The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-09
mo.

dreadful Calamities-iirinccessa and wan
tonly-i am now more than ever persuaded
mat there is but too much FRENCH IN
lfLUENCE. And it is well that those who
succumo to 1t, should act IN secret. This is
the reason, and pledge mvse!f to YOU, al
most the only reason why we sit with closed
ooors. Our deliberations no more require
secrecy at this moment, than they would
when we were debating OH the subject cf for
uhcations. Nay, sir, this is in my opinion,
violating tile great rights of the people, by
sitting at this moment with closed doors T
! cannot express to you in terms sufficiently
strong, my abhorrcnce OF goIa. we arc doina
and the manner in which we are doing it.'
he motion for the committee to rise was
fnegatived. Ayes 81
MIR. 17ttnoT said the House was now very
thin, and it was desirable, dat on measures
OF SO much Importance they should lave a
full expression of the opinion of the House.
When the original embargo law was passed.
large number of members were present it
was then wished to postpone the bill, and in
vain urged that there had not been sufficient
time maturely to digest it. The present bill
contemplated an amendment TO the act ard
| as 1t had been but a very short time before
the House; he hoped they should have fur
thcr time to considciit. He was not bref;sr.
ed to vote for this amendment for although
ne might be in favor of fishermen pursuing
their usual employment, the Hence for that
purpose should be 80 restricted lis to render
evasion impossible. True, he did not vote
| for the law laying ar embargo, but siiice it
did exist, he wished that il SHOULD be carried
intotull effect, that there Should BE- no eva
SIGN; and he sincerely wished it might an
swer the purposes contemplated by the gen.
t!en'en who first proposed it. He understood
that one OF the principal objects of the en-
paIgo was to preserve. our seGmen: now he
did not think that if free and unrestrained
icence was granted to fishermen, it would
be the means of drawing out large propor-
ton Cf our seamen, and thus expose tlleIn to
impi'essment by the British This was one
great reason which would induce him to
vote against the amendment: he was not.
however; prepared to decide, aid ryished
further time to digest it; H. considered it a
matter of more Importance thaa most gen,
tlemen seemed to be aware of IfeYery vcs-
sci IN the United States WAS az liberty to
take out a fishing licence, it vas necessary
to guard the privilege by strong restrictions
and large security. As The bill under consi
deratioh now stood, it expressed that bond
win sH1teteHf security should be given !,
THIS loose and underlined expression would
put 1t In the power of the officers of the rere-
nue. to connive at evasions. He was opposed
to the amendment under Consideration, and
eyed TO the sectipn as it now :toods
MIR. Smile hoped the committee would at
least decide on the amendment; when it
might be proper to rise and resume TIE sub
lect tomorrow morning; ami at the same
time he thought the bin should pass as soon
as possible. When gentlemen were taking
on this subject, he wished hem to consider
whether othet classes If liens we're not
equally affected bv this II e!s,,rc as fisher
men. He wished the House to recollect that
the measure WHICH it had been obliged to a.
dopt, subjected the whole agricultural inter-
est to great inconvenience, and did not a Iisct>
commerce only! Would they have ever
had contest witk Great Britain or Frances
but Tor the carrying trades They would nos.
Had not their table been loaded with petit
onS from these men for years past calling
upon Congress forcibly to take some measure
for the protection of their men and vessels
Had not this been the Class of men who had
called most loudly FOR energetic measures.
and should they now enjoy an exemptian
while all other classes suffered deprivation p
lie hoped not. With respect to searen he
entertained an opinion different from thar
which had been expressed by some gentie-
men he thought they had too much patri-
otism 20 go into foreign service; they had
been tried and found worthy of tisust and
would be found 50 now. The House hadbeeo
told that these men, thrown out Of EMPLOY
would be obliged to beg in the streets for,
subsistence MIR! =. SAID such would not Dta
the case; the man who in this country want
ed bread, must be man who did not Deserve
1t. III men could not find subsistence ON the
water Their country was Blessed with an A.
oundant soil. What did gentlemen mean by
opposition to measures now adopted, Did
they intend to give up al claim to our rights
as an Independent nation or did they mean
to make stand against oppression IF thew
meant to contend that the hCwer Of making
money was more valuable than our national
rights, let them openly express il. What
measure would they propose as a snbstituta~
10 that which had been adopted? They had
not submitted any other when this vas nndI,.
consideration. He hoped he should be clear.
ly understood as conveying the idea th,,
whilst ne was willing 70 do Justice to the
mercantile interest of the Country, and grant.
them any protection which was Consistent
With the honor and Interest of the cu,utrc
they must not look for exclusive privileges.
they must partakc of the general stock. and
suffer the same pfivatons as other parts Of
the community.
Mr. QNncy said that fishermen snd nc..
shants whom the gentleman last M had con-
founded together, were totally distinct class
es OF people. The object of the embargo was
expressed in the message Of the President Of