Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-06-05
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CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, MAY 20.

its distinc, parts referred to distinct
committees.
| Mr.. Randolph said, that Cor eight
years past, change had taken plac, in
the mode of communication between
the President and Congress, at the ope-
ming Of the session. lie read Mr.. JEFF
fersoR,s original letter to the Speaker,
giving his reasons for substituting a
Message for Speech. 1t would i'll be-
come him, Mr.. X. remarked, who SO
highly approved that course then, who
SO highly approved it now, to make any
objection to it. He disapproved the
delivery oil Speech by the President,
because it resembled the practice in
Great Britain at the opening Of parlia-
ment by the king. But il did not fol-
low, because We were half right then,
that we were wholly right now. No
man could read the answers OF the FIRST
Congresses to the Presidents, without
being sickencd at the adulation which
they contained. Much time had also
been uselessly employed in discussing
them, and yet those answers afforded
the best opportunity which the oppo-
sition or minority could possibly have,
to canvass the measures of govern.
ment. Upon the propriety of answer
ing the message, however, he did not
mean to express an opinion, still less TO
make motion that it should be ans
wered. But when he rejected upon the
great and suspicious change which had
been effected in our foreign relations,
in SO short aspace Of time, and which
had occasioned such great rejoicings
among the people, he thought the
house ought not TO remain silent. He
had said, at the last session, that if the
new President should administer our
affairs EVEN NOT VERY WELL, many
grains of allowance ought to be made
Cor the very difficult situation in which
he was placed. He thought the house
ought to express its opinion upon the
present occasion, and therefore moved
the following Resolution
Resolved, That the promptitude and
frankness with which the President Of
the United States has met the over
lures of the government of Great Dri-
/ tain, towards the restoration OF harno-
ny and free commercial intercourse
between the two nations, receive the
appreciation Of this House.
MIR. Findley spoke at some length,
but could not be understood in the gal
iery. He appeared to think the resolu-
/ ton novelty in Legislation, and to be
opposed to it or any other Of the same
character.
MIR. Dana doubted the propriety OF
adopting the resolution in its present
abstract form, but considered it proper
for reference to q committee Of the
whole, that the subject might be dis.
cussed, unfettered BY any rigid rules Of
order.
Mr.. Aston and Mr.. Bacon approved
the conduct OF the President, and would
vote for the resolution rather than a.
gainsf it, if obliged to vote anon it, but
would prefer avoiding it. THAT is,
they 1vouid vote for IL, if they could nor
hclh i, bur would rather notl.
MIR. Bacon moved to amend the res
olution by adding the following words
-" And furnishes additional evidence
Of the spirit Of accommodation on the
part of the government OF the United
States, which has at no time been in
Permitted Mr.. b. moved that nc
resolution and amendment be referred
to committee Of the whole.
MIR. j. e.. Jackson moved an indef-
mite postponement ofthe subject.
MIR. Randolph opposed this motion
as tantamount to rejection. He did
no, expect that the motion would be re-
jected, although he certainly supposed
it would he opposed. He knew there
were men in the country, and he belize
we'd in the house, who disapp owed of
the Presidents proclamation, and the
construction given TO the non-inter-
course law, He highly approved the
presidents conduct, contending that it
differed widely from the principles pur-
sued by Mr.. Jefferson, when he Offer
ed to suspend the Embargo as it related
to England, if She would repeal her or
ders in council. Suppose Great Bril-
tain had accepted that offer, what would
have been her situation with regard to
the United States The Old non.im.
porta'ion law (Which was adroitly smo
thered to death by the non-intercours
law would have been still in force "a
gainst her, by which her fine cloths and