Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-03-18
Z y N q, II L s S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
"WEDNESDAY, March S.
DEB.sTE,
ON Mr. GRECC's RESOLUTION.
CONTINUED
Z y N q. II L S S.
(Mr. Gregg's speech concluded J

"'S'a-Vh 10 me capture and condcm.
nation oil our vessels, contrary to what Va
consider, and to what 1 verify believe to
De the law of nations, shall not detain
tue committee with many observations.
nave no intention of entering into a
discussion Of the abstract question, whe.
!her trade is justi6able 10 war, which
Is not open ~ time of peace l will on
~ observe, that on The principles of rea-
son and justice, and from such author.
as have had an opportunity ofconsul,ipg,
The right for which we contend does an.
pear TO me TO b. clearly established. In
some late publ locations thi. question has
received very luminous and ample dis.
cuss'on, and the right insisted on by us
mas Been placed on such ground, and
supported ny reasoning SO clear, SO CO.
gent and so conclusive, tina, G.. Britain
win all her boasted talents will Gnd i; ex.
tremely dItficul; to fad answers tor them.
But even admitting the British doc.
.r'ne 10 be Correct, what. would *.
mas oeen the conduct Of that governments
uhder II Has 1t been that ola nsiion &C.
tua'ed by motives of liberaiity ard friend.
snip Has il been that of a civilized and
polished nalisn Has It been such a.
JusHce and the fair and hsnorabe con.
uuet or our government has gwen us a
r'ght TO expect! No person, | mink, is
prepared 10 answer in the Affirmative
~ aoes not appear that the principle was
Practised on during the last, nor for soma
time alter The commencement of the pre.
sent war. l will not undertake. absolute.
~ 10 say, that they relinqnished il, but
'he Vade Which IL now prohibits was Der.
"ii.lea 10 be carried on TO great extent
without any interruption from heir CRUZ
Hsrs. Numbers aliured by he prospeGe
OF gain we've induced TO engage io the
profitable business, and Surprising them.
serves sale under the protection Of law.
mad their vessels and effects seized to a
,a'ge amount. The capture and con.
aemna'Ion OF their property was TO them
the hrst PRONUNCIATION of the law. lgno-
rance OF what il was impossible for Them
TO Know, was imputed 10 them as crime,
ana an honorable dependence on the JUS
,ice OF governme mt processing TO be
friendly, was prosecuted With penalty and
forfeiture.
But even independent Of our Just cause
Oh complaint arising from this principle,
apparently new, thus uniustly brough; in
TO operation, how has that government
cohduc'edin relation to captures, in which
ai'er The most minute investigation, all
the ingenuity of her courts have not been
aoie to discover any principle 20 warrant
the condemnation. The pc picking diff.
hcuities, the vexatious DELAYS, and the
enormous expense attending the pro.ecu-
ton Of claim through every stage of its
progress, place an almost insu,mountsbI
barrier IN the way of obtaining Justice.
In tact, all her commercial maxims, and
the whole system OF her conduct, disco.
yer a nantes. intention, fixed deter
minallon to consummate the ruin Of the
commerce Of this country.
am aware, MIR. Chairman that many
OF the captures and condemnations, Of
which we have heard such loud com.
plants are strictly warranted by The law
OF nations. An immoderate desire OF
gain very frequently leads the merchant.
to engage IN trade, which the uniyer-
sal Consent of all nations has declared to
be unlawful. This observation will, how.
ever, perhaps, apply with more propriety
TO foreigners, who have fixed their resi-
dence among us, to enjoy the advantage
OF trading under our neutral rights, than
10 the real American merchsnt. This
description OF men under no influence OF
patriotism, and too generally unrestrain-
cd by any principles of justice, pursue
their obJset, wholly regardless of the in.
terest ofthe country, or OF any injurious
consequences 10 VIII CHI il might be SUB.
Jected through their misconduct. have
no idea OF involving my Country in any
difficulty on account of these people or
their trade. As they are citizens Of the
werId equally attached to every country,
would always willingly surrender them
10 be punish d according to the laws Of
whatever country they might be found
TansgFessing. But in Wi hhoding pro-
lection from these lawless sdVenturers.
let us not withdraw il rem the real
American merchant. Aeling from mo-
| ives OF patriotism as we'll as Of gain,
he combines his own interest wilh that
OF his country. While he is accumu-
isting wealth TO himself h= is Cd 10y ,c
| the revenue and riches OF his county.
| and uiil~ he ia aaarc.,tr.- 4