The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-10

/
teen millions of dollars? ask then where
are we to get money for the support ofsuch
immense establishments. Mr.. Williams
said, that twas on the shore that he would
risk the salvation of his country; and of an
invading foe there would not, he trusted, a
single man escape to tell the fate of his COM
rades Indeed he should tremble for his
country if he thought its salvation depended
on floating batteries.
Mr., Nicholas said there appeared to be
difference of opinion among gentlemen as
| to the mode of preparing for action. 1t was
unquestienably necessary, he observed, that
the House should come to some decision on
the subject. Gentlemen who were in favor
| of naval force, when that question was fair
| ly decided in the negative, would no doubt
give up all idea OF that force and join those
in the majority i'll voting for that force which
they deemed necessary. l do not, will not
believe (said Mr.. NJ that difference ofo-l
;;s:ti::c sijvCirs preparation TO be
made, will prevent us from making any
Until some decision be made, we shallbe per
petually embarrassed in this way. have
| not made up my opinion this subject;
but / am inclined to believe that in the event
of war we can do but little on water. /
think itimportaEt,. however, that the thing
should be settled and not procrastinatcd -
This question should be met and decided.
l do not believe that say too much when i
say that 4 6eHevc guar TO be inevitable. I
say this upon the presumption that am
warranted in believing that it is the deter
niiation OF this House and the nation to re-
sist, as long rs a man remains or us, the e.
diets of reat-Britain and France. Having
made this determination. what is our duty
under the present aspect OF our affairs, when
it does not appear that either of these natl
ons will recede! To prepare to meet the
crisis as men determined to resist effectual-
| ly. Shall we rio this as long as we divide as
to the means to be employed? We shall
not, sir Mr.. Nicholas expressed hope
that gentlemen who thought land force the
best, would, if it should not be agreed to by
a majority, consent to employ naval force;
and that, under similar circumstances, those
in favor of naval force would consent to en-
ploy land forces. 1t was of the utmost i'm
| portance that they should come to an under
standing on the subject. If out-voted in the
force which was best in his opinion, he would
cordially assist in preparing the other spe-
cies. He said he was for offence. not for de
fence merely, when thus vitally assailed.
He aoped the House would at once settle the
mode and commence the work of prepare
| ton.
Mr.. Lyon said that it was we known
that he had never been inimical to naval
force. The rule which he had laid down to
himself had been to give great shat'e Of the
revenue derived from commerce to the pro-
lection of commerce. He had never enter
! tanned the idea III manning Il iieeT, Tor the
purpose of defying Great Britain OF, the oce-
an He had wished to give that Share ofthe
/ proceeds of the commerce of the nation to
| its protection which should be deemed ne
cessary. He said that sending out navy
with a view to meet that of Great Britain
OH the ocean would indeed be a QuiXotic
! expedition. He had always thought that
this nation would be justihable alone in de-
fcusive He would forever maintain
the right to govern ourselves on land, and
On the ocean too if he thought there was a.
ny probability of succeeding in such a CON
test. He censured the propensity displayed
by gentlemen for making partial prcparat-
ons, and wished to sec. a whole system at
once.
The question OH ord cring MIR. Sfory's pro-
position to lie on the table was carried, AZ
to SIS.
EMBARGO.
Mr.. Van Cortiandt observed that it was
impossible for the House to get along with
business till the question OF repeal or conti-
nuance OF the embargo was decided. He
therefore called for the order of the day on
MIR. Chit.enden's resolution for the inneti-
are refleai of the embargo.
/ MIR. BGcon made a motion which super
seded this motion, viz. to discharge the
committee of the whole from the further
consideration Of it, and to refer it to the
committee of the whole to whom was re-
ferred the bill OIL the subject of non-inter-
course.
: After debate of near three hours this
motion was egatived--Yeas 23-Nays 81.
The debate was desultory in the extreme,
including questions of order, &c. and the
decision of the question appeared to involve
!, neprinciple. Messrs. Gardner, Dana, Chit
tenden, Quincy, Upham, Lyon, Sloan, and
Masters appeared to be in favor of the a
doption of Mr.. Chittenden's resolution and
Messrs ]. G.. Jackson, ID. X. Williams. Ba-
con, G.. w. Campbell, Smile, Alexander,
Story, Bibb, Holland and Eppes opposed to
1t.
The House then resolved itself into q COM
mittee of the whole on motion of Mr.. Van
Cortlandt-Yeas 65, Nays 49--Mr BAssET
in the chair on the resolution of Mr. Chit
tenden In the following words:
" ReSofved, That the act passed at the
last session of Congress, entitled, 1" An act
laying an embargo on all ships and vessels
in the ports and harbors of the United States
and the several acts supplementary and adj
r ditional thereto" ought to be Immediately
repealed.
Mr.. Van Cortiandt moved to strike out
the word I" Immediately" and insert E" from
| md of he IS