Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-25

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Giles.
Res0Fved, That the several laws laying
an embargo on all ships and vessels IN the
ports and harbors of the United States, De
repealed on the 4th of March next, except
to Great Britain and France, and their de-
pendencies, and that provision be made by
law for prohibiting all commercial inter
course with those nations and their DEEPEN
denotes, and the Importation OF any article
into the United States, the growth, produce
81 manufacture Of either Of the SAID NATIONS on
5 or of the dolninions of either OF them.
MR.. GILES. Mr.President-ln times
{ of great public trial and difficulty, when
! proposition deeply affecting the character
and the interests Of the nation IS presented
for adoption, ain Indispensable obligation is
impo sed upon It's author, to state the consi-
/ dera tons upon which it is founded. Under
this impression, shall now proceed &c
snake as full and as frank development Of
nv inducements in moving the present re-
solution. as may consist with the ordinary
limits Of discussion.
Jtsis a Circumstance greatly to be regret
ted. sill, by every good man, that as oul
dancers and difficulties are encreaslng and
pressing upon US, our divisions OF opinion
respecting the proper course to be pursued
In relation 70 them, appear to be INCREASING
in.the same proportion. Inns probably a
rises, in great decree, from the uniortu-
nate state Of mind, produced by collisions
IN ARGUMENT. Gentlemen are III the ha0lt
81. bending their whole thoughts upon the
discovery, not only ofa.guments Tor iorti-
fving their own opinions, but Tor rePelnS
the different opinions of their trends. II
this habit of reflection could be reversed
if each gentleman could prevail upon INN
self to give full weight to the arguments, to
respect more the opinions and motives OF
his friend, and to doubt more the intalllbl-
I lity Of his own, it is scarcely possible to be
" lieye. that when an union of interests is adj
nlitted by all, but that some point OF union
in,the measures to promote those Interests
might be found and agreed upon. And may
we not be permitted to hope, sir, when the
final conse quences of division are SO obvl-
Gus to all, that the urgency of our dlthcul-
ties will produce this state OF reflection 3
Amidst all these difficulties, it IS fortunate,
however, that there is one, point IN which
& we are all united. That is resistance to
foreign aggressions. 1t is. true, no vote
upon that point, specifically, has yet been
taken in this house but in the other house
it has, after much discussion and great de
liberation, and the result was as near una
nimity as could be expected upon any coca
sion involving so many considerations
The only points of difference now to be adj
iosted and compromised, relate to the ex-
tent of the resistance, and the mode OF Its
application.
The resolution have had the honor &c
submit, is brought forward solely in refer.
ence to those points and is dictated by that
spirit of concession and Cancellation, which
/ have taken the liberty of recommending
to Others, and which, in my Judgment, Is
-imperiously demanded by the present crit.
cal situation of our affairs.
ann fully sensible, Mr.. President, of the
high responsibility incurred by moving the
present resolutions and / do know, that
when nothing is left US but choice OF thos,
difficulties, it is much easier to critleise any
expedient that may be chosen, than to de-
wise and present better for consideration,
But, sir, it should be reccllected, that mere
iy to eriticise or find fault, when no expe-
dient is left US altogether free from obieo-
ZION, is the most subordinate Office that .ge-
MUS can perform, and at the same time.it is
the least honorable for the individual, and
the most improbable to the nation and &c
the people. / make this observation. no,
with view of lettering gentlemen from
bringing forward any fair objections to the
resolution under consideration, but merely
( TO remind them that shall consider the task