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-- iV i "i ll AV v )i v J- i?Ste -w-Jar ' V V-rVJ 11. ; II.. iTA ;7 VoL'Al ' -1 lJ , -,"T'- " ' ' 1 TilSPUTE vWG. BRtrAINi.jj Wsana for buijdiny gun-boats ix&1 , ' . " S ! ' 'WP 9f Did mysenti To eivc the wKole ofrnrdebatewitti ha- taken piaca-on mcfiiuojcw v' tation vf ich Gf eatiBntain, r would cup, the Jlegiiiter or several months, Th , iibjecUs; eictIAt' passed oVer. The heads bi . the debat will, therefore;' ert i-' and vriierep is thou4Kecetsai-,tenUke M'il v iect;Ventnre apeecKei; T l'he; peaeom? - raenceli'm pra&rttee bf ihe Vfrt1g stated the hiart,Htfi the 5)h .I'jatai jrord haying .besnvreadp presi?4f;t and compdsAhetn'to erye :Jrg;. of Ame?icin xAtinsf2otontrabaio V 1 TntesVhich was riot alio in tmit " 'And whereas the RoVeromcnl the Urtited States has repeatedly re monstrated to the Bri.ish govern meat against these injuries, and cfc manded ; sdtisfaJtiun therefor, bu tyiihotrteflecti j " Theref-re Refitted, that untiljcj suitable and satisfactory arrange ments on these points shaU oV made between the two governmentsrit i expedient that from arid after the tlay of next, -no goods, wares or m erchand ize , of thelgrowt h , product or manufacture ofGreat-BrUainy or of any of thexoldmci or dependtju eies thereof, ought to he impor(e 'into the" United States Provided tiozaever, that .whenever arrangemehtb deemed satisfactory by the President of the 'United ; States shall lake pla.ee, it shall be; lawful for, him hy .prcla-r mation to fix a day on which the pio hibition aforesaid shall cease. ,r - Mr. Gregg, after roTigratulating tfi- no use m tneir aving avicuiti taken i& the subject, spoke of the inmries which thi&couutry.haQ expe ritneed from both Spain and Great- Britain. The former,- irom the manly spirit with which they had been resisted, had been checkedvand an amicable adjustment of thi. pojnth in dispute seemed likely 10 taae place ; but, notwithstanding the re peated remonstrances of -out" govern ment with Britain, there was no Toom to' expect an accommodation, aim il wc resort to such measures a would make her feel our importance to her, as the purchasers and const mer of her manufactures and ef the great injury she will sustain thro a total privatum of our friendship. This, it must be acknowledged, is a very imDortant sabiect, and (one which cannot fail to engage the ear nest attention, not only of this com mittee, but must also excite the anx ious solicitude of every member of the community. On the course we may now" take, orf the measures! we: m jy now pursue, will in a great mea sure depend in my view, the detet -ininationof the question; whethcrwe are to be a. free and independent! na tion? "Or whethti we are to surren-, : dsr that. boasted pri ilege, and tatne -ly submit . to such indignity and op pression, as our fore fatjhers e yen in their sate oF colonization, would h ave resi sted wit h . ind on. In the discussion .of a question of such iiiagni;ude,iihhich we are all "so materially interested, and on .which the honour andtrue interest of our country so much depends, I trust we shall direst ourselves' 'of alfarty feelings, whether arising: from I our different pursuits in life, from geo graphical distinctions, j or from poli ticarconsiderations, soj that our deci sion may be the result of a sound judgment, :unin0uened either, hy improper partiality or jprejudice.! : From the hostil conduct of the nations to which I,havje, alluded, hand from' the pointed trinne: in viich the Presh4Qt has -'Te(fo1nmeiided!pfe pactions foraefence,an;ideiapieirti' to hfiv- trnne forth that we are to be immediately engage in war; .This opinion has rectived' additional! cur rency from a report made by atlect enmniittee of the house, recom1 unending an apnropnation of money cravar, and not roceedii? to place ratex ,01 .mcir u&k s "-"S"fr t a considerable amount for: the nent accord wit,h this opinion1" I hb'ulditcrtaitily give' this report "my jordiri any ; substantial 1' protection; veri as things are,' I "mayf'oc rhf.pt induced to vote m favor off the ap cppfiaov for gui boats, U; rpti eye iie'anxietv ve Sibfte'ol our felfowi HMzfcns, whose alarms appear to be f-featl excitedlt and 'because 't' be ; eve, irom au rne miormatiorr i4 nave cen able tocollect frorn1 RavaF ari iniiitarf-'Crenti-Htn f;fBrclfthe rnosr llTectal prdtectoJ tn 'thefipYent of eqr being c6mpelled ; ' have recou rse tt' defensive metf Mires, by any occurrences that may fieatter') " - 'tiuihere 1 ' thusf 1 permitted, to '-fclare tt t -haVetf 6. apprehensions' vHaievcr of a war." The present si i nation of' thfe: nations . of Europe fur? vhfces no ground for entertaining Wich apprehensions. Their preent ngagemeiits furuish ample era ploy -nent for all tkeir resources, both tif ntn and monet. 