Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
WEDNESDAY, MoOea'5er 23.

WEDNESDAY, November 23.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
DEBATE
On the report in part Of the committee to
7vllon, 7pos vcferred so much q The tresi-
denis message as relates to fere;s,'. reAa-
tions.
coNTINUED.
Mr.. BACON.--In all the various dis
cussions which have arisen in the house on
the great subject OF our foreign relations,
and on the general course of measures which
were adopted in reference to them, in the
course of the last session, ] do not at pre-
sent recollect having occupied the house in
listening to any observations of mine on
these general subjects. have heretofore
foreborne from trespassing upon their pa
thence on two considerations because |
had been persuaded that the discussion was
already lii much ADLER hands than ray own,
and because | was strongly impressed with
a conviction, that in the perilous and mo-
msntous crisis to which the affairs of this
country had been FOR the year past vefging,
both the house and the nation required from
their representatives on this floor, less ar
gunlent, and more action, less defamation,
and moro decision. | spl now full, sensible
that both these considerations contir,ae TO
exist in their full force, and that the inter
ests OF the people will not always he best
subscrped by him who occupies their time
By the most elaborate speeches, or anluses
them with the best chosen rhetorical f.
cures.
Impressed witt, The full force of these re-
fections, should still have continued to
listen to others in silence, had | not have
conceived myself pretty loudly called npon
by the observations of ny colleague. vester-
day, and did Inot think it a duty at this
early period TO rescue The report Of the Sc
lect committee, One OF whom / had the ho-
nor TO be, from those ilnputations which
have BEEN improperly heapcd upon it by
him as also to meet some ofthose remarks
which he seemed to direct particularly to
myself.
That gentleman opened his address, by
expressing his entire and unqualified concur
renee in the broad position which is set UP
inthat general resolution reported by the Sc
lect committee which is now before us. And
what was his reason. Because, said he, that
resolution, if adopted, must be considered
as specific pledge on the part OF this house
for an entire departure from that general
system of restrictive policy which has been
pursued during the past year. Ii the gen
tleman indeed viewed the resolution in this
light, why would he not suffer it to guide
through with that silent and general acqui-
escence which on all hands seemed to be
promised to it? Why step aside with SO
much zeal to attack that system which, upon
his suppcsition, 10 one was about any more
!. to defend Why make it the great laboring
point of his very labored and systematic ar
! gument, to discrsdit that odious embargo
system which he affected to think every one
now was about to give up? Was itbecause
his hostility to it was sosdeep, that he, could
not bear to see it die, unless he had hand
in contributing to its exit, and was deter
mined to sheM his constituents that in the
language of sportsmen he was also in at the
death. The only reason, which / recollect
to have been given by him FOR this unusual
course was, that the future adherence to this
embargo system was specifically recon-
mended by the report of the committee.
Whatever may be the future Judgment Of