Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-08
c. o N G r f S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TRusspAY, March. O.
DEBATE,
en- Mr.. GREGG's RESOLUTION,
coNTINUnD

4 MR.JOHN RANDOLPH.-MrC Chair.
man, did eSpeet ,on comingto the House
this morning, that the friends of the rcso.
,lution under discussion, would have
brought forward seine srgument. to shew
{whst they hd0e. studlously avowcd )--that
the ability to coerCe Great Britain is with
in the compass OF this nations power !;
that this power ought now 10 be exerted,
and that the proposed measure is equal
TO the desired eff.el. behoves the m TO
tlemons,ra,e all this, before they ask for.
our support. did no, down to the
House with an expectation of listening
.toa gross misrepl esentauon of my express
'sions yesterday loose and dcsultpry rs
eliow them to have been--much less
was prepared to hear such mis,cprc-
Sensations from the lips of gentlemen,
whom have treated with invariable and.
guarded respect--be,ween whom and
myself there has long existed political
irienaship.--real on m ypart, apparent on
theirs. did not indeed expecs. 10 hear
particular expressions, used by me III
the ardor of debate, broken and cuI;ed
from their connecting members, Il Inu-
tila'ed and fotiured into meanings, which
coldbl0oSied malice alone could have de-
vlsed. Sir, in this way of proceeding
{witboue Intending any profaae compasn
SOM 1.-THE Bible i,seifmay be made 10 preach
atheism. 10 declare that there is no God.
Is TIE /tai saith IA his hssrt, slheye is no
God Taken together, it is inspired
wisdom: dismember it, it is impiety. &
1t has not been denied, by any mem
Hssr- r>>,f u de G,.<,, q
thst'hs commerce & navigation Of these
slaiet ought TO he pr"ec,ed. The only
qrpsaon is quo ,nedo? fiave- you the abb
iiyHr pHutect them by war, AID are they
OF sufficient value to Justify the expense
OF sush protection. We say no--they
capHiiot Pay for so dear defence,
lich as they may be but above all, tbey
cannot repay us Tor the loss Of cur con,,i
tunon. Il IS shove all price. we 20
fAs'ber: we affirm that trade is now pro
tecled by the most efficient means within
our power, by discriminating duties, laid
by the votes OF southern men, and vet,
sir, we are threatened With sC..;sri, with
a dissolution CT the union, il we do not
adspt particular systems, devised by
chance, begotten of igncrance on im5eci-
by. Aye these the mild ard cutcsiiaf.yy
plans aNdideas (which gentlemen boas.!
Is this nlildness! Is this conci!istion \
Is this peace! The gentleman from
Pennsylvania Mr.. SMILEY with face Of
) wondfops importance, tell, yeu, that, by
tise constitution, We have power 10 raise
and maintain armies, 20 bui,d and EQUIP
nsyies: from which he draws The infcr.
cree that (undsr whatever circumstances,
i sIippose) we must actually do what The
cgns,itutipp allows And yet that Gen.
uSlnan, IN former .isHr6. voted With us ~
cams, armies and Bavies! LIE, him iustl.
Is himse'fti.hc can. upon his new princi-
pies! repeat tiff the unjust seeres-
sipWs OF foreign nation, If indignifJ and
insult, abroad, are always to produce war,
the gentleman was criminal in refusing
to support the administration in I79s.
Yes, you were then compelled 10
drain Tie cup OF humiliation 10 it's very
dgegs. DID he PINT that cup b, Did he
vote for aeet and armies, or a suspension
OF commercial intercosr.N wish Frsnce 7
What was Tie French edition of The laws
al nations tlisDs That a bale Of British.
insnufaeiure lwthout any question of enc
mJ's property should subject TO seizure
and Condemnation. Ana what was the
British do6irine in 1887 That France
was (wilh one sweep ofthe pen) in state
81 ssige and blockade, and tina, Amcri-
Can -Four, &c should not be carried there
al all And yet against these principles
and pracnces, prePosterous as they were,
We dId not go to war--at least that gen.
tleDan vas opposed 10 such var (if war
II may be caIled) IS was vaged.
But whils' acknowledge the carving
trade 20 he vaaeble to a certain extent, /
mUti, unless abandon every pretension
TO the character Of Q politician, aa on ex-
EIng circumstances, on things as they
are, not as believe they ought to be.
ln casting about, the FIRST thing Tor one
81 The hrst) TO be considered is revenue.
Almost Our whole revenue is derived
ffosn commerce.; that is, from the do
uestc consumption of imports from a.
hioisd- How much comes from thc car.
rying trade Your statements Il am tolI)
say 100000 dollars. Bot if our whole
consumption were imported in foreign
bottoms, the impost would exceed It's
present amount by II or I2oa-shou,aid