The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-17

Gaudsioupe. from France full of troops and
pro'isions.~.New- York hater Jan. g..
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, Feb. 2, 1909.
ORDER OF TIE DhT.
Agrceably to assignment the House took
up the report of a Committee on two Reso-
iutlons submitted 70 the House, CT. the 9th
November last, by Mr.. Crowninshield on
the subject of the british Orders in Coun-
eli" OF Nov. 1907, and the DEGREES of
france. OF no date:-7h These resolutions
acre then committed TO Nessrs. Gore
Crowninshield, Hough of G. Morton and
Ives, with Instructions 10 rehers at the
merit session.
The following is the Report of the Com
mittee -
REPORT.
me committee TO whom zvas referred the
~ n~eSofnfaorS fhdt acconfSny khis Re
mort. and which .vere hrotosed for kAe
consideration of this House, haze dim
attended TO their commission, and a,k
leope TO refort, that, in their ohinion, ~
IS l~ne1fiedient TO fass the same, for the
yoHozoinS reasons.
oY the constitution of the United States.
tae foreign relations thereof are exclusive
y, vested IN the national government-with
,hat government rests the obligation, to con-
sioer of and act upon thedoiags of other ma
uohs-with 1t rests also, a KNOWLEDGE OF he
conduct OF other nations-their motives and
pre'ensions, and how far tie same may have
oeen sanctioned, or encouraged by tie go
Vernment of the u. States.
Inc communications, which have passed
" the United States, and the nations
referred to. in the proposed resolutions. are
/" d great degree unknown 10 the Lcgisla-
ture OF Nassdchusetts any opinion, there
TORE. OF the House of Representatives, on this
SUBJECT would be founded on an imperfect
ShoWleose OF What relates thereto, x might
from the SANG cause be erroneous.
. me mousse could net RELY on the partial
Information, which is allowed to escape
from the Executive Cabinet, much less on
that diminished portion, with which the
G't'zenso Or Legislature of Massochusetfs are
deemed worthy to be entrusted, from the Sc
cres sessions of Congress, for the correct
ness OF ANY opinion, they might form on so
important a matter. Influenced by the Ii
Hnsteo information, with which the Govern
ihene OF the Union has seen FIT ia indulge
.he pioiic' some persons might be induced
20 ADEPT the sense of the first resolution. &c
conclude, that both nations, therein meuti-
oned, had at the same time. with eonaI
"ansonness, and ike disregard of our rights
ana their duties, enacted the offensive lie.
Crces and Orders-tha. the same measure
opposition, to both nations, was alike re-
CURED ny The dignity and interests of the
Onlted states, and would be attended with
Siiniar eifects-whercas a complete under.
Oh the conduct of our governmert
towards these nations, and of our relations
to each OF them, with the grounds or pre-
tence, for passing their several DEGREES &
orders, might lead to a different result. i,
the minds ct men,, who e~ndeavored ONLY
10 arrive at a Correct, and impartial iudg-
nent.
While the committee entertain no doubt.
TIVE sounaness OF the above reason, for
the opinion they have offered on the inex-
pediency Of adopting the proposed resolri;-
ons, yet, as from the language Of the same
1t would appear to be the sense Of the mo.
YER, that the same motives ard causes pro-
duced, from both foreign nations, tile De.
creeS and Orders complained OF, it may be
to state such information, both as
70 the dates OF the several DEGREES and Or
IcrS,asHell as to the %alledgcd grounds of pas
sing the same, as have come 20 the knowls Ice
OF your Committee. II is, also, important
the House should be possessed OF what.
ever information can be procured, ON a bu.
slness so interesting to them, and which is
made a pretence for the deep and univer.
sal cdlanities, which the government OF the
United States has seen tit to inAict on the
citlzens-calarnities, which press with pc
culiar and aggravated distress, on the good
people of M~aSSachusetfs.
1t will readily be conceived, that the De-
crees and Orders, intended by these Reso-
buttons. arc that of France, promulgated at
beTdn, the 2tst November, 1906, aud the
orders OF Great Britain. passed at London.
1n the 18th November, 1907.
The French decree declares that the Bri.
-ish Islands, their colonies, and dependen- |
les should be considered, as in a state o
'lockade--that all trade in British goods.