The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
sDeccm5er 6.
FOREIGN RELATIONS go

i n i E1O.
sDeccmber 6.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The following is the substance of the re-
marks with which the Chairman of the COM
nittee of Foreign Relations commenced the
discussion of their Report:
MR. PORTER said that the, House were
probably expecting from the Committee cf
Foreign Relations some explanations of their
views on reporting the resolutions row un-
der consideration, in addition to the general
exposition o. them contained in their repors
itself The committee themselves felt III at
such explanations were due, inasmuch a.
they had only reported in part, and had init
mated their intention to follow up these rcso-
buttons, should they be adopted, by the re-
commentator of ulterior measures.
The Committee, Mr.. z. said, attercxami-
ming the various documents accompanying
the Presidents message, were satisfied, an
he presumed every member of the House
was, that all hopes OF accommodating our
differences with G b. by negotiation must be
abandoned. When they looked at the cor
respondence between the two governments /;
when they observed the miserable shifts &
evasions (for they were entitled to no bette,
appellation) to which c.. b. resorted to ex-
cusc the violations of our maritime RICH s, i
was impossible not 10 perceive that her Con-
duct towards us was not regulated even D
her own sense of justice, but solely by re-
gard to the probable extent of our forbear-
ance. The last six years had been marked
by series OF progressive encroachments Oh
our rights; and the principles by which she
publicly upheld her aggrcssions, were as
mutable as her conduct. We had seen her
one year advancing doctrines, which the wear
before she had reprobated. We had seen
ntir ccelS
texts, which on the preceding day she would
have been ashamed or afraid to avow-
Indeed, said Mr.. P. she seems to have been
and carefully feeling our pulse, to
ascertain what potions we would bear, and if
we SO on submitting to one indignity after a.
mother, it will not be long before we shal Ii see
British subjects, not only taking our property
in our harbors, but tramplng on our persons
in the streets of our cities.
Having become convinced that all hopes,
from further negotiation were idle, the com
mittee, Mr. p. said, were led to the conside-
ration OF another question, which was-whe-
Their the maritime rights which G.. b. isviola-
ting were such as we ought 70 support at the
hazard and expence Of war? And he be-
lieved he was correct IN stating that the COM
mittee was unanimously of the opinion that
they were. The committee thought thar the
orders in council so far as they go to inter-
rupt our direct trade that is, the CARRYING
of the productions of this country to mark
ct in the ports of friendly nations, and retur-
ming with the proceeds of them-ought to be
resisted by war. How far we ought to go in
SUPPORT OF what is commonly called the car
rying trade, although the question was agi-
tated in the committee, no definitive opinion
was expressed. 1t was not deemed necessa-
ry, at this time, to express such an opinion,
trrh h.
hibition of this trade is merged in the great
er one to our directtrade.
The orders in Council, Mr.. p. said, of
which ,here seemed INV to be no prospect f
a speedy repeal, Certalny none during the
continuance of the present war, authorised
the capture of our vessels bound to and frofn
ports where British Commerce isnot favora-
ply received and as that nation is at war
with most of the civilized world, The effect
was Gas he understood from those who had
much better information on the subject than
ne could pretend toy TO Cut up, at once, about
three fourths of our best and most profitable
commerce. 1t was impossible that the mer-
camille OF agricultural interests of the u. S.,
which on the question OF a right to the direct
'rade could never be separated, could sub
nit to such imposidons. 1t was his opinion.
that going upon the ground Of mere pccu-
mary calculation, calculation Of profit and
oss, it would be for our interest TO go to war,
10 remove the orders III council rather than
submit to them, even during the term OF their
probable continuance.
But there was another point of view i'm
which the subject presented itself to the COM
nittee, and that was as regarded the charac-
er Of the country. We were voune nation,
and lie hoped VIC cherished a little pride &
spirit, as well as great deal of justice and
Our situation was not unlike
That OF a young man Just entering into life, &
who, if he tamels' submitted TO one cool, de-
iberate, intentional indignity, might safely
calculate to be kicked and cuf!ed for the
whole OF the remainder of his life or, if he
should afterwards undertake to retrieve his
character, must do it at ten. times the ex-
1ence which it would have cost him at first
% support it. We should clearly understand
md tcfinc those rights which as a nation we
ought to support, and we should support
hem at every hazard.--lf there be
lny such thing as rights between ma
ions, surely the people of the United States,
occupying the halfof acontinent, bavea right
% navigate the seas, without being m0lestcd
~ the inhabitants Of the little island of G.
II was under these views Of the subject
hat the committee did not hesitate to give il
IS their opinion that we ought Ito 20 to war
u opposition to the orders in council. But
Is to the cxtentlof the war and the time when
{ should be commenced, there would Of
curse be some diversity Of sentiment in the
1ousc, as there was, at FIRST, in the commit
&c.
That we can contend with 6. p. openly