Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-28

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either nation, and an adherence to n. :" :
neral principle Of equality of that act !. 8
a departure from former ground nor - :
ABANDONMENT of our neutral character -
has been said, why it was extended
France was because she burnt our, vss,.
and imprisoned our seamen, but il N.Y. 49,
have been from another cause /; it wa, ~
we might not abandon the neutral po,;,;S IS
which we. had adopted: the law was + . :.
with severity on both nations for their " +
lencc on our commerce through the on,,l
ton Of their orders and DEGREES; rII
these orders were published did France j.;
mand an Introduction Of English vessels
No: did England require one of French
+ No. Yet gentlemen say, the admission !.
French vessels will embarrass the pepd,,.
negotiation of commercial intercourse.
/ and is it Of no consequence to have a CON-
mercial intercourse with France too? CT
any man say there is not now on the MAJ
from France proposals for renewal Of 1,
tercourse on as liberal terms as those Offers
by Britain but should we be so unwiise !.
to discriminate as to admission of armed
shipping, might not France refuse to nePp
ciate on the ground that she did not stand
on an equality--that she was not placed III
the same ground as Great Britain, and als
was the very doctrine of objection .onha
part of Grea, Britain to an amicable concl
sion of differences, but we placed her M
the same footing with France, and shall vel
refuse this to France that we yielded to her! /
Besides, vixen we grant her admission kl
marine is so decayed that it is probable T:S
may never see her flag in our harbors I'M I
deed she cannot send it to sea without sr
IRENE danger, and am unwilling to shu}
our doors upon France when the object I'll
be gained is SO little.
iNy. L;vermore wished the discussion q
be confined to the question before the house
II can understand the purpose Of the a'6
amendment 1T goes to say, by affair construs.
ton, that both belligerent national vessels
are to be excluded,i it goes with the ideatba
there has not been full adjustment vlti
one of them, and the consequence is BnlN]
vessels will not be admitted some Of hR|
points in dispute are so important and
abstruse ,as they in some cases involve cues
rions Of national laws, that some years mTEs'
elapse before they are finally settled, an
till then, by this construction the vessels &
the negotiating power cannot be admlttsd
My principal o6iect in Directing to,the le'9a3a
it came from tie senate, IS to boint out, has
the responsibility ofhhemea mast rt'i q I
the shoulders Of the n,ajority. There ~
been great deal said about the value Of
tercourse in trade with France, andl
gree that it is valuable consideration but
what then, am ! to do improper things
facilitate it; but the object une er consides1
ton does not tend to this facility: Ho'N
will the exclusion of French public ships
perate against peace with France any mort
than the exclusion of her private merchans'
men, cannot see. What conceive to b
the proper line is, that this restriction al
houldoperate against thatnation who shoa4
not rescind her unjust edicts-this wouah II
fair: but it is said, sinceFrance cannot SEM &
to sea any public vessels of war, why ex'as
measures of severity y hich will produce ~
good effect? Well, if so, should We ena
any measure of severity against her, 81
could do us no harm, we would have nr
thing to fear from her resentment; but uH
IS not so. for we have all seen that there ny
lately been French squadron in the WEI
Indies, ana that this very squadron deps0
lated on our commerce. But as it bears VI
On our own honor as nation, let US see u
effect of the measure of admitting Frenf
vessels who have ON board at tie timeordeh
o capture, burn or destroy our merchars 81
nsn, let US not look alone at what she M
lone, but at what she may do, at what NJ
,essels ,ow carry on board against US u
would it be consistent with our indepens e