Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-03-13
IMr. Grsgg's Speech c0atiaHsa..l

- ra,ieo of our vessels, contrary 10 what We
:. CONSIDER. anaaso swhasl verify beiieve 60
* be the law of nations, 1 shall not edstaia
49, the committee with macy observations. Il
have no lutention of entering inse,a dis
Of the abstract question, whether
Ia trade is unsuitable IN war, which 10 nos
.,~.open in time efpeace! lwili only observe
ss4stha, on the principles OF reason and JUS
s~~ss,ce. and from such authors as have has
8 IAN opportunity of consulting, the righ' tor
which we contend does appear TO me toSbs
z~-c,early established In some late publlca.
.gsE~,,ons this question has received very ln-
minous and ample discussion, and the
!. -sriont insisted only US has been placed on
such ground, and supported by reasoning
$50 clear, SO cpgent, and SO sonci1slvse mat
C,rea, Britain, with all her boas,sd talents,
will 6nd ii extremely difficult 70 had an
savers for them.
But even admitting the British doctrine
TO be correct, what, would ask,rh has been
~s1he conductcf that government under 1t!
4 Was itsbeenSthat OF nation actuatsd by
motives Of liberalisy and friendship! has
1t been. that Of civilized and polished na-
fair and honorable -eenduct OF cur govern,
.ment,has given Us righsso expect No
persoo, rhink, il prepared TO answer 10
the afi- masiye. It~doss not appear that
1.-The principle was Prac.issd en- during the
last nor for some ume after the commsnce-
ment of the present war. Il VILE not
undertake absolutely TO say that they re-
linau,shed it, bat the trade which II now
prohibits was pernited sobe carried On to
a great extent without any ihterruPtlor
frous their cruizers. Numbers allured by
,sthe prospect of gain. were indaces GO en-.
gage In the profitable business and sup
posing themselves safe Under the protec.
ton cf law, had sheir vessels and effects
sseizeG so a large amount. ffhe capture
and condemaatlon of theirPreper'y was to
them the hrse prcmulgation OF the law.
Ignorance of what it was impossible tor
the IN to know, was imputed 70 them as a
Crime, and an honorable dependence On
~she Justice of a government protesting TO Dc
friendly, was prosecuted with $senally and
forfeiture.
But even independsnt,of our just cause
'of complaint arising from this principle,
apparently new, thus uniussly brought into
operation, how has that government con-
Quoted in relation 10 the captures, in which
5atter the most minute investigation, all
the Ingenuity of her courts have not been
able 10 discover any principle TO 'warran,
the condemnation. The prrplexlag df2I.
nnltie.. the vexatious delays, and the
enormous expence attending the prosecu-
sion of acclaim through every stage OF Its
progress, place an almost insurmoCntasle
barrier in the way of obtaining justice. In
fact. all her commercial maxins. and the
whole system OF her conduct, discover
manifest intention, a fxed determination
20 cons6nEnate she ruin OF the commerce.
ct this country.
am aware, Mr.. Chairman, shas RAINY
of the captures and condemnatiens, OF
(which we have heard such loud complaints,
4xare strictly warrantedby shelaw of nations.
An immodeTate desire of gain very ire
s>auently leads the merchants TO engage IN
a trade, which the. universal consent ct ali
nations has declared to be unlawful. This
.observation will, however, perhaps, apply
swl,h more proprie,y TO foreigners, whs
have fixed their residence among us.to en-
10y the advantage of rsrading under oar
neutral rights, than to the real American
MERCHANT. This description of men, *un.
eder no influence of patriotism, and too &c.
nerally urrsstrained by any principles o.
justice, pursue their objeet, wholly re-
CARELESS Of the interest of the country, OF
Of any injurious consequenecsto.wh which II
might be subjected through their rniseon
sduer. / have no idea eof Involving my
country in any difficulty on account Of these
people or their trade. As they are cisizen'
of theSwerld, equally attached to eysrs
scou0sry, Il would always willingly sxrsn