Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-31
CONG R E S S..
HoUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
DEBATE ON EXTRA SESSION.
IcoSTrNuED.
THURSDAY, January 10.

from Virginia Mr.. burWeiij tiSei " oe'e,'e :
doctrine which he did not approve-tnat
this government was like that OF .. Britain.
Now ti,ey were so little alike Mr.. bur-
well explained thar he had said that the 60
yernments were in some of their features a
Ike Mr.. Macon said that the reason OF
the tear. in G. Britain that the parliament
would not meet often enough was extreme
" obvious. The only voice which the Peo-
nie had was in the commons, and they want
ed them 10 be always In session to keep the
king and nobility off from them. In Great
Britain the king dissolved parliament at MS
pleasure. Here, he said, there was no
power TO dissolve congress. Indeed there
was no similarity in the two governments.
He said he had no fear of any mischief be-
ing done, by congress meeting carrier; but
he was opposed to their meeting earlier, be-
cause they would do more good by staying
away. Gould any man say what would take
place betwixt this day s the third OF March,
and yet the house were now called on TO oe-
tcrrnine on an extra session. lie was Tor
giving such time, after the Deliberations OF
the present session closed, as that &. Britain
might see what we had done, and consider
whether she would reuact or so to war, Tor
if she did not rctract, war must be the con-
sequence. Mr.. Macon said he would give
every opportunity for peace he would not
be for hurrying the matter. he had no O.,
pinion that congress being IN session would
have any effect on the people. The cry OF
anintention to destroy commerce was not 70
make him do single thing which he wouid
not otherwise do. No man can believe
(said he1 that we who raise produce should
wish it to lie on our hands, us IS now our ST.
tuation. 1t is maritime rights fer which we
contend. For these we planters are max
ing sacrifices and we know il. as to the
grover, it is immaterial, In point Oh inter
est. into what ship or Wagon his produce
goes but ae is contending for the interests
Of his mercantile brethren. A great deal
has been said about repeating the embargo
10 put an end TO discontents. Let gentle
men beware of it, lestin trying to please e
very body they please nobody. Let us do
what is right /; that is the only ground Tor Us
to take. Whenever we begin to tesnPovlse,
that principles abandoned. disagree with
the gentleman from Tennessee as TO the OK
pediency of continuing the embargo DO
not believe that it would be inexpedient to
trvsit beyond May. I believe we ought TO
try If till September. This is my opinion.
What effect do gentlemen expect chat the
embargo will have had in May Not more
than at this moment. Whilst every day
from that time till September it will be more
and more effectual. never voted for it as
a permanent measure but my opinion vas,
as stated it, that it might be necessary to
hold on to It for one, two or three years.
/ might be wrong but this was my opinion
then. and have not changed it. As to an
extra mission, have never thought OF 1t;
but am willing to leave it with the execu-
tive. Ii has been so suddenly suggested,
however, that would not undertake TO de-
eide positively on the subject. shouldr a-
Their incline TO let them send TO us now; we
have sent to them long enough. As to the
people being tired of the embargo, whene-
yer they want war IN preference 10 1t, they
will send their petitions here to that effect.
When gentlemen from the eastern states say
that the people there are tired OF 1t, perhaps
they speak correctly. As to all the talk of
instructions and divisions, it has no effect
onme. When the sedition law was passed
under the former administration, it was said
that the people would not bear it. / tho't
then as now, that the elections would shew
their disapprobation, and that they would
manifest it in that way alone. When the
people are tired of the embargo, as mean
of preserving peace, they will tell you SO,
and say, /" give us WARP But none have
said so, yet, sir. know well, that myself
and some Others are blamed for our adher-
ence to this measure. ] can only say, that