Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-08
CONGRESS.
DEBATE ON COMMERCIAL INTER.
COURSE,
r., fJe Fyo,cs of, I2on,ece,trt;..o.
IN tae House Of Representatives..
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30.

1hO kSDAI JANUARY ~.
The House in committee OF the whole,
MIR. BRICK ENRIDGE in the chair, on
the bill E.tO prohibit all Commercial Inter
course auth the ports on places, into o, ruth
,chich the vessels of'the United States are not
ordinarily permitted TO enter AID trade"
Mr.. King, of Massachusetts, observed
that il was only necessary to suggest TO
the committee the great Importance of
the subject under discussion to insure 10
it all the attention it demanded. 1t was
not subject that respected particular
classes IN society, or particular sections
OF The country, but II had direct bear
ing upon our national prosperity and ma
tlonal defence. Commerce and nayiga-
ton were indeed indiyisiblc, and their
intimate connection with the agricultural
and manufacturing interest was known
10 all. The regulations proposed by the
bill bore no analogy to the restrictive sys-
TEN, commencing with the non-importa-
ton act of 1906, and ending with the war
IN 1912: that was not TO regulate COM
merce, butte convert 1T into an engine of
war, which reacted with greater force up-
OH our citizens than 1T acted upon our e.
nemy. The present regulations, ifadopt-
ed would be in seli-defence 10 reialiate
upon foreign nations some OF their iniu-
rious lmposltions. Ii never has been the
policy of this country to begin system
| of this kind, but it is her true policy TO
eountervail the regulations of other ma
| tons. An hon. gentleman from South
Carolina, (Mr. Calhoun) who does not APP
pear to have examine d this subject with
his usual accuracy and precision, in the
few observations he submitted Yesterday
thinks that regulations of that kind con-
lempiated by this bill ought to be the
subject OF compact or treaty why then
| Is Tie power to regulate commerce vested
IN Congress Especially if the doctrine
contended for by some honorable cen
| tlemen be correct, as in Tie case of the
| late commercial convention with Great
| Britain, that the sanction of CONGRESS is
| not necessary to the validity of such a
| convention. But, sir, il requires the con
sent ct two nations TO form treaty., tho
we may pass laws regulating commerce.
| And such laws are Infinitely more perma-
/ nent Than treaties. Take tie psof &,
| Britain IN relation TO her celebrated ns,i-
| CATION act; which has now existed for
more than one hundred and fGtv wears.
| How often have her treaties. within that
| time, been renewed, with the PRINCIPAL
| nations OF EurOpel Laws thus PASSED
| thus permanent, are not liable 10 he form
asunder by every blast of war. But. sir.
we have no option leit-some of the ma,
tons OF Europe, one at least, has estab-
lisbed her regulations, injurious as we
thInk to our navigation, and refuses to
| treat on The subject; nor will she ever
treat thereon, IT you thus acquiesce. 4
Tree and fair commerce with all the world
Is what we wlsh-an absence Of All res
irctions but if other nations viii no,
pursue this course, we must retaligte
or sacrihcethe best interests of the coun
try. 00'
| WISH, sir, to draw the attention Of N,
committee to the language and on;n;ou,
Of ar.ll.f II Il