The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-17

Tnericans which she had split, and the out
RACES committed on our public and other YES
seis' Is she, said he, entitled to respect from
us Tor these! Andyet gentlemen tell us this
memorial contains respectful language
ihcy no doubt felt the effects which might
result from war, and he also wished for peace
TO his country; but would never purchase it
/ by STOPPING to G.. B. or any other power. Had
not Congress right to regulate our COM
J merce without consulting her, Had She been
/ so Hcqmplaisaat to US? Was her Justice so
/ great as to call upon us to repeal this law /?
1 hese questions needed no answer: he honed
the petition wCnld be rejected.
/ Mr.. G.~bF, cCamye5eN said he rose with
much reluctance TO submit to the House We
~ ieW- remarks, on this subject. The real
9pestlortnow 10 be decided was, whether the
| subject ef the petition Under cons;derat;nn
was such as oGSht, ar this time to claim The
serious dehhei'ation Of the House in order to
decide on It's merits. Was the prayer of it
sech rs they should deliberate about granting,
ii nc was doubtful what the decision on the
merits OF this petition Ought to be, then il
should be referred but if on the first glance
oil ITS prominent features. its objec, was evil
Gently inconsistent with the homer and dig
my OF the nation; Ifthere could be no doubt
win regard to the final decision that ought
TO De made upon it; this House ought not to
IN tins point OF view he considered this peti
tion. ltappeared to him as little less than
an insult on the understanding of the House
ana when al the facts relating to the subject
were taken into consideration, he was con-
Vlnced the House would be of opinion that
TINS application was, if not a direct, at least
an indirect Insult on their dignity. 1t was
salc the people had constitutional right to
petition, and that this House ought to hear
{, In
; Denied; the petition had been received and
read IN this House and the question now
was, how 1T should be disposed of which
must be decided according to the subject mat
Ter OF the petition, and VIII in no manner in
teTieSe with the right OF the people topetiti
on. In this petition, said Mr.. &. the petiti
oners state they are alarmed, in CONSEQUENCE
OF the nigh demands made b. this govern
mcnt on U. Britain, and that their alarms are
increased by Puohc rumor. How, asked MIR.
y do these petitioners know the nature Of
tle demands which have been made> and
with what propriety do they state to this
House Their alarms On account o. demands
MADE oY government for redress, at a time
When the whole nation feel with ind euation.
t'ie insult winch had rendered those demands
/ necessary Dat suppose the House should re-
Ter TINS petition Il would be essentially ne
| CesSary Before they could act on it. or remove
.hose alarms complained OF, that they should
know what those demands were that occasi-
| ohed them: They0ould not decide on the
| snoJect without knowing them and how were
they to obtain the information. Negociati
ohs on the subject were now pending; the peti
uohcis Could not therefore expect thac an en-.
curry INTO the naturee of thos demands would
DC maze by tins House, aid i would not be
CONSISTENT with tic interest or policy of the
hctIioA 20 make such enquiry, until the result
W tnose negotiations was known What
cement could therefore result 20 the petition
erS III regard tothe pretended ground Of their
Alarms d. from referring Their petition none.
i'ut inc OBJECT OF the petitioners is to cbtaina
repeal OF the non-iIhpOrtation act and they
state as the reasons for wishing this reveal.
'haf the act IS calculated to Cm6arrass the
merchants OF tins country and ii1itate the
people and government OF @. Britain
IL gentlemen would reflect & moment on
ms subject, they would be convinced that if
Ihe petitioners had paid proper respect TO
ne interest or their country or the dignity of
TINS house, they would not, at this time, have
made this application The passage Of that
act was the first step which had been taken
| ~ the American government, deciaratory Of
'hcir determination 10 resist aggressions
which mac been long continued on their COM
merce and citizens. II was passed bv 2 yc
ry large majority OF Ills House. afscr q fan
discussion ofits merits hta subsequent SEES
SION It's operation was suspended, and on
what ground! On this express ground, which
| was oihciaily mace Known to this House
that q. Britain had manifested friendly dis
position towards this country, and that our
| differences with that nation were I'm a fIir
train Oh amica5ic adjustmcut--and even with
thiS Information before them, Mr. &. said
| they had only suspended the operation of the
aCt, Dat had not repealed It. This was done
WIN view to meet in a proper manner, those
uiehuiy adVdnce5on the parc OF that nation
y al any thing since taken place, calculatclt to
concluatc the affections .. t,.is coiuitrv ~
whlch ought to induce the government to a.
Dandon the ground oi rcsistanae which they
y Al taken, or shrink from perseverance in
those measures nrst determined ON. and sti}l
Gee hcd necessary for the attainment Of Jus
! 'l!C--on the contrary had not tho conduct
/ on T. britain, since, been tissue of arera-
waited insults! Had not one aggression been
committed alter another, in regular succegs;-
on, aud w'th increasing atrocity, until the eli
max OF aggravated injury was complicated
ny the attacjs Oh tue Chesapeake? VAST ne
Ce5sa1y % repeat the Circdmstances Of this
outrage, winch to-, CUwardiy arrogance and
deliberate insult, exceeded any thing OF the
hh.l ever known among civilized nations ?
( - ne universal ind gAdtion which it e1cit-
cd throughout the union, skill remains una
/ Datea and would continue to do SO while the
crimcwas unatOncd ioi---and vet. under these