Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1806-01-09

to make the sequihse inveHiestion. Mr.. Y. VA
the more anxions, as he thought IL neceaary tha
complete invefigation fhonld be made 10 the
Houfe of the nstare and extent OF the principl,s
referred TO in the Measge.
Mr.. Elliot faid he did not perfectly UNDER
Rand the gentleman from Maryland when he
told them that the fubjeet contemplated to be
referred, naturally and exeluhyeIy fell within the
proper jurisdiction Of the Committee OF Ways
and Means. Ii would be admitted 90 all hands
thar the fuhee was not only important, bot
likewiie novel. Our attention is forcibly called
in the Mefsge TO this as iubjeet Of the hri 'u,-
portance
" New principles too have heeu interpolared
" into the Law OF nations founded neithsr in JUL
" tice nor the ufage or acknowledgement of ma
" tions. According TO thefe belligerent takes
"to itfelf Commerce with its encmy,
Z" which il denies TO neutral. on the ground OF
" Its aiding that enemy in she war. But rea-
" fon revoits at iuch an inconhAency, and the
I" aeutrai having equal right ith the beiligerent
" to drcide the quefion, the interefts of our
" eontituen,s, and the duty of maintaining thc
" authority of 'eafon, rhe only umpire between
Z" juR nations, impoic on US the Obligation of
E" providing an efettual and Determined oppo-
4" Giicn 10 doctrine 70 injurious to the rights
/" of peaceable natiens." T
Our attention is called to the importau, point
of new interpretations into the law of nations.
or in other words, 70 the adoption by the 60
vernpent Of one or more foreign powers Of whss
10 confdered a. a modification oi the ancient
laws of nstions, as accommodating them to their
wines. and as introducing new principles which
they with TO impote upon other nations. How
I'll. n T. n
belongs TO the Committee of Ways and Means
il va, impcifihlc for him TO fay. But, fays the
gentleman, il is qucition of revenue. How 70
Ii may effect the revenne incidentally but the
qucfion of revenue, from its comparative unim-
por;sCce, is at once merged and loh in the more
important quetion, whether we fhal psilively
fubmit to rhe introduction Of new.principles TO
be impofed upon neutrsls, by any government
whatever, however powerful or executive It's in
huence. On this fubjee, Mr.. Elliot faid he
thoughf, that il pefcifed great importance in it.
felf Nor did he conceive it pofible to prefent
any view more important than thar taken by
the refolution of the gentlemen from MaiIachui-
etts. He acknowledged that the Committee Of
Ways and Means were fully competent 20 an in
vcfagation OF the inhjctt in their ability 10 in.
veNigate il he had foil confidence. But he ,ho't
they had fuficient buiinsl in their proper fpherr
20 occupy their attention. For thefe rafons he
hoped the rsfolution offered by The gentleman
from Maryland would be rsjeeicd. and that fub-
mitted by the gentleman from MaHachuieus
fpbAituted in its room.
Mr.. C,egg, thought the gentleman from Msf-
fachuietu would fully attain his Object by Of
fering part of the refolution he had read as a.
mendnent TO the refolution before the Horis.
The refolution Of the gentleman embraced two
diftin6 parts; the frh regarded the objects to
be enquired into. and the lsf inRrueted the COM
mittee how 10 ad. The refolusun Of the gentle
man from Maryland embraces the fame object.
The end therefore OF The gentleman from Maf-
fachufctu would be folly gained by adding the
inaruetiye part of bis own Iefolufion to the rel.
olutiou under difcuffion. AZ 10 the difference
between fanding and feleet committee, it was
not 70 important as il appeared to be to the gen.
tleman from Vermont. The fubjed from its
character naturally came before the Committee
Of Ways and Means and il was undeIRocd
thar fandipg committees vent through the bu6-
nefs referred to them with nc re regularity thao
fcett committee.
Mr.. BiSsvcHfaid that if gentlemen would -
tentively contider the two refolutions, they
would find that the refoluton offered by the
gen,lemaa from Maryland did not 60 to the
lame extent with the refolution whieh be had
had the honor of propofng. The former refrt-
red to but one principle, and limited the fub-
jed TO conhderetiops connected with revenue.
1t appeared to him tina, from cot. door informa.
iion, il would be found thai various principles
had been sfamed relative to the lava of natious
to which we might not ~ neutral nation choofe
to fubmit. Ia was true that the fubjcSt was
connected with the revenues 70 however, was
every fubjeet. Every fubjetf, whether connec-
ted with fate of peace or war, wou IA necefIar-
lily more or leh affect the revenue. Though this
was the cafe with this fubjeet, it ought not to
be confdered as primarily connected with reve-
nue.. Under prefent circurRances we do NOT
coniider it principally Connected with finance,
but with other fubjetis. Mr.. Bidwell 6sid he
had no particular wifhss with regard to the COM
mittee to be appointed in this infsnce but he
did with the fubjed examined in more extenGve
views than was contemplated in the refolution.