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

RAD Votcc In THIS way, not because they
were opposed 20 that day, but merely be-
catse thcJ had not fully considered the sub
ject. He would, therefore, withdraw his
motioi, tn fill the blank with the 3oth June,
and renew bis motion to ill it with the Slst
o! December He did this, not only from
the motives he had mentioned, but from
other motives, which struck his mind wiki
great force, and which, if gentlemen attend
cd to them, they w,f!ld fad OF considerable
weight. Gentlemen have said that they
are disposed TO pass the suspendipg law,
because .hc conduct oe Great Britain, which
they deemed the last year hostile 20 US,
had since materially changed. Now L this
were fact, (she accuracy Of which he Was
not about at present 90 discuss) what was
the inference! Ii at the !ase session, when
gentlemen deeme 3tlic conduct cf(;rSat Bri-
tain hostile TO US, they sCspcniea the ope;,
alton OF the pTohibitory act to the 18Th uf
Nov. ensuing, surely Il fort;o1i, gentlemen,
who deemed the conduct Of chat goy't. soma
tcrially changed, wouid agree 10 ssspen'n
tor 4 period IS much longer as would be C.
ouiVaienl to the Change IN her conduct. II
might he said, that tic reason Iur ,lle sus-
pcnsion at the last session did not now ex-
list, rs IL was then recessar2 I, give "A ui,ea-
ter icrgtll ofaot;cc Of the goine into opera
ton OF SO ,importdnt a law. TrUe,:--b,,t no
gentieinun would say that period, Sc ;crc
as that allowed, was tlieR nccessar,, IS il
t-ss only REQUISITE, in TINS Dnin: OF yicv;, To
allow time for the information OF Che uas
sage oft The act to be received heirre the sail
ing 9t t'lc spr;ag vessels. Under this view
OF the subject lie would rc--w his notion
to Eli the Blank with the Sast day CT De-
cem5cr.
Mr.. Elliot hoped the motion would
80 y, 4
that il had been ncgativCd in the Commit
tee OF the whole. he had never con.;,jerea
the prOhibtoiv act as valuable, but as IN
dicating the spirit of the american people,
and as leading the WAY to stronger inca
surcs in case tie conduct of Great britain
should require them. He was willipe 20
part with 1t for a reasonable disposition to-
wards acconIn! odation on the Fart OF Great
Britain, which they had been assured cx,s.
ted at present. In the prcsen. state Of our
foreign Affairs, whcna Europsan power ha 4
frequently invaded our torritory, he tto't
there were strong reasons for 5eine. on rood
terms with Great Britain. lie conternpi,-
ted the pr9h,1.tory law as mere matter
OF temporary 20 icy, not as forming : part
OF per:acncnt system of commercial war
fare With Great Britain. Mr. E. said that
there was one reason, which ought to dcridc
IN. ~
gentlemen v.ewcd the prohib;torv law IS y
mere matter of temporary po.irv. and if. $
t.lcy had been assured bv the executive. the
pending negotiations were likely to issue in
n satiy4actory result, surely they ouyli, no
longer to keep the agricultural and com
mercial interests III suspcace, as 20 the mca-
sures contemplated to be pursued ON our
arrangements with Great britain. For
enc, he should be willing, after the ass,,,-
ances they had received OF the fricndly dis
position CT the British government, &: from
his sense Of the iBsuticicacy of the law. 10
repeal It altogether. And alrhO' gentlemen
should be disposed to hold it upin te1rercaa
tn Gre at Britain, why not suspend it foi, a
year, or, ut ali events, permit the slispen.
sion &c cease during a session OF Congress
Suppose a m j 'ity shall say IN t the sus-
pending act shall cease in June or Julv-tho
non-importation act viii chen be again in
force. How then can our merchants viii,
any safety take their easnresT IVhvIeeyt
the subject i'll douct, when they were con
WINGED that the spirit which presitles owe,
the pending negotiations wiz produce "a.
vorable result (? For these reasons Mr.. r.
said he hoped tire present motion would pre-.
vail.
Mr.. BIDwELL observed that with the
8 gentleman fron Vermont, who Lad lust sat
down, he could say that thc prohibiioI.y act
the operation OF which was proposed to lie
suspended, received his vote at the time NJ
, its passage. But, IKE him, lie could not add
that his view Oh the policy Of the measure
had changed. Further reflection had cor.
frmed him in the belief of its wisdom ard
ljustice and experience, during the slor,
period which has interviewed, had added
tho weight Of its sanctions. The act had.
so far, evident Y produced n salutary effect
de had no hesitation in SAYING that it had
had an influence in producing the accom-
indicating spirit, which, at the date of the
, last dispatches from our commissioners, was
manifested on the part OF Great Britain TO.
wards the U. States Convinced of the
soundncss of our policy, he should by nc
means be willing TO. see it abandoned bv a
repeal OF the act\ On the contrary he no.
ped the act would be retained and cDforc-
ed, and that further steps would be taken
~ the same system of policy, unless /,
should be rendered unnecessary b. salts.
factory conventional arrangements. Yet,
consistently with this system, he was will
ling, for the reasons stated IN the prcsj-
dents message, to suspend the operation Of
the act for a reasonable time, but not for. SC
long time as had been moved by the zen.
tlcman from Virginia. The object of the
proposed suspension was two-fold. First
to meet a conciiiatory disposition on the