Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-03-01
CON c. R E S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, Feb. "a.
CONTINUED.
NON-INTERCOURSE.

The house again in committee of the
whole,
Mr.. BAssETT in the chair;
On the bill from the Senate, for the inter
dieting commercial intercourse, &c.
Mr.. d. r. Williams rose to rescue HIM
self from any imputaton of inconsistency.
He had been extremelyhappy when the gen
tleman rose, to hear him avow his intention
of rescuing the bill from some Of the impu-
tations cast on it; for really it was some
what necessary, as no reasons, had yet been
offered in favor of the bill. But he denied
that the gentleman had succeeded in his et-
forts. The resolution for non-intereourse
which had been adopted at the commence
ment of the session had been intended to go
in aid Of the embargo; it did not contem-
plate repeal of the embargo, as this bill
did-and there was, therefore, ho lnconsls-
tency in voting for that resolution and a
gainst this bill. AS to the additional duty
being a burthen-, if the law passed as it
now stood and was executed, 1t deprived
the people of the article altogether; it not
executed, the premium to the smuggler
would amount in some cases to 500 per
cent instead of 50 or Is per cent. And I'M
questionab1y it could not be executed tor
Notwithstanding the existence OF actual war
between @. Britain and France, and all the
revenue officers and military force OF both,
the British market had always been suppl
ed with French claret and Spanish WOOL
The gentleman from Virginia had endea-
vored to saddle him and his friend (Mr.
Taylor) with inconsistency because ne could
not defend the bill--for it could not be de-
Tended.
Mr.. Bacon, however he might be prepar-
ed to urge arguments against the bill, SAID
he could not in charity push the argument
any further upon gentlemen for no gen
tleman had attempted to defend it except
the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Ghol-
sony who with the characteristic gallantry
Of young and active soldier, had done the
best he could for it. Mr.. Bacon however
only rose as he had been alluded to as hav-
ing an amendment in his possession, to read
it to the house. Mr.. B. read the following
section as an amendment which in connec-
ton with other sections containing details,
he intended to propose if Mr.. Wlllams's
amendment should be carried:
"And be it further enacted, That the COM
mander and crew of any merchant vessel OF
the United States, owned and navigated
wholly by citizen or citizens thereof, may
oppose and defend against any unlawful re-
straint or seizure not authorized by the GUS
tomary and acknowledged law OF nations,
which shall be attempted upon such vessel,
or'upon any other vessel armed and navl-
gated as aforesaid, by the commander or
crew Of any foreign armed vessel, and may
repel by force any assault or hostility which
shall be made or committed on the part OF
such foreign armed vessel pursuing such
attempt, and may subdue and capture the
same and may also retake any vessel own
ed and navigated as aforesaid, which may
have been captured contrary to the custom
airy and acknowledged laws of nations, by
any foreign armed vessel.
Mr.. B. observed, however, even if the
bill should not be amended, he should vote
for it, chiefly because the term of its dura-
ton was limited, and it might produce a
little good.
Mr.. T. G. jackson conceived that the
expedient proposed was even worse than
the non-intercourse bill. He rose, however,
to expose the evil tendency of the amend