Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-28
CON G r E S S.
) H0LISE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
! DEBATE ON EXTRA SESSION..
EcoNTINuED.]
TauRspAY, 1anuayg 90.

who wcuEl vote for an earlies meeting OF
congress than usual. In Great Britain, IN
whose government mere were some features
approximating to ours, taere was always
an uneasiness, lest the parliament should not
meet often enough. Whence could be the
objection TO congress meeting at an early
dav. IF the public senunent was not then
prepared for war, it would not be adopted.
IL appeared to him that al early session, IN.
stead of producing mischief, would essen
italy contribute to tranquihze the minds OF
the people. If peace was attalnabie, we
must have peace but if not, we have no
choice but war. The gentleman from South
Carolina suggests the propr'cty OF sending
a special mission, said Mr.. b. Let me
ask him, if administration should not take
this course, whether it would not be per-
fcctly proper that congress should be IN
session Certainly it would. With respect
70 special mission, MIR. Burwell said he
was perfectly at loss TO conceive what
could be the nature of any proposition
which could be made to Great Britain. A
proposition has already been made to her,
in effect, to go to war with her against
France, and insultingly refused; for no
other Interpretation could be masae of the
offer to suspend the embargo, if she would
rescind her orders in council, except Mr..
Canning chose toynisundcrstand every thing
that could be said. Unless gentlemen would
point out sone new proposition, which
could be made to Great Britain CT France,
he could not see the propfiey Of the course
recommended. As TO tie continuance Of
the embargo, Mr. B. said it seemed to be
perfectly well understood by every man,
that when the government determined on
that course, it did not determine TO perse-s
.,err Il I'M it e1sTnalIy. Ii It could be made
manifest to him that an particular favora-
bic consequence would be produced by post
poning the session beyond the fourth Mon
day in MAY, he might be induced 10 accede
toit. As 10 the disposition of aeirninistra-
ton to preserve peace, could the gentleman
conceive 1t possible to remove the impress
sions of those who were determined not to
be convinced This nation kadSuedfor peace,
but in vain they had offered to give up al
most every thing in contest, if Great Britain
would yield thing Which neither Mr..
Canning nor any other member OF the Bri-
fish govornnent ever said they had right
to do, and which was only justified on the
ground OF necessity. There was therefore
no plausibility in the assertion that peace
\ had not been earnestly sought for.
Mr.. G.. w. CAMPBELL said that if no.
thing occurred between this time and the
time proposed by the bill for the next meet
ingofcongress which would particularly rem
der change necessary, he was yet of OPT
Mon that it would be then necessary to
change our situation; for this reason: that
at that period time sufficient would have
elapsed to give us information as to what
ground Great Britain would take, after she
had heard OF the position which congress-
had maintained. After that ground was
taken, congress would know how to act.
never voted Tor the embargo as a permanent
measure said Mr.. Campbell; nor did
ever use an expression which would au-
thorise such suppositlon; MOI do sup
pose that any other gentleman entertained
such an idea. As to a special mission, I
should as soon think of sending special
messenger to the moon as to G. Britain or
TO France, for the cup of humiliation is ex-
hausted already, and will never put it in
their power to offer us another cup. The
gentleman from South Carolina asked why
our ministers still continued at those courts.
Though have no objection that the gen
tleman should animadvert on this topic.
it is not question for our determination
but think it proper that as long as we can
maintain our situation, intercourse may re-
main open. AT the moment when we de-
II 49,
ministers. We ara told, sir, that we can.