Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-29

iouiu oe enaoieuto snow tnat they expaN
rated themselves according to Law.
Mr.. Fisk Of VT. said he had heard with |
ONE little surprise the reasons assigned for |
aging this resolution On the table and the
quarter from whichthey proceeded surprized
lim more than the doctrine itself, that the
'ssolution ought not to pass lest il should in
erfere with our negotiations with C. Britain.
We were told the other day, said he, that we,
Or the government. had struck our flag.
but isM come to this-that we. are afraid
70 enquire into our own municipal Tegu-
'ations lest we may offend our enemy Un-
DER such circumstances as this, can it be
expected that our enemy will be very Weld
;uy Interpretation Will not refusal TO
agree TO this resolution be acknowledging,
in language too plain, that we are about to
give up this poiat. Will it not be say
ing We are ready to yield them whatever
they ask-in other words, their maritime
rights! The question now before the House
IS merely that we should enquire into the
propriety Of giving to man as much liberty
as the God of Heaven gave him at his birth
--and does not for moment depend on the
feeling OF any foreign nation. If we mean
to be independent, we must be SO in whole &
not In part--w we should maintain our rights
increasingly. Shall we now hesitate whether
we shall enquire into this subject lest
It should affect the negotiations with an ene>
my whom we are determined to fight fdtes
yer unless she yields 1--WE had better say at
once that The representative Branch of the
government has become so timid that it dare
not enquire into orr municipal rights, for
fear the Eaemy should not like it. He
wou.d not tor moment hold out such an
idea.
Mr.. Culpepper of N. C.. said this was a
subject of Importance, and we'll worthy of
consideration. He was of opinion, however
our municipal regulations might Interfere
with those of other nations. 1t was the duty
OF this government to do its own business in
its own way; and therefore he was opposed
to the resolutions being laid over.
Mr.. Oakley professed that he did not re
gard the effect Of this measure on foreign ma
tons. but how it might affect our own
'nterests-how far the adoption of such a
measure might throw embarrassment in the
way OF our own government. Administrati-
on might think proper to stipulate that il
would not naturalize certain descriptions of
British subjecrs-and to make other stipul,
lions OF a reciprocal nature with which this
provision might interfere. &c. &c. Mr.. o.
conceded in the general idea that this cues
tion ought to be settled; but it was now a
question of expediency whether, pending ne
quotations, it was proper to make any pro
vision on this subject. For his part, he tho't
the question ought to be put at rest for the
present.
Mr.. Calhoun,of S. c. said he hoped the
resolution would be ordered to lie on the ia
Die. 1t seemed to be acknowledged that its
adoption might have tendency to embarrass
negotiation. He was not certain how far
that idea might he correc.,; but by possbi.
lily it could have that tendency, its adoption
was surely not advisable-Mr. c. wished
TOR time to reflect on this subject, and he i d
not see why that time should not be grant.
ca. At was question of great delcacy. UNI
der every aspect and one which they could
not decide aHirmatively or negatively with
out embarrassment. A state of war did not
appear to him the best time for agitatinv
such subject--at least,it ought not to be
hastily disposed of.
Mr.. Macon OF N. c. dressed h;s sp,..
prize at the nature of the objections which
mad been urged to this resolution. Could
any regulations be made by treaty, he ask
ed, declaring tina, the people of this country
should not go where they pleased! 1t was
impossible to imagine that that right could
come In question in any negotiation with 70.
reign powers. IF this subject was one of
difhculty, as was commended, he believed the
sooner it was looked to the better. But, not
withstanding this belief, The Only reason for
departing from his general rule to vote for
any motion to lie ON the table, on the re.
quest OF any member, was the declaration
OF one OF the gentlemen, that he meant by
tnat motion TO put the question at rest for
the session.
MIR. Jackson of Va. said he had been real
ly surprized to hear gentlemen allege that
the adoption of a resolution or passage of. a
law on this subject would have any possible
effect on any pending negotiation. Ii for the
nrst time the question was proposed, to es
tabish the right of naturalization, which
repatriation IS the necessary C1rrelatiye.
then the expediency of agitating the ouesti
on at this moment might be doubted But the
constitution had expressly declaredthat Con-
gress should possess the power of naturaljza-
tioh-and would they now Controvert The
principle established IN the constitution. bv
denying to our own citizens the right TO ex
patriate! lfforeign nations desire to enquire
into the disposition Of the govern meut in this
respect. let them lock into our charter: they
will lind the principle of naturalization en-
grated there. This idea of expatrlatiou
was BY no means -ovel, MIR. ]. said. in the
state to which he belonged--where there
was an act Oh e1patriation OF which persons
might avail themselves He could see no
objection to this proposition a. this time.-
Indeed, 1t this war continued, of which all
hoped to see an honorable termination. il
was indispensable with view. 10 that state
OF things, that some provision should be
made on the subject of repatriation. A CT.
1zen's going into Canada ard returning, &
thus committing treason, al,edges, on defec-
tion, that he has expatFiated and if tried as
spy OF the enemy, alledgas that he is an A.
merican citizen. Some regulation was ne
cessary to prevent this collision, and. whe-
Their peace or war prevailed. IL ,yhe rro,er