Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-08
SPEECH
OF THE
HON JOSEPH PEARSON

In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;
On The Dill for the regulation Of Sea"e"
on board the Public Shihs and I" 'He
merehozt service Of she U. Sfa'ss.
Mr.. PEARsoN-I am opposed MI
Chairman, to striking out the ist section
of this bill. TRUST the decision OF tae
committee will be in opposition 10 the
motion now under consideratlon-not,
sir, because am satisfied with the pro-
visions of the bill in its present form' out
because the leading principle, it l I'M
derstand it, is correct and important
and the details are susceptible of such
notifications, as to give US some tea-
sonabie assurance OF avallng ourselves
of the benefit ef,he principle. Indeed
so ardent is nv desire for peace-so Ia
til do consider the continuance OF tbis
war to the best interests, if not the ao.
solute safey of the country, that should
deem it positive crime not to advocate
any measure which had tendency, how
ever Slight, to that object, no, inconsist'
ent with the nations rights. With TINS
view, | NAV be isduced ultimately to
| vote foc this bill in its present Imperfect
! s questionable shape should the house
even refuse to adopt those notifications
which are necessary to g i've effect to the
professed principle of the bill, & which
are, in my Judgment, indispensable to
-. i'm CT a.
tween its several sections.
II declaring the inclination ofmy mind
to vote tor this bill, in tine crude form
in which it is presented, l beg to be un-
derstood as going upon sort OF t'rlar7
hete, for the issue OF which am not re-
sponsib,e. The incorrect conclusion
which the gentleman from Tennessee
(Mr. Grundy) has drawn from the re-
marks which had the honor OF submlt-
ting some weeks ago Oh the bill for rails
ing 20. 600 additional troops, renders it
necessary for me to state the substance
of the project proposed, & the extent of
| the pledge, as the gentleman terms it,
which l gave. | did state, sir, as my
impression, that this war could be ter
minated with honor and advantage to
the nation, without a further appeal TO
force. This opinion was aided by the
fact of an arrangement on the CUES
ton now in dispute, having been
entered into by our commissioners
Messvs. Monroe and Pinckney with the
British government in the year 1896,
which in the opinion of these gentlemen,
in my opinion, and believe the opinion
of large portion of the American peo-
pie, was both honorable * advantageous
to the u S. s as we had no evidence
of different principles or claims being
now advanced by the British govern
ment, it was fair to conclude, that an
arrangement at least equally advantage
OF; could still be obtained. On this ba-
sis bottomed my project of passing a
law for the exclusion of British seamen
from our maritime service and following
up the law, using it as an instrument,
by fair, candid and liberal negotialion.-
On this basis ventured the assertion,
or pledge if the gentleman pleases, chat
if Great Britain will no, be satisfied 20
arrange this subject fairly. SO as 10 eX-
empt us from the e5nse Il the practice
IF impressing from Our vessels, when
such security as is in oor power 10 give,
and such as she ought to ask is given
her, that her seAfaring subjects shall not
be employed in our public or merchant
vessels; then we shall have cause CT
war, land be united II It mere worthy
Of the energies of this uatIon.' his Is
the pledge gave ; l now repeat 1t, and
unly wish the gentleman hsi the incl:
nation and the power of binding myself
and the nation for its redemption. The
gentleman did ask me what considered
an essential right for which | would
csniend--my repl, vas, that the t-o'sc'
ton ofna.rue Emsrran citizens was such
q RIGHT. Twill 60 further, by extending
,hi, right to nataralized citizens whilst
,hcy remain wahin our Jurisdiction, and
and in all cases where protection can be
riren to them not Inconsistent with the
Claims of their native sovereign. But
ho,y thu gentleman has brought himself
to the belief, that the mere passage OF
this bill is to work the effect Of placing
the contest in which we are engaged on
n. issues have stated, is to me per-
.ectly inconceivable. II he wishes TO
ssai! himself Of my admonitious, let him
adept my entire propositions go the
whole length required, and hi claims
will be better founded. This, however,
he gentleman and his friends are rot
willing to do They tell US at the thresh-
old, and l regretted to hear it, that this
bill is not !ntended as STEPPING stone
to negotiation. If this is the case, then
indeed, sir, my hopes are much disap-
pointed, and the eoedly prospects which
the first introduction OF this bill inspired,
must vanish-for if it is not intended as