Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-22
C o N G II IL S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, March Z.
1.E.s - DEB TIE,
ON Ma. CREGG,S RESOLUTIoN,
(coNTlsUED
(a1r. kI,vDLEY,s sheech soneluded.J J

or. fIVDLEY's sheech eoneluded.J
When ar by whom was ever non inn
porta.ion deemed war measure! not at
any time we know Of by Britain, the u
nited States or probably any o,her nation.
The British treaty recognizes it as nea-
sure OF peace. While we were YET colo
nies we had recourbe TO non-:mportation
by voluntary ag, cement, in order DIN
duce Bcitain to repeal the stamp act after
c.her methods had been exhausted :. II
was not considered or treated as war
measure by either party, but by affecting
the manufacturing ia; crest, sc. in Britain
1t procured the repeal in part of the reve.
nue. acts. what of them remained unre-
pealed as pledge of the sovereign right
Of the British parliament. TO legislate for
;he colonies. produced The war which es
tablished our independence.
During the FIRST session of the third
congress, information Of thu British or
ders of the 9Th of June 1898. and The ag-
gresslons in pursuance Of these orders
committed on our COMMERCE, we're offici-
ally communicated to congress by the Pse
sident. In consequence of which Mr..
Madison submitted certain resolutions
that are now in the hands OF the mem
bers, bu; before any fnal decision on them
had taken place.infornla,'on wa received
otethe orders of the 9Th Of NoYsmbcr.
1898 which authorized q higher degree of
aggi essiop than had been heretofore com.
muted. Neither the orders Of June or No
ycniber were otherwise knowH but by The
execution, until after great damage had
been sustained. Inconseguence oil, infor.
ination of these ruinous depredations an
embargo foy5 80 days was laid after two
days consunatianl with an interval be-
! tween, wiki shut doors. The embargo
was. soon after extended for SO days Ion-
ger.
The embargo however was not Intend
ed as a permanent measure, nor cxpe etcd
10 have any permanent, effect, it could not
have great ehect except on The British
! Westslndies which depended on us for
| their necessary supplies. The embargo
however secured what was yet in our har-
bors until congress nigh, have time to
deliberate, and Britain did not treat il as a
war measure.
The first result of that deliberatfon was
resolution for sequestraling the debts
due to British subjects by citizens OF this
, country, which was at this time large
mount. After this had been considered
for considerable time and afterwards
discussed, it was dropped, and resolution
Tor non-intercourse with the British do
rainions submitted to the house This
resolution was with frequent intervals a
subject of deliberation for some weeks
before the house of representatives, and
IN all Its stages was supported by ma.
Jorly. While this subject was before
the house and before bill was ordered
to be reported5 information was received
that Britain on the 8,h of January had
isyorably revised the orders of the 9th of
Nov. preceding, and tina. our commerce
was again admitted to be conducted on
such footing as we hove since acquies-
ced in with little complaint. But the pro-
gress of the hBh-intercourse bill was not
therefore stopped the British court had
issued orders on one principle in June,
and upon another principle in Moves ber,
and a third principle in March. Three
orders essentially different from each o.
Their were issued in seven months and
might probably have made another
change before this information arrived,
the bill therefore passed the house by a
greater majority than it is believed any o.
ther commercial measure during that SEES.
sion. 1t passed also in the senafe by a
respectable majority till the order for the
last reading, when the votes being, equa.
the bill was refused the last reading by
the Vice-Presidenps vote. The President
had recently nominated Mr.. Jay envoy
extraordinary to the court of London, this
induced number Of the members Of the
senate to believe that it was not necessary
10 pass the non-iDtercourse bill into law.
Mr.. +. said, he had sufficient ground TO
believe that the Prerident dskyed the no.
niDation Of an envoy for considerable
time, waiting for the progress OF the bill
AID that he did not nominate the envoy
with an intention to defeat the last vote
on the bill, but rather TO correspond with
il. Thus far he we'll recolIee led that on
the day that the non.intercouese resoluti.
on was submitted TO the house, in ccnver.
salien with one OF ihe heads Of depart.
meots on the subject of the Presiden,
4 ~.