Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-16

the country IN a more complete state
lot defence aud recommend the follow
ling resolution:
Resolved, that provision be made
fly law for raising and embodying a
volunteer force of twenty thousand
men, exclusive of officers, to be enlis-
ted and held 10 serve for the term of
from the time of their be-
ling in actual service,
Fhe report was referred to COM
lmittee Of the whole.
Mr.. Desha presented the petition of
Col Daaiel Boone, stating that he
had performed at different times SER
Vices for the United States, for which
lac asks OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to a
Isslect committee.
MEDITERRANEAN FUND. s,
On motion of Mr.. Eppes, the House
resolved Itself into committee of the
whole, MIR. Desiia in the chair, on the
bill for containing this duty. The
bill was gone through, reported to the
House, and, whithout debate, ordered
to be engrossed for third reading.
AMERICAN NAVIGATION
ACT.
On motion fMr. Macon, the House
resolved itself into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Desha In the chair, on the
bill respecting the commercial in.
tercourse between the United STAGES
and Great Britain and France, and for
)lher purposes"
Alter the chairman had read through
the third section (Which interdicts the
entrance into the United States of all
vessels sailing under the aags of e.
Britain or France)--
Mr.. Livermore said he thought it
|preper TO examine how this intere,ic
non OF the en- rance of all private yes
sells would operate. He had waited
tor some gentleman of the commi.tee
ito explain what would be the o2eratis
on OF the bill; but none had come
forward. He thought il worthy of en-.
curry how TAR, it this bill " ere passed,
Great Britain might counterva;l the
restrictions imposed by the United
states. In the present form, he con-
eeived the bill .iight operate very In
jnriousiy. The committee ought 10
consider what articles were to be ex-
'Ported from the u. States and what
10 be brought back in return. Eve.
ry article exported was bulky as cot
ton, tobacco, &c. whilst the fnanufac-
tures imported in return did not occu-
py much space. IF this bill as Il stood
were Co be. passed, would not the con-
sequence be a law to prevent the en-.
trance of our vessels into the waters OF
Great Britain? lit were in the pow
er OF Congress TO con6ae the CARR
OF the products of the United States ab.
soiuiely to their ownregistered vessels,
some benefit might result to the ship
ping interest OF the United State
from such a measure, but it was not In
the power of Congress to tie up the
hands OF Great Britain and France. Ii
the United States were to enter into q
warfare OF this nature, it would be play !.
ing game which would sperate 10
their own disadvantage, and not to
that of foreign nations. lie believed
II would be found that thS d1.ies on
tonnage and the discri ninating daties
on imports had carried this system a.
far as was exPedIent aud he couiI
not see any benefit to result from pro.
Ihibltiug foreign vessels from entering
our waterg.
Mr. Sawyer said that he too was
opposed to this section aud to the whole
Dill altogether, because it was not
strong enough; it was evaporatiuz the
spirit of the nation in mere co nner-
cial regulations. After every insul.
tor so many years past, our wrongs
we're now TO be expiated by restricii-
ons on our own commerce We in.
yite aggression by continuing the same
system. Ii this was the neplus ultra
u resistance, he said he could not Goa
sent TO give it his vote. It would MOI
satisfy the people, and it ought not !;
they were tired of this mockery oil re-
.istarce, oF these commercial restrie.
tons and resolutions of appreciation.
The least that could have been expec
ed from the committee of foreign re.