Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-05-01
IMPORTANT B A
the Philadelphia Register.

1--WE have been favored by a friend at Wash.
inSton, a member of congress, with the fol-
loving sketch OF the Debate on tho Embar GO
Message.l
Mr.. Porter, chairman Of the committee of
foreign relations, then moved that the mes
sage be referred to said committee. which
was agreed to. 1t was then observed by MIR.
4. that the committee had been informed that
SUCH a message would be received from the
president on that day, and that thew were
ready to report a bill for laying an embargo
but they wish to retire for a short time
MI. Porter very soon after returned to the
mouse, and asked leave to introduce = hill.
winch was granted, and read the first and Sc
coma time, after which it was committed to a
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, MIR. Bassett in the chair. The bill
was read through by the chairman.
MIR. Boyd then moved to amend il nv .tr;k-
ing out OF the first section so DAYS, and insert.
lngl20 days. lie said a gentleman had declar.
ed the measure to be a precursor to war. The
time WILL be much too short for the great a :
mount of American property now abroad to
return the motion was neratiyed
Mr.. Seybert viewed the subject a Of vast
Importance he considered that the PROPOSE.
ton came to the house in a very questionable
shape he wanted information. and he called
upon the committee of foreign relations to
say whether it is to be consider.d a n.ace
measure, or a precursor to war:
Mr.. Grundy tone of the committed said he
was willing to answer the very proper enoui-
ry of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr,
Seyberr that he understands il as a war
measure, and it Is meant that it shall lead di-
rectly TO 1t that with any other view, there
can be no propriety in it as a peace inca sure
he had no idea the president would have re.
commended it, nor would the COMMITTEES
have agreed to it. He hoped the gentleman
from Pennsylvania would now be satisfied.
and prepare his MIND to vote for it.
Mr.. Mkee objected to the last section, on
account OF the penalties which it proposed,
which ne considered altogether unimportant,
as IT IS TO be a precursor of war, it being
merely precautionary and for a short period
he MADE some other enquiries respecting the
section and why such provisions were to it.
MIR. Porter said the bill was drafted accord.
ing to the wishes and directions of the secre.
tary of the treasury.
Mr.. Stow (of New York; said, the subject
before the committee ought to be considered
OF very great Importance If, as some gentle
men say, 1t IS a 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 gcneralHa He would
answer, they are defenceless, particularly she
Notifications of New York, which are unman-
ned and unarmed. He said this fact appeared
by a letter now in possession of a member of
L the hnlga which hos 49,. ua-I. Lzu- ---.s.
cd from Judge Livingston of New Y ork. Mr..
;: said that to try the questha6Egwhether we
Will now lay an embargo, he moved that the
first section of the bill be stricken out.
MIR. Clay the speaker) then warmly ex-
pressed his satisfaction and full appreciation
OF the message, and the proposition now be-
fore the committee, he approved of it because
1T is to be viewed as a direct precursor to war.
He did not wish upon this occasion to hear of
the opinion of B~rockholst Livingston or any
other man. No gentleman can question the
propriety o fthe proposition. Gentlemen who
said so much about the want of preparations
are not for war. He considered this as a war
measure, and as such he should discuss it.
Sir, said Mr. c. after the pledges we have
made, and the stand we have taken, are we
now to cover ourselves with shame and indie
lible disgrace by retreating from the measures
and ground we have taken. He then stated
our measures, our pledges, and the great in
juries and abuses we have received. He said
what would disgrace an individual under GER
tain circumstances, would disgrace a nation.
And what would you think of one individual
who had thus conducted to another and should
then retreat. lie did not think we were upon
this occasion in the least embarrassed by the
conduct of france in burning our vessels-that
may be a subject of future consideration We
have complete evidence as to the enemy we
have selected as weak and imbecile as we
are, he would combine France if necessary.
He said, there was no intrinsic difficulty or
terror, except what arises from the novelty.