Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-01-24
Ehrrfentb GongrsfS.. ..2d Sfffion.
HOUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES.,
FRIDAY, JAN. ID.

FRIDAY, JAN. Ia.
I On motion of Mr.. M'Kim-Rei6L-
yed. That the Secretary of the
1reafury be required to lay before
this Houle a digelt OF American man.
ufactures, heretofore ordered 10 be
made oul under his direction, if the
fame be prepared, and to report the
progress made in this work, If not
ready for delivery.
COMM RCF.
Mr.. King Of Manachufetts role to
fubmit fomc relolutions. on fubject
which he deemed of gres, importance
he meant the commerce of our
country, ii that could indeed be deem
cd important now. Whatever the
impreflions of this houie or of the
government may DC on the iubject Of
commerce, It'll 1t is and will contin-
ne to be dear 10 a great majority OF
the American people. hey will
cling TO the wreck Of it while fpar
or the fla remains above The water
Even The navy which bears that flag
would loie Its valae and importance
if we had no commerce TO protect
and that navy eucncled as IT is with
glory, 1t was lmpofiibie to CAL TO re.
collection without emotions, which
he ieelmsIy deicribed. 1t was i'm
portant, Mr., King said, that we
ihould know and accurately define
the extent of our conittutioual pow
ers in relation 10 commerce IN eve
ry point Of view In peace We look
TO commerce for rhe whole of our rev.
enue ; in war attempts are made TO
fight our enemy through its agency.
In this way, and by your reitrictive
meaiures, fsid he. commerce has been
reduced from its proud elevation to
pitlful remnant and you have lately
passed law weeping that remnant
from the ocean and all this has
been done unJer the conititutional
power given to this government for
regulating commerce You ACT like
bungliEg mechanics, in whole hands
delicate machines are entruited-and
who top their motion in attempting
to amend them know the plea
urged is, that bccaufr Cengrcfs have
the power 10 1eclare war. and to raile
and fupport armies, they have a right
to opprefs commerce by way of max
ing it an initrument of war. Mr.
Kings idea of the powers Of Cong els
was this t: thai the power TO regulate
commerce was coordinate and In
dependent branch Of power, equally
with other powers granted under the
contribution. lie never could for a
moment conceive, where one power
is granted, thai under that power "a
mother independent power was TO be
exercifec. BsGaes, Mr.. K. faid, he
did extremely doubt the efficacy Of
theie meafures regulating commerce.
l he government had endeavored to
make The commerce of the country
what was called an efIicicn: belliger-
ent weapon. 1t was a weapon, he
faid, OF that kind the rccoil of which
of the citizen was infinitely more
destructive than the projectile force
on the enemy. You may prevent a
few of the fleet of the enemy from
being fupplied but you arref or
cramP the induitry of thoufands of
our own citizens by the meafure,
which thus becomes infinitely more
m,ichievous han beneficial Belides,
f.id he, why felect the commerce of
your own country, why opprefs your
merchants, in waging your rcitrictivc
war on the enemy The anfwer will
doubtless be, that through their
means he may with great facility re-
ceive his fupplies. But why not at
once lay the axe to the root of the
tree Why not 60 to the farmer
and tell him thar he ihall not
plough nor fow, nor reap, becaufe il
he does the enemy may be iupplied
by the product of his indultry ? Such
language might be held with the
fame propriety to the farmer as that
they now hold to the merchant. The
former would tell you thofe were
rights which he received by a heav
,eply charter; that 10 long a the