Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-02-14
SPEECH OF THE
HON. josiah QUINCY,

Z
Af,y;tiuae Protection
THE Report of Committee OF the who're
House ON the bill concerning q Na'a' o.,a
bl;shment being under consideratlon' ~.
Seeker was addressed by Mr.. VUiSc1' %
Massachusetts
MIR. SPEAKER,
rise to address you, on this occasaon'
.-;.,, M Affected diffidence and with many
Sonh,s. concerning the expectancy OF taking
MT. in this debate On the one hand,
.hs .,,h;eet has been discussed with a zeal,
:s.,ss.,' and talent, Which leave, but little
scope for novelty, either IN top'o' OF liiusera-
ton. On the other hand, argumeh.s ifo'h
fhis side of the house, IN favor OF t'lS ques-
tion. are received with so natural jealousy
that xnow not. whether more may not oe
lost than gained, by SO unpropltlous sup
mort. Indeed, Sir, if this subject had oeen
discussed on narrow, or temporary, or parry
nr;nciples, 7 should have been silent. Ch
such srround 1 could not condescend 20 &c
hate 7 could not hope to influence. But the
sc.le of discussion has been enlarged and IL
isral. relative rather to the general system
,hsn - the particular exigency; IN almost e
,rar,, resnect. it has been honorable to the
ho,.e ana suspicious to the prospects OF the
,.s,;an Tn snch state of feeling and senti-
,,sntE could not refrain from indulging the
hone. that suggestions, even from no favor
lie ousr.er. would be received with candor,
n,rhans with attention. And, when cohsi-
der tt,e deep interest, which, the state, from
,yb;chsI have the honor to be representative,
has according to my apprehension, IN the e
,anty cannot permit the opportunity, entire
". 70 pass, without bringing my small TIL
bu+e of reflection, into the general stock OF
the house
- The object shall, chiefly, attempt to en-
force. is the necessity and duty OF a systema-
&c nro,ection of our maritime rights, by ma
r;t;n,e means. I would call the thoughtful,
and Intelligent men of this House and patton,
~ the contemplation of the essential connex-
ION between payabb ffaffs en1s, tie eS
tent of our commerce and the inherent en-,
terprise of our people ~ say, SIT, would
call them to the contemplation OF tne essen
tial connexion, between such a naYai force ana
the safety, prosperity and existence Oh our
union. In the course OF my observations, ard
az q subsidiary argument, snail also attempt
to shew the connexion between the adoption
of the principle of a systematic maintenance
of our maritime rights, by maritime means,
,rA relief from our present national embar-
easements.
confess 10 you, Mr. Speaker, never can
look. indeed, in my rpinion, no American
,tstesman ought ever to look, on any cues
ton. touching the vital interests OF this nation,
or Of any of It's component parts, without
keening at all times, In distinct view, the ma
tnsa Of our political association, and the char
acter of the independent soverelgntles, whlch
compose it. Among states, theonly sure and
per,nanent bond of union Is interest. And
the vital interests of states, although they
NAV be sometimes obscured, can never, Tor
very long tine, be Inexperienced The
natural protection, which the essential lrter-
ests ofthe great component parts OF our poll
tical association require, will be, sooner or
later understood, by the states, concerned IN
those interests. fla protection, upon system,
be not provided, it IS impossible that discon-
rent should not result. And need ltell states
men, that, when great local discontentls COM
bined, in those sections, with great physical
powc2 and with acknowledged portions OF So
yereignty, the inbred ties of nature will be
100 strong for the artificial ties ST parchment
compact !-
Hence il results that the essential interests
OF the great component parts Oh our assocla-
ton, ought to be the polar lights OF all our
statesmen. By them they should guide their
course. According to the bearings and varla-
tons of those lights should the statesmen of
such country adjust their policy. Always
bearing in mind two assurances, as tunda-
mental principles oil action, which the nature
of Things teaches ;-that although temporary
circumstances, party spirit, local rivalries,
personal lealousles, suggestions OF subordi- |
nate interests, may weaken, or even destroy,
for time, the influence OF the leading and
permanent interests OF any greet section of the
country, yet those interests must ultimately, |