Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-04-13
From tHe Political Register.

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From the Political Register.
1--WE have been favored by friend at Wash
ington, member of Congress, with the iol-
lowing sketch Of the Debate'on the Embargo
Message1
MFR Porter, chairman of the committee CT
foreien relations, then moved that the message
be referred to said committee, which was a
greed to. 1t was then observed by Mr.. P.
that the committee had been informed that
; such message would be received from the
President on that day, and thas they were
ready to report bill for laying an embargo
but they wished to retire first for short time.
Mr.. Porter very soon after returned 10 the
house, and asked leave to introduce the bill,
which was granted, and read the tirst and Sc
coLd time, after which it was committed to
committee of the whole house, and made the
order of the day for this day. The house re-
solved itself into committee of the whole
on the same, Mr. Basset in the chair. The
bill was read through by the chairman.
Mr.. Boyd then moved to amend it by strlk-
ing out of the first section 60 days, and insert
30 days. He said gentleman declared the
measure to be precursor to war-the time
will be short for the great amount OF Amerl-
can property now abroad, to return; the mo-
ton was negatived.
MIR. Seybert view the ubieCt as of vast
Importance he considered that the PROPOSE
ton came to the house in a very questionable
shape; he wanted information, aud he called
upon the committee of foreign relations to say
whether it is to be considered as peace mea-
sure, or precursor to war
Mr.. Grundy Zone of the committee said he
! was willing to answer the very proper enquiry
OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. Sey-
BERT; that he understands it as war mea-
sure, and it is meant that it shall lead directly
to it !; that with any other view, there can be
| no propriety in it; as peace measure, he had
no idea the president would have recommend
! ed it, nor would the committee have agreed
T., to it. He hoped the gentleman from Penn
! svlvania would now be satisfied and prepare
! his mind to vote forit
| MIR. M'Kee objected to the last section, on
account of the penalties which it proposed,
which he considered altogether unimportant,
as it is to be precursor to war, 1t being
merely precautionary, and for short period.
! He made some other enquiries respecting the
! section, and why such provisions were In 1t.
! VII StlU INC Oill WAS I'll dllCu @CIOld
! ing to the wishes and directions of the secre-
tary of the treasury.
! M. Sow (of New York; said the subject
A.; before the committee ought to be considered
! of very great Importance 1T, as some gen
| tlemen say, it is precursor to war, there
were some very serious questions to be asked
What is the situation of our fortresses {!
| What is the situation of our country general
/ ly? He would answer, they are deienceless,
| particularly the Notifications in New York,
| which are unnamed and unarmed. He said
this fact appeared by a letter now in possession
! of member of the house, which has very
lately been received from Judge Livingston OF
| New-York. Mr.. S; said, that to try the ques-
! ton whether we will now lay an embargo,
! he moved that the first section Of the bill be
| stricken out.
Mr. Clay (the speaker) then warmly ex-
pressed his satisfaction and full appreciation of
! the message, s. the proposition now before the
Communicable approved oft, because it is
| to be viewed as direct precursor to war
He did not wish upon this occasion to hear
+! of the opinion of Brockholst Livingston or any
| other man. No gentleman can question the
! proprety of the proposition. Gentlemen
| who said so much about the want of prepara-
| ton are not for war He considered this as a
| war measure, and as such he should discuss it.
! Sir, said Mr. Clay, after the pledges we have
I. made, and the stand we have taken, are we
now to cover ourselves with shame and lnde-
ibe disgrace by retreating from the measures
and ground we have taken. He then stated
our measures, our pledges, and the great IN
n OH l,or nTar n