Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-12-15

IMf. O0u.HQrG SdlS' sudt SHS ta' 6ueSS -
the petitioners was decent, but their object
the time of,heir application, & the obserya,
:iops which they had made he sho't high.
" improper. The petition contained ~
situations that the executive had taken too
high ground, aud demanded .hings that
were improper; he ,hsrefore thought the
memorial was nor. entitled 70 that counte.
nance from the house which IL would APP
pear 10 receive by a reference 10 com
mit,ee. of The whole. He differed 10 CPL
nion with the gentleman from Virginia just
cot down, who thoughs this memorial
should reuse their feelings; he .housht il
should stand on its own merits. The sub.
isct was in the hands Of commi,iee, who
would make report, and they might then
display their feelings When the law in
question was pnsssd, be thoughs some
steps were necessary 10 be taken to con-
vince the British government that they
would no, calmly pstup with all their In
iuriss, bu. would resent them. He had
believed this law would have tina, effect,
and that congress oughsso pass it; and
havipg taken this ground nc would not re.
,reat-shts was 10 time for retreating; he
would much rather advance. The peti.
TONERS had chosen very unfortunase time
for iheir prayer, when a negotiation was
actually pending. What would be the 81.
fec, Of a reference of the memorial? II
would strengthen the measures of the
British government; tsey would suppose
that the rouse repenied of their ceudac..
This would be she effect as respected q.
Brian. What would be its etfecs as re.
s2ecSsd oar own governmcn,! t would
SO a necessary consequence weaken .ae.r
haods. He was willing TO treat the peti.
iioneJs with respect, as he did not know
whether they were British agents or Amc.
rican citizens but he frosted the motion
for reference TO q committee OF the whole
woald not prevail es be could ses no one
reason for il.
MIR. 8 Clay said that the petition was
sigoed generally by ship holders, nSn of
responsibility; and with respect to the
insiaua.ion that it was the offspring of
British party, there WIS signed TO that
memorial tie nane of a maa, who could
90 more be supposed British partisan,
than could her greatest enemy; bur he
would not now enter into an enquiry into
the character Of these men. The gentle.
mao from Massachusetts FIRST up (Mr.
Crowninshieidl bad made a long haraugue
CD the state Of the uaiion, aud said that 10
difficulties arose under this law. The
cus,om~house of Philadelphia, ia answer
10 an enquiry by depusation from body
of merchants, declined giving an oplninn
rs to the operation OF some OF its provl-
stone. Every person knew how the biz
originated; when the gentleman from Ma
ryland who wss not now on the floor Air.
Nicholson) brought forward the resolution
it was generally as all resolutions were, and
merely declared the principle; when i was
agreed 20 aed referred TO committee to
bring ia = Bill, instead OF gcag Into the
necessary details, they took The mere words
of the RESOLUTION. As ito some obsersa.
,ions iroi.l the gentleman from Tennessee
mir. Rhea) one of which was that the law
did not embsrrass the merchants, he should
only observe thar il appeared to be the
privilege o: member of congress to speak
on every subiecf that occurred, whether
he knew any thing about il or not. He
should say no more, but TIA, his feelings
had been excessively woonaed by the OBJ
servasion of the gentsnau from Pennsyl.
vania Mr.. SMILEY when he knew that the
memoriallsts, whose ali was now at stage,
were honest. men, though of different pc.
litcs from hlsaself.
Mr.. Nicholas said it wss urged by the
their prayer, that the law needed amend.
ment; another was, their fear Of Irritating
Great Britain. re wished TO God ,hr u.
S. might remain al peace with eeefyna