Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-03-05

nation on earth. With so wide a field ior'
negotiation, with SO many important o.
eiects to accomplish, | submit II to 'le
good sense of the senate. whether 1t VIII DC
proper to tie up the hands OF the executive
in the manner contemplated by the resolu'
ton. If the resolution passes, the IRE,
sident must in every event "demand anu
insist upon the restoration of the property
of our citizens, captured and condensed
on che pretext Of It's beiag employed 10
trade with the enemies of Great Britain
prohibited in time OF peace; and upon tue
indemn,6cati of such American cltizens'
for their losses and damages sustained oy
these captures and COMBINATIONS: ms
must be made the basis onwhich allturther
proceedings are to be founded. 90 nor
wish 10 be understood as being wiling 10
give up the property which has been un-
Justly taken from our citizens without al
equivalent. An equivalent may be obtain
ed in many ways. If the resolution is ao-
hered TO by the executive restitution OF
the properly must be insisted Oh. Request
the presidcnt-to demand and insist, ano ne
must rake this ground, and this only, 81
we pass this resolution: Although IN my
opinion this reolution was not intended 70
censure the executive, yet 1t would seem
10 bear that construction. But on 'hls
ground will not object to it. 1t is notorl-
Gus to every gentleman OF the senate 'ha1
the president has been. and is now, prose
cutting a negotiation on the SUBJECTS when
seem to be the particular objects OF tnis
resolution, viz. the condemnation OF cur
vessels aud the impressmentof American
seamsn. Ii would therefore seem impro'
per on this ground to pass The resolution IN
It's present form. I know, Sir, that what
has been so often and SO properly repeated
is all important on the presentsub5ect, that
is. ,ha, we should be united ii what We do
With this view and with the hope that the
same committee cen Offer to the senate
resolution varied in its form from the one
before us, and embracing the wishes ct at
least great majority, and hope the whole
senate, move thar the resolution be re.
committed.
Mr.. Adair. Mr.. President-the mo.
lion before the senate is TO recommit the
resolution to a special committee. Gentle
men in favor of the resolution as 1t stands,
have called upon Us to point out the altera-
tons we wish to make il it as cause OF
commitment; l will do SO by stating nay
objections TO i: in its present shape. The
first resolution on the paper which hold
in my hand, and which met with unanl.
nous vote of the senate two days past,
contains a mere declaration OF their opinlon
on an abstract principle; to this resolution
I fully and freely assent, although did
not vote Tor it, being that day unweli aud
absent. But this second resolution, If it
is to have any effect at all, is meant to con.
vev an instruction 10 the president Of the
United STATES. Ii contains q request
to him, not only, that he will endeaver 10
obtain an adjustment of our differences by
treaty, bu, that PRIOR TO this he will" de-
mand and insist upon iherestoraaion ot the
property of our citizens captured aad con-
demned on the pretence of It's being em-
ployed in atrade with the enemies st'CTeas
Britain, prohibited in time OF peace and
UPON the indemnihcation of sucn American
citizens for their losses and damages sns-
tame d by these captures and coNaemnat'
ons - that he will enter into arrangements,
&c. This, Mr.. President, is the part OF
the resolution | object to. Ii IS gong
too far. It's circumscrib'ng the powers of
the President, and tying him dowp 10
particular point, Its making that the sine
qua non. the basis on which alone he sto
treat; at least it is doing this so tar as an
opinion of the senate, expressed IN this
way, can do it. Il really looks to me, as It
ON this particular point of restitution we
were afraid to trust our chief magistrate. !.
| presume there is not membsr who
hears me, who does not fully believe the
CAPTURES ond condemua5ions alluded to in