Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-18
CO N G X Z S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
FRIDAY, March Z.
DEB,1TE,
ON Ma. CRECG'S RESOLUTION.
fcoNTfNuEp

-
Jcct was discussed which occasjoned mn
'nerous arguments, the question was of.
| en- los ght of. In the heat of debate.
ns;ead of the subject before them, the
proceeding argument b. came the text 10
| him that replied. aud his 10 the next that
ook the floor, add SO on in Succession un.
al some NEW sr succeeded IN calling The
I afternoon OF l.s members TO he origin 4
subject; hough the present qnes,i. N had
I but a few days engaged the attention of
| The committee cf the whole vet, in his b.
p'nion. several The Speakers on the ffopr
iat lost sight If il, further than he had
formerly observed in So short time. tina,
he would attempt TO draw the attention
! OF The committee from these desultors ex.
cursions, which settled no puint in debate,
and oflen, had no visible connection with
ln' to the impo, tant ques ion they were
called upon 10 decide. That in dong so,
he would take no-noice of any thing that
fhad been oasred a. argument, which was
not necessarily come Csed with the cues.
I ION. He would neither b. the adyocate
or apolos>st for any ore nation OF Europe,
tnor treat any other NATION with irritating
feonte mpt. Such language vi that kidd.
Pas. has been used within Two days pas, an
has house, ought not 10 be admitted, un
less we We're employed in supporting. a
p'nanitssto to suppor, declaration of war.
and even Tor that purpose il is inconsist.
fent with NJ ionai dignity.
4 He said the subje q before the house is
Ia resolution referred 10 the committee Of
tthe whole house on the state of the union.
To prohibit slf importation of ppods
The produce or the manufacture OF Britain.
Tor any Of The British domlnieis: NOT 20
prevent Britain or her dependencies from
irrceiying supplies IL prov slons, raw ma,
\ tetisis, &c from as. does not 90 to
prohibit expor.aiion. but even this should
not pc done without a very srfficien,
: Cause.
| T~o ca'ises are assigned IN he pream.
ibie 10 the resolution First, the impress
ment OF our seamen-Second, commerci
al aggressions.
4 Mr. +. asked, was il ever known before
IN the history of Independent nations that
any ore nation impressed he cilizeas or
subjects of,another nation into their fleets
to hight against nation friendly 20 that
tom which they had been impressed, and
10 receive no wages or emolums nj unless
they would enlist, which few of them ever
do except under the laslrof III. boatswain
which is done if they appear relueta
ito do the fheanest drudgery, and who
must OF necessity hate the nation for
(which they fought. no, sir this cannot
I be shewn. The British government has
long been in the habit of impressmg heir
own Citizens for seamen. In France, we
have been lately told, in this house, thai
jconscripts are forced to the army. Per-
haps the conscripts of France, are the
same that we have bsen accustomed to
tcali the classes of militia in this country ;
but 1t is OF theirrown citizens; impress
ments to the navy are very different
tHlng. II is such AIN exercise of tyranny
that It is hoped will never be exercised in
this country; yet still excep, in the csse
OF our searnen it is their own citizens,
they do not impress Swedes, Danes, or
PrussianS.
man impressed is condemned to a
slavery IF The worst kind Slavery for a
limited lime is suitable punishment for
GRIMES, but the sentence with Ne, aud in
all nations civilized or savage, is decide d
by known and responsible Judges, for the
breach OF some known Law. But, by whom
IS The sentence of Condemnation 10 slavery
passed on our citizens, sailing under the
protection of our own flag; ciargable with
no crime. No, by court Of Justice in
my form; not by even an ofIi.er OF high
responsibility, but by some young subs,-
tern OF a man of war, which is unive rsaIiy
admitted to subject to the most arbitrary
species of government existing No o.
Their crime is sl'edged, to Justify the con
demnation, but that he speaks the English
language, or has become an American
tciuzen' and no other judge bn lieute
nsnt or midshipman seie9ed for this sxer.
ton of tyranny.
| We,have not long since expressed rus,
abhorfeDce Of slavery By very unsni.
nous vote Of this house. We have ex.
pressed very commendabie sympsihs
for the untulored sons of Africa, Of e,i
ferent color from ourselves, solen or fore
: ed from their families and all that is dca'
{ Ito them and shall we make no exertinn
|. Ito protect our own ciuzens from the wors
KIDD ss slavery. IL The planters Of S. Ca