The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-01-29
CO ONGNGSS
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Mr.. WRIGHI's SPEECH, s.

MR SPEAKER, must be. tsc indu;gsneV
of the house, while | deliver my opinlor oG
the subject now under cons deration, the
most important that has been subAilted to
the Congress OF the United States. /, sir,
shall take tue liberty OF varying the question
from the hcnourablc member from Virgins,
(Nr. Randoph) VINO yesterday consideredh
a question OF peace ~ wall shalt consider
Il as a question Of war or submission, dire al
ienatives, oil ahich, however, trust, no
honest American Can hesitate III chusing,
when the question Is correctly stated, and
distinctly understood The gentleman from
Virginia Con,ends,that il is a dispute chou, the
carrying trade, brought on Us by the ca-
pidity OF the American merchants, m which
the farmer and planter have little interest
that he will not coosent TO tax his constituents
to carry on war for i, that the enery is
invulnerablc on the mountain wave, The
element OF our wrongs, but should they vio-
late the nafaie sciu,h," he would point al
the energies of The ration and avcngs the
wrong. Was thar gentleman stricken on tho
! nose, by man so tall that he could not reach
his nose, strongly incline to thiak his mdn-
ly pride would no, permit him TO decline tho
conflict. Sir, the honourablc member is IN
correct In his premises, and of course in his
conclusions. ! will cndeavour 10 convince
HIM OF this, and shall be gratifcd could cn-
list his talents on the side of bleeding conn
try. Sir, the violations. of the commercial
rights OF which we complain, do not only
embrace the carrying trade, properly so Call
ed, but also the carrying Of the products Of
our own soil, the fruits Of our own industry; I;
these. although injurious only to our proper
~, are just causes of war. But, sir, tac iniA
pressment OF our native seamen, is a sivoks
at the vi,als OF liberty ifseL; and although il
does no, touch the & |. nataie soi4n'," yea IL en-
OF America, aud in the ratio, thsr ynossJss.s
preferable to property, ought to eniist sne
pa,,io,ick feelings OF that honoursbe nscni-
ber, and make his bosom burn with that hely
fire that inspired the patriots ut the revolution.
| Sir, the carrying trade, by which mean mo
Carrying articles the growth, produce or ma
| nufac turc Of foreign cline, (except articics
! contrsband OF war; is as r,uch the righ' OF
| the American people, as abe carrying mo
| products OF their own soil, and IS not oniy
| secured by the law OF natious but by the po-
| sitivc provisions Of the B'iysh treaty 10
| Us, sir, il is an sll-important right. We i'm
| port from the West Indies. annually, prcper~
| " to the amount Of forty millions Of dolIsss.
! for which wespay in the products OF our own
| soil of this, ten millions only are corsun'-
! ed in the United States, and the surplus thir-
~ millions are exported to foreign codnirics,
| ON which the American merchant pays threo
: per cent. on the duties to the Uni,cd Stiics,
obtains the profits on the freight OF thirty
| million of dollars, and furnishes market tor
! American productions to the same amount
| The houourable gentlemen from Virginia
said, that that little spot in Maryland, Ball-
more, which was well fortified and secure
from an attack, had unbounded influence,
u that the lords Of Baltimore" governed the
representatives Of Ma yland, in their votes
on this subject. No, SIR, ever7 districi OK
[ MARYLAND solemnly protests against suLnfs-
ION to any foreign power, and hove no
doubt, will approve the votes OF their mem
bers ON this floor " TO prepare tor WAT, or
| for war itself, rather than submission. bsi-
| ,imore, by the industry and com mercia' en-
| terprize OF her citizens, has grown ont oi the
sea ino great commercial city, has dih"s-
ed the benefits Of commerce into every sec
,ion Of the state, by mrking & reat demand
for the sroduc,s oil our soil and industry, and
"A consequent enerease OF price, "he'eDy
every foot Of land in Maryland is made more val
uable, and whereby the interests OF every psre
of the state is identified with theirs [; tor this
| she is Justly entitled 10 our respect. Butt
sic, she has no occasion to infuse her patriot
ick ere, (so pre- &c mincut in the case OF Inc
Chcsapeske) into the representatives Of Ma
| rvland. They know the wishes of their eeh~
| s,i,uents, aud will mosucerainly obey fhe"'
| Mr.. Speaker, l hope II the gentle"Ar
| from Virg inia vii! not defend the carrying oa
foreign articles, ne will defend the Carrying
,he rroducc of our own soil, right moss
,isgracesully violated. When our owh cruz
zcns have been carrying provisions the pro-
ducc OF their own soil IN their own sh'p,' "
feed the armies Of England, and her ai''es,
i 80. A.. enf of Europe, they have Dteu