Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-29

WhlCh you {Hk&nU - ColOpeI Tag SuTrcHGe
on the part of your adversary! My fea
is shat il would saly make bad worse; al,
chat instead of 1 500 seamen impressed OF
board British ships of war, we sheul,
have as many thousand made caPtiyes, an,
compelled to Sight against theis own eoun
cry.
The resolution under consideration pre-
poses an insurance upon terms vastly dis
advantageous. The premium aud the risl
are our of all proportion. What, sir, i.
she premium? The sum of 100000 dol
lars, the amount of revenue estimated &C
accrue from the carrying trade. What i!
the risk? The almost certain sacrihee O
the agricultural interest OF the na,ioa; ths
almost certain event of a war, and The
consequent risk of the destruction of ths
constitutiep and liberties OF this nation
For one I cannot underwrite such policy
/ will not pledge my constituents to insure
upon such terms.
But we are asked, must the carrying
trade be surrendered? In return we ask
mus. the agricultural interest of the coun,
fry be sacrificed to preserve il! Must we
plunge into war TO preserve it { Must we
put to risk the constitution and liberties ei
the nation 10 preserve 1t!
Mr.. Chairman, this nation is at peace
We are happy in the enjoyment of aui
rights at home. We are prosperous be.
yond the example of any other people ia
the world. We enjoy the fruits of our
own industry, abundantly supplied with all
the comforts of life, and increasing rapid.
" in wealth by good markets for cur pro
ducc. The merchants receive a profit up
on their trade, csextensive with the wishes
{ of rational men, aud when conhoed 10 fair
neutral commerce, pursue their occuPa.
/ lions with security. Is this state OF
things which should be pat 80 the risk of
chance for such boon as the carrying
trade Is this state Of things which
should be jeopardised for the profit of a
few merchants ina few mercantile towns {!
It is known TO this house that negocla,
ton is depending with the court of St.
James upon the subject matter of com.
plant. It's also known that at the date OF
cur las. dispatches, hopes were entertained
BY our minister there that the discu ssions
would assume feature more favorable
than they had heretofore exhibited.-
Whilst this negotiation is depending, and
Me issue in total unsertaintv, does j. com.
port with even common prudence 10 be
taking measures, which would infalllbly
blow It up!
Again,sirI beseech gentlemen to turn their
eyes TO the continent. Lei them consider
the magnitude of the events, there passing
10 such rapid succession, as not TO suffer
the mind to pause and rsaees upon their e.
ven probable bearing. Those events mos'
lead 20 state of things which il Is not
within human sagscityto feresce. That
stats of things must have an important
bearing upon the relations of this country.
The war, from the spirit with which it is
prosecuted, must either have an early ter.
minaiicn, or an entire new direction. II
terminated there is 40 end of the present
difficulties. II a new direction is givenato
it, what alteration may thereby be. Produe'
ed in the situation of eur relalious, eanao'
be even OWNED. Mr.. Chairman, put il
home seriously to gentlemen, whether this
is time whether sach is a situation
whether these are the circumstances il
which to take asep which must inevitably
lead to Disruption of al the relations be
tween this country and Grea, Britain
am sure :it is not prudent; believe II
would be the height eff madness.
We have Seen told that the measure
sculd give no just cause eft offence. Isl
possible that gentlemen who understand Sc
well the tempers of the nations of Europe
should place any reliance upon that idea
Do not gentlemen know that the justice o
the sause is the last enquiry the govern
menss there make And can 1t be ex
peeted that Great Britain would make tk'