1 he important ontest which now occupies iheir at rntion, is not likely to be brought' to a speedy termination r,vcn u uie nmor powcrssnouui witnav v nam e conedeira'ithere is no pros pect of a suewyl peace betwixt the . . ;, i-ij . . v 'fi .mi two greats iivai nations. ?i ncy wik no doubt soon return to the situation they respectively occupied at the com ir ence ment of the present cam paign. The sceic of Boulogne will probably be acted; over agaiiu JTiie fleet of pne nation j rou t be emploj' til in guarding its coasts against an4in yaiooiy tht army of the other. "Tn ' his situation neither will be 'disposed to add to the number of thir ene miei Great-tirain . '. derives some advantage fromj tliatt prefatory war which she permits and authorises to he parried on agamst oiir coinmerce, and she also experiences some con-, Venicnce in manning her navy, from the facility with which, deficiencies are supplied by impressments of our seamen frm on board our trading vessels. Interest) ;;nd convenience willinduce her pursue this system, Vo long as wc discover a disposition o yield implicit submHsion ; but let us once teU her in the proud spirit of independence, that we wiilnoton- er submit to this indt?nty and op- ; jireasion, and we will find th.e prac tice , relinquished, and our feilow-ci-tizens liberated frcm that degrading bondage in which they are now held, ind restored to their country and friends. Great?Bri;ui is too well versed in the business of cala ulation ind too weJlc;qUairted with li4:r,ovrr. interest io :efyerc. in this lawless syitem, at thhazjuid of losing! cm. omers, whose annualjpurchases of her manufactures ajid ether merthan 1(ZJ exceeds, I believe, thirty mil ions of dollars- lnr searching for materials to sub siantjatc the facts stated in the pre amble to the resolution, it is only necessary to refer to the histoiy of thecondu t of t British govern ment towards us for a very short pe tiod. By turning over 4 few paes ot triat history we will find, that a large number of our fellow-citizens 1 l 1 r !ti:.M nave oeen lorcioiy taken from' theit homes Qfor his ship is a seamahS home) have been put on beard Bri tish ships of war, ind compelled to fight her ba t'es against a powr, be twixt whom and tfieir government there exists no difference. ,1 he ge net aj notoriety of this truth precludes .1 h the necessity ol a teterence to any :e to any particular documents to prove the i con ec tn ess of the statement. Was such a reference necessary, I might pomt to a report jlrom the depart ment of state mde at the last sessi on, of Congress. In that report we find, -that at that time fifteen hun dred anxl;thitty-tg(it persons claim ing to be American citizens, had been able to extend their application tor. relict to tneir own govcrinem , and vt)igh Greajt Britain claim-d some If these as'her subjects, agfee ably to her doctrine of non-expatriav tibn, tie great mass, was acknow ledged to ' Se A mepcans, Tor whose detention no other cause . could be as signed; ' but because: she ; stood in 1 t - g ;r"". was'but mallproportion fof tpWli who were1 actually impressed t'' wjiu were aciunnj UHpicsscu i ingrchariflfed fram'ship- to ship, and the tessebiii ;whicfi"'. thty are fref quently'crianging their station, guard ed with- the? most scrupulous attend , on, : iif almost impossible .for them to find ahyioppojrtunity ",f -applying to their own government, or any of its ofnerjfor relief . I his operiv this flagrant violation o f ur rights as men, and as citizens of an independent nation, certainly de tft rtnds th jnterripsHion. of go vern ment. v . To what cause arfc we tos cnheenegiecttlr "which thlse unfortunate treated ? jearalj '0!' 