Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-11-24

ment could be known I; as the rightto search
Four national ships was expressly disclaimed,
| a special envoy deputed for the protested
object Of making our governments full, sa-
Ftisfactory and public reparation, on the sim
pie condition of previous revocation Of
this proclamation your committee are con-
strained to declare their opinion, that such
"a revocation, under such circumstances,
would not have involved any dishonorable
concession, or an aband onment of any just
right Or profession but would have been a
fair, reasonable, and macnanilnous pledge
of the sincerity Of, the wishes Of the Ame-
rican government to restore the accustomed
relations Of peace and .amity between the
two countries. This course must have
compelled the British envoy to have offered
that ample and honorable PREPARATION which
would have been deemed by our own nation
and by the world, an adequate atonement
for the outrage; or have justified in the
event of his refusal, not only the renewal of
the proclamation, but the adoption of mea-
sufes of the most rigorous and hostile de-
scriptlon.
But even on the presumption that the
course adopted by the government, in re-
fasing to revoke the proclamation as pre-
lin1iuarv TO the adjustment of that contro-
versy, be sanctioned by the usages of ma
lions, and the justice. of our claims; your
committee are still of opinion that pune
tiilious adherence to diplomatic forms and
prScedents shOuldIlot be maintained at the
risk OF war, bv nation whose genius and
policy. are pacific; and which, while Justly
Jealous Of the national honor and independ-
ence, looks principally to the substantial Sc
seurity of those blessings, and regards as
significant those petty contentions, which,
originating in courtl' pride and vanity, fire.
quently terminate in bloody wars. And
they therefore t.hislsk that this proclamation
ought not, IN the present situation of Eu-
rope and dis county, to remain as the only,
or even as the principal barrier to tbs vesto-
ration Of our amicable relations with the
British nation.
Your committee therefore ask leave to
reportsthe following resolutions:
Resolved, That the senators of this COM
monwealh in congress be instructed, ard.
the representatives thereof requestedto use
their most strenuous eXertions to procure an
immediate repeal OF the various laws i,npos-
ing an embargo on the ships and vessels of
the United States, as the only equal and ef-
iectual means of afording permanent relief
to the citizens Of this commonwealth from
the aggravated evils which they now expo
rienee. Z
Resolved, That although this legis,ature
would cia-erfuliy support the general govern
ment in the prosecution of a just and neces-
sary war, yet they cannot perceive the me-.
cessity intimatcd in the message of the Pre-
sident to congress, of continuing the en-
barge, or resorting to war; that it. is not
the policy Of the u. States to engage in a
controversy with any nation, upon points OF
diplomatic usage, or equivocal right; pro-
vided substantial PREPARATION for injuries can
be obtained and that the revocation of the
proclamation interdicting the British ships
Of war from our waters, ought not, in the
opinion Of this legislature, to be deemed an
inadmissible preliminary, which should OBJ
stluctN the adjustment OF the controversy
between the United States and Great Bri-
tain.
Read and accepted. sent up Tor concur
renee.
TIMOTHY .BIGELOW, Speaker.
IN Sc,latc, Nov. 1Gs 1903. -
Read and conouTred.
III. @. OTIS, President.
,ss,s.
THIS DAY Is PUBLISHED
Ind for sale at X. 6 R.aFsS BooN-ssor ana
lf.fRCH's, Georgetovp,