Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-12-18
CONTINUED.

Mr.. e. ". sCaD71t6ells SAID ne rose WIN inucn
reluctance to submit to the housesa very few
remarks On this subject. The real question
row TO be decided was, whether the subject OF
the petition under consideration was such as
ought, at this time, to claim the serious deli.
beration of tie houscsin order to decide Oh Its
merits. Was the PRAYER Fof 1t such as they
should deliberate about granting If It was
doubtful what the decision on tie merits Of
this netit;on ought to be, thenit should be re-,
ferred; Lutif on the first glance OF It's proml-
nent features, its object was evidently incon-
s;stent with the honor and dignity of the natl
on; If there could be no doubt with regard to
tie final decision that ought to be made upon
it; this house ought not to refer 1t to any
committee whatever. 1t was in this point G.
view he considered this petition. ItaPpeared
TO him as little less than all insult on the ull.s
Outstanding of the house. and when ell the
facts relating to the subject were taken into
consideration, he was Il that the horse
1In1on that this application was,
If rot a,direct, at least an indirect insult On
their dignity. It was said the people had a
cons4itu. ienal right to petition, and that this.
house ought to hear their petitions. This
right, he said, was NOT denied the petition
had been received and reas. in this house and
the question now was, how ii should be dis
posed Of which mustbe decided according to
the subject matter of the petition, and will in
no manner interfere with the right of the peo-
pie TO petition. In this petition. sid Mr G.
the petitioners state they are alarmed by the
high der, ands made by this country or Great
Britain, sant that their alarms are INCREASED
BY public ilsnaor. How, asked Mr.. G.. do tese
petitioners know the nature of the demands
which haye been made ard with what pro-
priety do they state to this house their alarms
on account ofde,nands made by government
for redress, at a tine when the whole nation
feel with indignation, the Insult which had,
rendered these demands necessary BIT sup
pose the house should refer this petition 1t
would be essentially necessary, before they,
could acs on it or remove those alarms COM
planned Of, that they should know what those
demands were that occasioned them. They
could not decide ON the subject without know
ing them and how were they to obtain the
information. Negociafions on the subject
we're now pending; the petitioners therefore
could not expect that an enquiry into the na-
tare OF these demands would be made bgthis
house. and it would not he consistent with the.
interest or policy Of the nation to make such
enquiry, unGlthe result ofthose negotiations
was known. What benefit could therefore re-
suit to the petitioners in regard to the pre-
tended ground Of their alarms, from referring
their petition? None. But the object Of
the petitioners Is 70 obtain a-rcpeal eftheta
importation act; and they state asthereasons
for wishing this repeal, that the actis calcu-
lated to eInbarrass the merchants of chs coun-
try and irritate the people and government of.
Great Britain.
ffgenilcmen would reflect moment or
this subject, they would be convinced that if
the petitioners had paid a pFope. respect to
the interest OF their country or. the dignity of
this house, they would sant at this time have
made. this application. i lie passage of that
act was the hrstssep which haS been taken by
tncAmcrican governments, aecisrasory oftheir.
determination to resist aggression, whic had
been long continued on their commerce and
citizens. twas passed by very large ma
lority of this house after full Discussion Of
Its merits. Alta Subsequent session It's ope-
ration was suspended and upon what ground