The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-25

= many places ID dollars per barrel, and |
unless the Coasting trade were in degree |
released from the present restrictions on it,
gr eat distress must eDsuc. He doubted not
but some mode OF relief might be devised
without the risk OF supplying the euemy.
Mr.. M'kim said in reply to the observa-
tions Of Mr. Myrfree, that the difference of
hardship between vessels lying in one place
and in another, was mo- worthy the conside-
ration of the Legislature, tine great hardship
being in the stoppage of their sailing. at all.
The gentleman had asked whatinjury could
result from permitting vessels embargoed TO
return home. will tell hun, said Mr..
NIX. yesterday saw letter from res
pectable source in n. York, to q gentleman
now in this city. informing that IL vessels
employed as packets between Rhode Island,
and n. Y. have cen seized Under a, charge
of supplying the enemy This is the evil.
IF men had been governed by just principles.
the sting trade might we'll have cont
nued, and there would have been no necrs-
fity for an embargo. But to guard against
treachery, we have been compelled to resort
10 this rigorous measure, and l hope We
shall not relax it.
Mr.. Macon of n. G. observed that if he
could think the passage of this resolution
for enquiry menaced violation of the en-
barge, he certainly should not vote for it
but mere enquiry could have no i'll effect
because, if on enquiry. it should appear
chat the object could not be obtained, it
would be perfectly easy for the House 10 re
ject the adoption of measure like that
proposed.
Mr.. Farrow of S. c.. expressed his ap-
prehension that this resolution was only
prelude to proposition to repeal the en-
barge SO far as relates to coasting vessels.
The more the embargo was complained of,
the more strong was its operation for
strongly as our own citizens might feel t.
the enemy, whom it was Intended to affect,
felt its pressure proportionalty still stronger.
He was not DESTROYS to Cypress the suffer
ing families of the mariners spoken CT. but
TO Cypress the enemy, who was fed by these
Ineans-& he should therefore vote against
every proposition to relax the embargo,
whatever shape it might assume.
Mr.. King Of Mass. took occasion TO eX-
press his sense of the caudor which had
been shewn by some gentlemen towards this
proposition. With respect to the imputa-
eion OF a want OF forecast which the passage
of this resolution might appear TO convey,
Mr.. K. said that all men were fallible, and
when error was discovered, it was always
best to rectify it. The fatal error of this
government appeared to him TO have been
eco great confidence and pertinacity i'll the
measures it has adopted.-and it was always
honorable TO reiract them when errors had
been committed. Mr. X. expatiated on the
inequality of the operation of the embargo
Jaw, which hs conceived to contravene the
spirit of that article of the constitution
which says that no preference shall be
granted to one port over another. This in
equality he discovered in the operation of
the late embargo law. lnasmuch as the pro-
hibition OF the Coasting trade affected much
more injurioAsly the eastern that. the south
eTn states. AS to these vessels being per-
Initted to return in balisat, as had been sng
he would not 10 No
principal evil. which was the want of pro-
visions. 1t would be almost literally giving
them a stone, when they asked for bread
We must be supplied, said Mr. K. Neces-
SHY has no law--we must provide for cur
subsistence. Self preservation is the first &
supreme law of nature-its obligations are
paramount to those Of the constitution itself
He concluded by saying that the resolution
must pass-he knew it would pass. unless
the minds of the majority were hardened to
the distresSes of those interested in it.
Mr.. Murfree moved to amend the reso,
linton by adding, after the word cargo, the
words other than troviSiOnS, or ~ BAL
Iast.'
Mr.. Potter of R. /. having enquired Mr..
M'Kim's authority for fact he had lust
Mr.. M'Kirn re-stated what he had said
fespe citing eleven packets or traders, seized
and, added. that something was said in
the letter of FIVE mere which we're sus-
pecteds
Mr.. Potter said there were but two re-
gular packets between the places he had
mentioned-a that of course there must
be an errcr in the statements
Mr.. Pitkin, of Cont opposed Mr. Muir
frees motion to amend; and quoted the pre-
cedent of a clause in former law, granting
permission to embargocd vessels to proceed
coastwise. Would it not be better, he said,
to permit the smbaTgoed vessels to return
home with the provisions necessary for the
subsistence of the families of their owners
and naVigators or at least to leave the sub.
Ject open to the discretion Of the committee
who ere to enquire into it.
Mr.. Comstock, of ~. Y. opposed the reso-
lution, tho disposed to grant relief if prac-
ticable, to those who appeared most to suf-
Ter under the embargo. lie did not believe
fhe adoption Of the resolution as proposed
would sHsVasE any other object than to at.
ford advantages to spectators, and he was
therefore in favor Of the amendment.
The question on Mr.. Murfree's amend.
Tent was decided in the negative.
The question was then taken on MIR.
Kings resolution as amended, and decide a
as follows
YBAS-Messrs, Alexander Rayies of Mas.
BnyleJ Of Virg. Bigeow, Boyd, Bradbury, Brseken.
ridge, Brigham, Caperton, Champion, Cheves, Gil.
ley, Cooper, Cox. Culpeper, Davenport, DAVIS
A1n.~