Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-12-16

This motion occasioned considerable
debate, aud on taking the question waa
lost, Ayes 90, Noes al.
II was then referred to a committee Of
the whole house on Monday The 2lst inst.
Mr.. Smysh (of Wylhe) begged leave
10 call the attention Of the house to a sub.
ject Of importance. It appeared to him
that the Informal war which already existed
between this country and Great Britain
must very soon become war ir form. -
We have been informed by the pu5lic
prints that The British court have declared
that if the nop.lmpor,aiion acf goes into
operation, il will be considered by that
court as declaration of war on our part.
This information appears TO be credited
by the menbsrs Of congress. A genie
man has said on the acor of the house Of
representa- es that the British nation has
said 10 Us, IL you persist 10 this law, we,
s consider il declaration Of war.D May
We not therefore (said Nj. S presume
shat the British crnizcss on our coast have
provisional instructions to seize cur yes
sells, if the law i'd question ism repealed
or suspended? Congress will no. and
onght Dot 10 do either. We may there
fore e5peel open war 70 commence imme
diasely after Monday next.
Under these circumstances ought We
torssain inactive. aud rely for the proiec.
sson of this SKATE entirely on the govern.
mento of the u. S. or eughs we 10 add to
the means congress map provide, others
IN oar power 10 give TO CHS state salfgrcar.
81 sscerisyf Il appeared 70 him that the
state legislatures We1e AZ liberty, after the
genersl goveromsns have made such pro-
vision for the defence Of state as may
seem reasonable, 10 make far,hez prof..
sion Tor the same object. The constitution
OF the u S, says, :" 10 state shall without
|" the consent OF congress, keep troops, or
!" ships ct var IN time Of peace I" The
practice OF this state agrees with the prin
ciples contendsd for. Several companies
were formerly raised aud kept in E.e ray
ofthis state for the pro;ec,ios Of the west.
ern frontier. The general goyernmen,
bore such part of the expence as seemed
reasonable, and shis stars betrayed the ba-
lance. 1t appears (Mr. S. said) that the
genera! governments contemplated 70 pre-.
vide 60 gun boats for the projection CT The
harbour of Norfolk, and this may be
reasonable proponIop of the means of de.
fence they are sbons to provide. But if
this house think it insult cient let us add TO
i,so as to make is ample. He moved
thar the house cume TO the following reese
LUTON.
ResolUed, That acommi,tee be a, pointed
io.enquire whether auy,snd what provision
Unnecessary to be made for the defeuce Of
the eastern frontier ofthis commonwealth,
In addition to the provision made for that
purpose by the government Of the u. S. &
thar they be authorised torepor. by bill or
otherwise.
This resolution was agreed to, and was
referred TO select committee, composed
Of Messrs, Smith (Wy,he), Murdaush,
Holt, Baytop, Foushee, Riddick, B Har.
rison (P. George, Mercer and Semple.
On the SOth ult. We're presented to George
Clymer esq. and Dr. Benjamin Rush, as
surviving members of the Congress that de-
clared the independence of America, fine
impressions of the Medal struck in Philadel-
sphia, In commemoration Of this splendid e.
vent ;--OByERsE, head of Benjamin Frank
lin, taken from Houdon's bust. Inscription,
8 g Lightning Averted; Tyranny ReheAed.'-
REVERSE, The America Beaver, nibbline
at the Oyershadowing Oak of British Power,
son the Wessern Continent, Date 1878.