The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-03

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, Jan. 81.

:. FRIDAY, Jan. 81.
Mr.. Fimdlcy presented a petition from
sundry inhabitants of the county of West
moreland, Pennsylvania, praying a repeal
ot.tie embasgo, and war against France
Referred
DEFENSIVE MARITIME WAR.
Mr.. Bacon said. that he was particularly
induced by a consideration OF the sentiments
contained in the memorial winch had just
been read, to offer to the House a resolution
touching the subject OF our maritime right,
and the mode in which it OCiiovcd the ma
ton to vindicatc their exercise against bel
ligerent aggrcssious. He had been much
gI+atifi I'd tlat a gentleman from Virginia
. (fMr. Nicholas) had already laid upon the
table a resolution pointing toa speedy limi-
tatlen of the embargo laws. coupled with a
general declaration of our determination to
resume maintain, and vindicate our rights
Ito the free navigation OF the ocean. That
resolution was however altogether general
and unspeclic, as to the manner III which
this right should be vindicated, or the means
b which it should be maintained. 1t was
probably, purposeiy, and undoubtedly very
properly propounded i'll that general shape,
with a view OF inducing the offer OF sucn
SPECIFIC propositions as lirSht suggest them
selves to gentlemen havingin view the same
: general object. He apprehended, no ever.
mat wlen .tney came TO go INTO
on that resolution, it would be found difficult
co make it the object of distinct and intel
iigible discussion, since it pointed to no de
finite means, by which our rights were to
be maintained, or our navigation defended
from violence. He rad hoped that some O.
Their gentleman would, before this, have pre-
Sented some distinct proposition Of this sort
to the House, and had waited some days
with such an. expectation. Having, howe
yer, been disappointed in this. he could no
longer refrain from the exercise of a duty,
which he rose with great difiderce to dis
charge. Fhe resolution which he was a
bout to submit, was by ne means in discor-
dance with that of the gentleman from Vir-
ginia. II was merely a specification ofsome
1t least of the means by which the general
OBJECT of thai gentleman might perhaps be
attained Aid il offering it, lie wished not
TO be understood as de6nitiveiy pledged TO
the particular course which the resolution
points TO. So far from being pertinaciousl,
welded 20 it, he was ready to give his unbi-
ased ,%attenunr 10 any other project which -
tier gentlemen may sec iit 20 propose. That
there are great difficulties TO be encounter
ed in every view which can be taken of GU
pre- sent situation is sufficiently obvious, ann
1t IS therefore with more tnan ordinary dir
fdenCe that | venture TO lay before thC house
the following resolution
R~cSoiOed, That provision ought to be
made by law, from and after the
day OF next, for authorising tbs
commanders and ere W of merchant vessels
of the United States, owned wholly by a CT
tizen or citizens thereof, TO oppose and de-
fead agaInst any search, restraint or Sci
zNre, Which shall DC attempted upon such
vessel, OF upoI any other vessel owned as
aforesaid, by the commander or crew OF a
ny armed vessel sailing under French or
British colors, or acting or pretending to
act, by or under the authority of the French
or British governments; and t. repel by
force aiy assault OF hostility which shall be
made or committed on the part of such
French or British vessel, pursuing such at
ternpt-aud to Subdue and capture the sam
and TO Tetake any vessel owned as aforesaid
which may, have. been captured by any yes
sci sailing Under French or British cuiors.
or acting, or pretending to act, by Or lInder
authority from che French or British gov
ernncuts.
Ia addition to the general observations
made before he offered The resolution, MIR.
B, said dat he would barely remark, that
as to the general principle which it contain
ed, he presumed that it wcuid by no one be
mistaken. tor submission to the belliseremt
claImS which had been leyeiied against our
maritiGie rights it authorised resistance
against their IMPRESSIONS in the most direct
and unqualified terms. He might be asked
fit was war. He feiJ no hesitation in say
ing that it was defensive war, and STRICTLY
and wholly defensive as it respected our
selves and our neutral rights. As to foreign
nations they were at liberty to take il a,
they pleased, and might make their election
III respect to the manner in which they
would meet that state Of things wh'ch might
grow out oft. We claimed nothing OF then,
but tho fair exercise Of our rights, and 4
they still chose to interrupt us ia it, on then,
be the consequences; what those conse
quences should be, il might be for this nati-
ON hereafter to say
To the gene a. principle oftbe resolution
Mr.. r. said that there could be, as he ap
pretended, but one objection, any way plau
siblc. 1t vas, that it Authorised resistance
to all search whatever, by tho cruisers OF
the two great belIigereBts. Il was. to bc
sure, IN acknowledged principe Of Che gen.