Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-03
MIR. GILES SPEECH,
DELIVERED
In the Senate of tie United States.

| In the Senate of He United States,
| ON
Thursday, "a Nouember, 1903, on the Re
solution of Mr.. Hi.lhonse, to reheai fh,
| Embargo Lasos.
90 (Concluded.J
At this time tine question involved
only a commercial right. What wa.
the conduct of the merchants then
They came forward and pledged THEN
lives and fortunes to support the go,
vernment in any measures for its pro-
lection. The question is now chang
ed.-To the original question is now
added, aques,ion Of natural sovereign.
ty and independence.-yVhat is now
the conduct ofthese same merchants ?
They tell YOU, Sir, TO tread back your
steps, give up the contest, and disgrace
your country. These merchants too.
threaten you with insurrectiou and re,
hellion, unless you yield implicit ODE
dience to their3mandates.
Again, Sir, i have little apprehen.
sion rom these threats, for the follow
ing reasons first, many of the indi-
Iyiduals engaged in these exc tements,
/ amtold are gentlemen OF property
and tumlli':s. They are therefore,
| NOW, in the enjoyment ofevery politi-
cal and domestic blessing; their infa.
taated passions to the contrary not
outstanding. L think persons Of this
description will pause, before they ha-
zard all these blessings; and mo
ment's impartial reflection viii be suf-
Gcient to check their career. In the
next place, there are many local adj
Ivantages accruing to the people Of the
Eastern states, from the operations of
the general government. They con.
sist principally of the following, altho'
there are others.
1. The protection afforded to their
carrying rrade, by discriminating duties
both on tonnage and merchandise.
2. Protection and facility afforded
to the coasting trade.
8. Projection to their fisheries b.
duties or foreign fish.
4. AHording good market for their
surplus manufactures aad other arti-
cles.
S. PAYMENT Of the public debt at
par, which was brought up at very low
rates.
6. As result from allthese advansa-
ges, the protection Of their population
on the sea5oard, by lessening the in
ducemeRts to emigration.
Permit me, Sir 70 remind the gen
! tleman from Massachusetts, (Mr.
Lloyd that these advantages are not
to be triAed with,
But, Sir, have heard it intimated
that these advantages could be com
pensated by a Connection with Great
Britain. Indulge me, Sir, with an
examination Of this idea. A connec.
ton between New-England, and Old
Eng land, could only be for the bene.
iit of the latter. They are essentially
rivals in every occupation. First, II
nsvigation-second, in exports. fhe
Iexports of New England are priuci.
lpally fish and beef. 1t would be Z
great object with OH England, utter
lly to destroy the New England FISH
market; and the Irish beef would come
into an advantageous competition wisi
y the export of that article.
! These are permanent points Of com.
petition, unalterably fixed in the ma
ture Of things; they cannot be altered
nor destroyed by any SUDDEN ebullitior
LOT passions; nor by any connection
resniting therelrom.
! Again, Sir, what would be the eff
feet of such connection upon the res
of the United States. In that case
The discriminating duties now in favo
OF the New England states would b.
turned against them, and would pro
baEly be given to the middle states
and thus New England would be eGec
tuallv excluded from carrying the bul
Ky and heavy productions of the sou
them states. Discrimination nigh
even be made in favor of. British ships
1t is a matter of no consequence to tn,
agrIculturalist, whether his produce j.
carried to market in a New England
or Old England ship. The only inter
est he has in the transaction is the pric,
Il L. a -