Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-26

the harbor of New York. and insert a
proviso thatno part of the money appropri-
ated by this bill should be employed in that
mode Of defence, and that the materials
provided for it should be sold and the pro
ceedso Of the sale Appropriated to o,her forti
fcations. The motion was opposed by
Messrs. Burwel and Blount, and after.
wards Withdrawn.
A motion was made by Mr.. d. r. MI
kam8 to strike out the I'd section OF the bll
-(respecting the canal of Carondelet).-
his motion was superseded BY motor
OF Mr. Dana, for the committee to rise II
order to reconmit the bill on which mo-
ton debate took place of two ca three
hours in length, turning principally on the
question Of the propriety Of that mode o.
defending New Orleans. Motion to rise
lost, ~ to 40. Motion TO strike out the
second section lost SIS to 40.
The blank in the second section was filled
with $4,000 dollars.
MI. Ne5vton moved q new section to au-
thorise the president OF the United States
to cause a survey OF the land lying between
the head ofthe Eastern branch of Elizabeth
and Lynhaven rivers, to ascertain the prac-
ticaoility of cutting canal across.-Nega-
lived, Ayes 10.
The committee rose and reported the bill
amended, which was ordered to be engross-
ed for a third readino.
Mr. Ly0n obtained leave Of absence from
Monday next for the remainder of the ses-
sion.
PREPARATION FOR WAR.
Mr.. Nic}olas said, that there never was
a period in any country which more requir-
ed the union and exertion Of all its citizens
to cxtricate it from It's difficulties, than the
situation Of this country required at the pre-
sent time. The two most powerful nations
Of the world Said he) are IN state Of war
against this country. Their a9gressions "a
gainst US have been continued for twelve
months; whilst we have used every honor,
able means IN our power to avoid war. |
have repeatedly declared nv determination
never to submit to the wrongs received /;
that when the embargo failed we must re-
sort to the valor and patriotism of ourciri-
zens. Sir, we,haye too much reason to be-
leve that the moment is at hand when no.
thing else can extricate us from our difficult
ties. My attention has been particularly
called TO the necessity Of a measure OF the
sort am about to propose from the opposl-
ton made to the preparation for war by gen
tlemen who rely wholly upon the embargo
as coercive measure, and declare that as
long as 1t continues, no preparation shou d
be made with view to state Of war. If
the country remains in situation unprepar-
ed to meet war until the period WHEN ev2ry
man would be satisfied that the embargo
ought to be raised, We shall be compelled 10
continue it six, eight, or ten months longer
till We can prepare for actual war. But, sir,
IN our preparations, mere defence should
not oe the sole object. We are the injured
party in the contest. This state OF things I'M
poses upon us TIE necessity Of being prepar-
ed to prosecute the war because if we seek
redress for injury, the mere defence OF the
country will not answer the purpose-and
therefore there is the greater necessity for
extensive preparation. After these obser-
vations, Mr.. n. offered the following reso
luton, which he moved to refer to a COM
mittee of the whole:
Resol0ed, AS the opinion of this house
that the U. S. ought not to delay beyond the
day Of to repeal the embargo
laws, and to resume, maintain and defend
the navigation of the high seas against any
nation or nations having in force edicts,
orders or DEGREES, violating the lawful
commerce and neutral rights Of the United