Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-03-18

p. C""''hiaii. III every point OF view
IN winch have bsen able to consider Ibis
suol>c,' the ptop,ie,y of adopting tn. re
solution which has been read, appears 10
me equally impressive; and therefore
a"ho' II may be opposed cannot bu,
hope 1t will receive The SANCTION of 4 large
majority OF the House. In this hope (
am confirmed when l. refer To the iou..
nails, and see what was d6be by Ire
house OF Representatives under circum
stances somewhat similar TO the PRESENT.
the year 1894. The same nation of V hose
conduct We now complain, was then Gem.
mltt'eg depreda,ioAs on our commerce.
She had on the 9Th OF November issued
her celebrated orders, and i, is worthy of
remark, that these orders we're iirs, pub
iished ny the cruisers which were acting
under them. The late captutes unautho-
riscd by any public orders, but proceed
ing Oh decree of their admiralty court,
| which 1t appears was 10 be considered as
the signal for making the sweep, evince
hXed system OF hostility towards on,
commerce, and an dngencrous mode of
making IFS attacks. She unwary and
uosuspe@ing fall a prey TO their hidden
designs. She was at that time also s,i.
mulating the Indians to commit hos,,l;.
ties on our frontiers, and The western
pos;s were not surrendered agreeably to
whai we considered the true intent and
meaning OF the treaty OF l7ss, 10 coun.
'eract these hostile measures, PROPOSE
lion was made in The House of Rspresen.
taiives, for suspending all commercial in.
tercourse with that nation. That promo
s'tion was at that time adopted by d very
iage majority. All parties united in Civ
ing II lhcir support. The grea, political
distinction, which has unfortunately pre.
vailed too long in this country did no, on
that occasion discover itself great deal.
The representation from the state ~
which live, was at that time about e.
qualiy divided betwixtthe two great con
tending parties, aud yet on that question
their votes We're compile ely Blended
The representation from the southern
states, observe, was generally i'm f.yo,
OF tbs. measure. The respectable state
OF Virginia in particular, which was re
presented by constellation Of talents
not only ranged itself on the affirmative
side Of the question by its vote, but also
bore very distinguished part in The ar.
gumentin support ofthe measure. From
a similarity Of circumstances, are we no,
now to expect similar result. AI;ho,
the evil complained Of is in the first in.
stance more severely felt in particulsr
section OF the country, IFS effects will uI.
timately extend to every part OF it. And
so far as the honor of the government, is
Implicated, senslblity arising from that
source must necessarily bc experience
by all It's citizens at the same time.
Before | sit down, Mr.. Chairman, per-
mt me TO say, that although my opinion
on this subject is formed on the NEST ma.
ture reflection, yet if majority Of the
committee think differently, il they prefer
someiing more energetic, or if they have
any other system which they consider
more efficient 10 obtain tba objec(, /
may Tor the sake of unanimity be dis.
posed to yield my opinion. Unanimny /
consider an all important. We are told
by document on our table, that the natl
on against whose conduct we complain.
calculates on our divisions. Her hopes
of be ng ensblsd to pursue her. system.
are built on an idea, that division amous
ourselves will prevent our Adopting aav
efficient measures. In this hope trust
they will now be disappointed, and thar
we will shew TO them ard 10 ths world,
that however we may differ as TO The adj
ministratlon of our internal affairs, on all
great national questions, IN which the
honor and true interest OF our country IN
relation to foreign governments is involy-
ed, that we are but one people.
MIR. j. CLAY. / had entertained a
hope that The call Of my colleague would
have been delayed FOR few days longer.
as the documents we have received from
the Treasury Department have been but
two days on our table, al least in a print
ed form, and as they are calculated TO
throw much light on the subject before
us. In the few remarks which am a.
bout TO offer, shall not follow my col
league through the detail he has made
of the injuries and insults of CT. Britain.
We ell OF US well know that the national
hag has been grossly outraged and The
national honor violated by her. Bu,
do not conceive that the best rhode OF
obtaining redress for these wrongs is to
do that which will be more Injurious TO
ourselves than 10 her. My objections to
this resolution are Two fold. The Grstis
that, if carried into effect, it places great