Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-12-16

excite suspicion OF cur sincerity: or at
least o. our capacity to enforce the system
we have adopted. By n suspension to the
FIRST CT July, we should admit the spring I'M
portations, and thereby shew proper az
tcIition TO the Interests of our merciants,
withont permitting the tall ,mportntions
The event of a treaty, in the mean time,
might he provided for by separate clause
in this bill, or, which he should pre- er, ty
a separate act. to be passed, if necessary,
before the close OF tre Session. Fer these
rcasocs nc hoped the motion to fill the blank
W th the 3lst OF December, would rot Pre-
vail, bit that il would he filled with shc first
OF July, asreeabiy t. motion, which Rad
been IN. K, aid withdrawn, but which he
took the liberty to renew
Mr.. SLoAG said nc hoped the motion TO
al the blank with 50 late a period as The
3iat OF DECEMBER would not prevail. He
hopes! also that the house would take IN
the subject with that seriousness winch lis
magnitude required, He should not reca-
pitusate the Causes which had induced con-
gccsS at ths.r last session to pass TIE pro-
! hiot1ry act, 5 Il,ey must be in the recoI-
iection of the house But he would ask
gentlemen one question of serious import.
, Nnat facts had occurred to induce the
house SasusrcGd th;s act A fiicna,y dis
position manifested by the ministry Of G.
hIltain. Inis was the utmost extent of
the ground Oh which it was proposed to le-
estate. lie would ask whether twas sui.
iicicnt ground to induce suspcn5ioh for so
long a time He Was wiilin. 70 meet
| friendly dispositions on the part of Brit.in
i5y friendly dispositions on our part. But
did it appear that any thing had been done
Which was pcrinanens or binding! No
they had moi been informed that a single
! preliminary article iiat! been agreed upon
It was true that there was Ter the present
. suspension OF aggression on our COM
iinercc and seameis--ilc was IL ereforein "a
vor Of suspension OF the prohibicory CT
/ CT a very shor; period. But he hoped that
: both the motiuns which had been made
/ would Gc rejected, and an earlier dss, about
the close o. the res ion, be introduo ed, and
that the president might be empowered fur
thcr to suspend the act # occasion should
require, until Chc text meeting o congress.
Mr.. CRoWNINSHiELDs said lie could not
but regret shat tue gentleman from NIrgi-
MA, alter the vote IL the committee OF the
Whole, should have Withdrawn bis motion
to fill the blank with the seth day Of iune.
When he was up yesterday, some expressi-
ons had Dir ppeG from him ofthe confidence
lie entertained with regard to the friendly
disposition q G. Britaim in her commercial
relations with this country. Tho that was
his opinion, grouaded OH the information
contained in the message of the president,
lie had alEays considered the measures OF
Il. Brain rs touHdcd on a system OF policy
hostile tn our growing commercial great
ness. II she found our poIcy watering, i:
was very possible she might renew heriur-
iner deprcdat;ohs~ Oh our commerce.. Ii
would be recollccted that it was n very
long peried after -the reipouStranees were
MADE by oar miaisters, before any attenti-
oil was PAID &c them, or they received an
answer. Several months at least elapsed
IL had always appeared 10 him that the
conduct OF Great Britain had in this IN
stence been governed by the safe If the
continent, and that she had been controls
ed by continental events. Il must tee, &c
acknowledges thar sine had never seriously
entered into negotiation with US until the
passage of the prohihitory act Mr. C. said
1T wes MS opinion is We had not acted witt,
spirit Britain never would have ncgociated
with us Such being mis- opinion, he was
in iavor of continuing the prthibitory law,
or OF suspending 1t oni? tor short time.
lie was therefore opposed to filing the
bian!; NTH the 2)th o. December. With
regard to his own Individual opinion, he did
7 net know whcthcrlle should be for making
tie suspension go beyond the present sessi-
on. For if events should favor d new Goa
liton, it was very probable her depreda.
tons would De renewed. Atho' appear
ances were fattering, she was undoubtedly
governed by events, and might in future
change her conduct. lie could not agree
that VIC ought 10 be Influenced by some
CionGs in the western Country embodied by
smother nation. il would make no differ
ence III his conduct towards G. Brit in If
the country were invaded even to Wash
! ington. lie wonid still persist in the same
policy. There was 10 DOUBT chat the Unit
ed States could resist a combination OF all
turope. g. Britain at present appeared 20
be friendly, and the negotiations might issue
IL some Commercial arrangements out
which might not prove satisfactory to the
house. He did not therefore wish to give
up the Law for soluns time. He might a.
gree TO is suspension 10 the first of duly.
lie did not tiilk the interest o the mcr-
! chants ought to DC considered with regard
to their spring iInportatiobs /; because they
Fad already imported sniiiciency OF the
prohibited articles and il the Interests of
the merchants were to he attended TO in all
such cases, it would be impossible Tor the
government to get along. Besides great
paft of the prohibited articles might be got
from otaer countries at prices but little ex-
cccding the British From this view of the
subject, he thought tic period Of suspense.