The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-07-23

Of tho executive OF this country. Ii Stru ok
blow at the Integrity and honor OF the GU
yernment. Yet the executive has never
publicly denied the foul accusation. Iii
10 arrive at truth III relation to this dark
and alarmins tran saciion, to acuui, the in
nccent and 90 hang the guilty up dc,esta.
ole spectacle TO The universe, that these
resolutions are offered. Let me ask Che
house, let me ask the ration, is not the OBJ
Ject iaudaoie-is not the duty important and
impcrious
Mr. spcaker--l haze not one doubt that
II that decree had been published a, the
time OF Its date, il would have prevented
tue present war and all its calamitous con
sequences. To establish this position
must solicit the attention Of the house to
the facts and event. which conducted this
devoted nation TO its present disastrous 81
tuation. After unsuccessfuiy negotiating
for the repeal cf the French decrces and
British orders-atter n wild and dcstruc-
tive experiment. had cvlDced that the en-
barge, measure founded in the grossesi
political error, continued in obstinacy and
ending III national disgrace and CONNER
cial ruin, was equally imbeCiie abroad and
pcrniclous at home, the government, ci
ther sinking from the frowDing aspect oil
The north, or resolving TO establish an i'm
partial policy in relation 10 the Two beili-
gcrents, assumed what was then called its
final Deutral attitude.
The committee OF foreign relations of
this house, under the immediate influence
and direction of the present executive
on the 22d of November, 1908, made u re-
port III which was described the situation
of the country In relation TO France
and England, the ground which the adnlI-
mstraiion were about to occupy distinctly
pointed out, and the principles Of justice
and policy, which would influence its con-
duct towards these nations, fully develop
ed. beg the attention OF the house 10 a
few passages in that port.
The trainers Of the report first describe
the origin and foundation OF Che French
DEGREES and British ordcrs---,he manner in
which they violate American rights the
policy of the embargo, and the efforts
made by the American government to OBJ
tain revocation Of those DEGREES and or
ders. They then say" The effort has
been Intellectual. The propositions have
been actually rejected 10y one OF the belli-
serent powers, and remain unanswered by
the other. In that state OF things, what
course ought the United States to pursue
Your committee can perceive no other al
Tentative but AFFECT and degrading submits
sion--war with both nations--or contip-
ance and enforcement Of the present sus-
pension of commerce"
They reject the FIRST alternative and then
proceed" There is no other alternative
but war with both nations, or a continuance
Of the present system for war with onc Of
the belligerents would be submission To
the cdcts and will of the other Nor
can it be doubted, that measure that would
supply exclusively one Of the belligcrents,
whether Of non-intercourse or non-impor-
taticn against the one nation would be jp-
so facto, war with that nation and sub.
mission to the edicts and will Of the
other.'
They then consider the question of war
and say-"Th present unsettled state oi
The world, the extraordinary situation In
. which the United States are placed, and
the necessity If wal be resortcd to Of max
ing 1t at the same time against both nations,
and these the two most powerful in the
world, are the principal causes Of hesita-
tion. There would be none in resortiDs TO
the remedy, however calamitous, il a sclec-
ton could be made on any principle of us
tice or without sacrifice of national in
dependence" Language cannot be plain
er. The comnittc act. repeat, under the
entire control and direction of The execu-
tive, distinctly state that war with either
nation, whether by the new fashioned mode
of commercial restrictions, or by the old
fashioned mode of fighting, while the de-
crees Of both were in force' would be dis
honor, injustice, submission, and sacri-
flee Of national ndependeDcc--and in di-
rect contradiction TO the idea advanced yes
ferday Ev the rent m, IN from 2outh Caro-.