Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-03
CONG RESS
or THE
.UNITED ST A TE 5.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, the 6thFof December, 4 8o5.
The Speaker laid before the House let
ter and communication from the President
OF the United States, which were read.
Ordered, That the said letter and com.
rnnnlcasion, together with the documents
accmpanying the same. be referred to Mr..
1ohc Randolph, Mr.. ESiicholson, MIR. John
Cotton Smith, Mr.. Mumfor6, Mr.. Will
liam. of South Carolina, Mr.. Bidwsllaad
Mr.. Brown.
Friday, the sd Of faauary, 1906.
Mr.. Iohn Randolph from the committee
40 whom were referred the message and
communication of the President of the y.
States of 9th of Deeenber last, together
with the documents accompanying the
same, made report thereon as follow
esh:
-Rebeys of the committee to zvhom 70as refer.
red the message Of the President Q the
United States Of the eth December,
1905.
The committee have beheld with just in.
dignation the hostile"spiris manifested by
the coort of Madrid towards the govern
meni of the United States 10 withholding
the ratification of it's convention with Us,
although signed BY It's own minister under
the eye of,his sovereign, unlesswi,h alssr-
atoms of It's terms, affecting claims OF
the United States, which, by the express
conditions of the instrument itself. were
reserved for future discussion; In plratlcal
depredations upon our fair commerce; IN
obsuuciiug the navigation OF ihe Mobile;
In refusing to come to anyfair and AMIGA.
BILE adjustment, of the boundaries of Loe-
,isiana; and 10 adaring violation, by per-
sous actirg under the authority OF Spain,
and no doubt, appraised Of her sentiments
aud views, Of our undisputed limits which
she had sole muly recognized by treaty.
To government having interests d stinct
from those of its people and disregardlhg
'theirwelfare, here is ample cause tor fers
ma, declaration of war, On the part ct the
United States, and such, did they obey the
impulse Of their feelings alone, is the course
which the committee woald lnothesisate 10
recommend bu, to a government idenu-
: fed with its citizens, too far removed from
the powerful nations of the earth for Its
safety to be endangered by their hostility,
peace must always be desirable, so loag as
il is compatible with the honor and inter.
ests of the community.
Whilst the United States continue bur-
thsned with debt, which annually aosorbs
two thirds of their revenue, aod duties up.
on imports constitute the only resource
from which that revenue can be raised,
without resorting to systems OF taxation,
moi more ruinous and oppressive, than they
are uncertain aud precarious, the best Ia
tere.ts of the union cry aloud tor peace.
When that debt shall have been discharge,
81 the resource. OF the nation thereby iiber-
a,ed, then may we nationally expect 10
raise even in time OF war, the supplies
which our frugal institutions require, with
out recurring to the hateful aud destructive
expediene OF loans; then, and not till then,
NAV we bid defiance 10 the world. The
present moment is peculiarly suspicious tor
this great aud desirable work. Now, If
ever, the national debt is TO be paid, by such
fnascial arrangements as will accelerate its
extinction, bysreaping the rich harvest of
neutrality, and thus providing for that di.
intuition of revenue, which experience
teaches us to expect on the general paeifl-
-catiou of Europe. And the committee in-
duIge hope, that, in the changed aspect
OF affairs 10 thar quarter, Spain will lind
motives for just fuI6lmens of her suPula-
lions with Us, and an amicable settlement
Of limits, upan terms not more beneficial
TO the United States, than advantageous TO
herself, securing to her an ample barrier on