Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-02-29
]. CONGRESS.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
Safnrdau, february 30.


The bill in addition to the act supplements
ry to the act laying an embargo, being under
consideration, and on Mr.. Bacon having Elo-
we'd chat the bill be recommitted to the COM
mittee of commerce and manufactures,
Mr.. GARDENER made lively representation
of the suffcrings OF the country and the priya-
tons of individuals in consequence OF the en-
barge law Surprising that MOTTO be sufhci-
emily binding or preventative Of all intercourse
! they had passed a second bill on the subject,
and were now going on with third forging
Of letters on the commerce of the country
He represented the house as carried on by an
unseen handwriting into affect a complete
non-intcrcourses law under color of embargo
He thought he should ill do his duty to Ills
constituents if he did not protest against this
species Of legislation, and oppose the bill -
His principal objection to this bill went to the
fourth section prohibiting expectation Of. pro-
duce by land or in any manner whatever
Here was aprohibition to land communication
in bill aanendatory to law laying ansmbar-
go on ships and vessels. This was going G.
ven further than was recommended by the
President sf the U. s. which produced the
embargo. The minority on that question 20
their eternal honor had opposed the destruc-
ton Of their country had set day and night
and day and night again before they would
consent TO this measure, but not content with
obtaining this the house were now by sort
OF magic influence, aiding each other to riyet
closer the chains which bound them down.
This bill contemplated a measure esscnti-
ally different from the original embargo law;
1T was non-intercourse bill. This measure
was indeed at first called an embargo; but it
would be found that it was a sly and cunning
deception, prelude toa complete non inter.
course. Mr. c. asked ifthe nation was pre-
pared for this Ifthey were determined to
pass the BILL call it by its proper name, call it
a non-intercourse law. If they were deter
mined thus to take part with the Gallo era
peror thus TO forge chains to bindthem to the
triumphal car ofNapoleon- Mr.. g. was here
called to ord.r by several gentlemen, Mr..
Montgomery hoped that he would be per-
mitted to go on that his sentiments might be
known. The Speaker, declared him to be out
of order
MIR. G. said as gentlemen appeared unwil-
ling to hear a little more OF what seemed to
vex them, he would observe that the prosi-
dent had pyofessed his intention to be merely
that the nation should retire witniIl Itself
This bill then Was not only in direct hostility
to the interests Of the country, but what is
worse, in direct hostility to the preSi eNt S
professed wish, which appeared to ee merely
that our vessels and seamen should DE retain
ed in. our han ors. Instead ofthese repeated
attempts to fetter the country more complete
ly, and thus putting ingenuity 1.-THE rack to
sitter comm cree, he should have wished that
since our ships were to be kept in their har-
bors, as much commerce could be enjoyed
by the citizens of the country as could, at the
same time that our vessels were kept in port.
But instead of this, they had been going or
to make it worse and worse. Suppose the
people of Vermont traded with the people of
Canada, or those Of Georgia with their neigh
bors in Florida, Why should they not ?---j
Why not permit some of their produce 10
find vent? Ii seemed to be the intention OF
the house that there should be 10 corner of
the country which this thing should npt reach.
Gentlemen seemed at least to have method
in their madness. This restriction after re-
striction might be for the good of their
country; but fit was he could not.sce 1t: He
begged this august body the honorable re-
representatives. of the nation to sheath tic
flaming sword, to give up the idea OF sacriho-
inethe best interests of the country to In
sure complete non-intercourse /; he adJu-
red them by their suffering eouasry to stop 1t
could not come to good.
The great objects contemplated blythe Pre-
s;dent, said he are completely answered. Let
us leave a. little opening for the exeltion OF J
enterprising men. Bring not distress On cve
nv body. ] doubt very much whether our ex- |
nerience hi.heto is calculated to impress us
With the good resulting from the embargoit-
self. We.were told that 1t WIS necessary to 1