Of tina, govern
T, ment about the year 1901, when an arm
! cd nsairali.y gas ioemed ~ 4 c0aliIica Of