Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-12-11
C O N G R E S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, November 4.
DEBATE

DEBATE
On the reference Of a Mem0,ial jyon sun;
merchants and traders Of F.,laarl.
thia, praying far a reSeal q The nan.
imbortatioa iazy-
M ]. CLAY presented the nemorial,
which was published 10 the Alexandria
AdVer.iser Of the Cd Dec.
The memorial having been read Mr..
+. Clay moved that it be referred to the
commitsee Of commerce aud manufac.
lures.
MIR Rowan did no, feel himself com.
pesens 10 Judge on this subject; bus would
barely sugges, 70 the consideration Of the
house, whether, after the attack on The
Chesapeake, a petition Of this nature
should be referred. He himself had dis
approved of the &C, of which this petition
paved a repeal; but i, had been passed,
and since It's passage the memorable az
fair Of he Chesapeake had taken place /;
and il had been said by the British govern
ment thar if this act were suffered 20 go
into operation it would be considered as
declaration Of war. Under these cir.
cumsssnces be could not as an American
vote for q reference of smemnrial Oh this
subject. Had he been entitled TO vote
previous 10 the affair of the Chesapeake,
he Should have voted for a repeal Of the
law; but now he was opposed TO consider.
ing The subject al all: they were not cow
in situation TO par!ey. And he, hoped,
Whatever nigh. hereafter be done, thar
the house would not, DOW enter into con.
sideraiioo Of this ssuhjec,. IN rising 90
express this opinion, he was ac,uatea by
the same sentiments that would guide h. m
in, cossmon life. If he had committed an
injury, 10 fair words he would reuact It's
bus ii threat we're used, he would not.
This law had caused a sensation IN the
cabiaes Of England, aud Whassver mlgh'
be the consequence, they must now make
a proper stand; even a reference of this
memorial would be degradation of their
d .gpisy.
Mr.. ]. Clay said thar Whatever were
his sentiments as to the propresy OF the
measure in question, yes as The memorial
was couchsd IN moderate terms, and drawn.
Up with ability, he thought i, would not
be Inconsistent with the dignity of con-.
press to refer II; they did cot grant she
prayerot ,hesmemarisl byfreferring il. 1t
was proposed 10 be re ferred 10 the commit.
tee appointed TO consider al! subjects re.
latipg to commerce, ard uo,hiDg could
certainly be sne,e Important 10 relation 10.
commerce, than TIE existence Of The act
prohibiting Inc importation Of certain
goods, wares aGd merchandise. He be.
lieved that every man 10 The community
who had considered the act 10 question,
had foundi, dehcien. 10 ell its .desails.and
perfectly nugatofy 10 some of lie psovi.
sions. He did nas speak Of the prin-
ciple Of ,hesct, but lis deGciencies.
Therewas doubs ur- s1,bat sci whether
a man could import ap .nSstsnd or . lock J;
Q. whether he might impor, silverwa,eh.
though there was 90 doubt Dor be could
import gold one; and there seye other
detec,s.io lis provisions of ike natute.
There was such Inconsistency, .,tla, IL
might be considered doub-ful even on ,he
ground Of expedieucy, whether il should
not be repealed.
Mr.s khea Ten.) was DOT one Of these
who wished for war with sny uatlon On
earth, bot he should vote AGAINST ,he re.
ference OF tbs pe,i,iou or aby other that