0ufe peprej1tair tpimisfortune to be madeVt pHserlbWthe : Aire ri n t s. I and at a later pct&d; when some o- t hers tell into the hands of the 1 n polhans, 'the' feelings of the .govern ijvehT andof thewhole country wive, jdlye ' ' AJlvoi.jiiited in requiring the'y energy ;v off the governmnj jtxj-.be. exerted and its purse to be ope ned, so v thaVnp means to obtain, (thejiberty of Uie captives might' bi left untried. Success has crowned these endeavours, ahd those- who were unfortunately slaves, are now enjoying their freedom In what respect I would ask, does the situa tion of those who have been impres sed from on board. their own vessels, and who are forcibly detained on board British ships of, war, differ from the Algenne and Tnpolitan prisoners. So far as respects the go vernment, the infringement of its rights are greater in the former than ihthe latter case. The situiuon of the indiiyidual is no better. A wound inflicted by a British cat of nine tails, is not less severely felt, than if it had proceeded from the lash of an Alge rine. The patient submission with winch 'we have so long endured this flagrant outrage on the feelings- of j humanity and on the honor of our country, mitfhave excitetWsto--nishment 6f1hc whyefworjd but must also have impressed theiri very forcibly with an idea of the modera te oh of " ou'goverhment and of its strong preaiiecuop. ror peace. 1: trust, however, wet will now; shjw them, ithat there is a poiht Jbend whieh wjwiirhot suffer, ha'eifenf althougli we may not think it advisa ble to make; reprisals, we, will at least withdraw our friendly intercourse from that government, whose whole system of conduct towards us hasi been that of distress, nnd degrada lion ; and that is the business is now taken up, it will be pursued with zeal and ardor, until relief is extended to this unhappy class of sufferers, and security obtained against similar j aggressions on their persons in fu ture, by such arrangements as ought to be deemed satisfactory. In relation to the capture and cont demnation of pur vessels, contrary to what I consider, and to what I veri ly believe to be the law of nations, I shall not detain the committee with many observations. I have no in tention of entering into a discussion of the abstract question, whether a trdc is justifiable in war, which is not open in time of peace. I T wishl onlv observer, that on thev principles of reason and'justice, and from such I authors as I have h'sd an opportunity j of consulting, the right for which we contend does appeal? to me to beH clearly established.- In some late 1 publications this question has receive ; i ed a very luminous and ample cusSion, and thejright insisted on by placed on such ground, us has been and supported by reasoning so deir, U i so cogent and so conclusive, that Great-Britain, witht all her boasted talents' will hnd it extremely mmm cult to find answers for them. v But even admitting the British doctrine to be correct, what, I would ; of Uberitity, and friendship? Has it . been that of a civilized and polished j, nation ? Has it been such as justice !: and the fairjmd honornble govern- !j ment hasgiven us a right to expect ? j ! No person I think, is prepared to 'i answer in the amrtnative It does ' f net appear that the? principle wasi pr actised en during the last,' nor for somertime after he commencement ask, has been the conduct f that:' in that wildf extravagant, carrying government under it I Has it been t irade,, to.-which' soniejaf fthtm- ap that of a-nation actuated by motives i uear to extend'their 'Views, iTrshail V - LL-"-1-J '- 8 i.,., .... . .1 . ?v qtsheJ iCW the tirade: which' i: udiickwpw now prohibits wa permitted to V mteresiof thc'coumrr;: BychcrisKiV timcu,on 10 a great exiemnyimou' afty; interruption from their xriiizersr qipbers allured by the prospect -of gain,' wert induced to5engage in'thti profitable business, andtsuppbsihv1 themselves safe under the prptectiorj of law 4iad theie veselsrand etTect sseiaed to a large 4mpunt,i?The , cap , tore and condemnation ol theiO-pro- perjty :.ray ,tp , thehe rs promi" , gapn pi ine ia w, lgnorance.ot, w a it . waiim UnowV was imputed to tHem as'a erime,' in& an uonoisinie atpnuance pn tne jus -le of a govifnment prdfeisingto'V friendly, was prosecute with benal ty and forfeiture. - : But even independent N bur jus complaint arising fromiuhis princi pie, apparently hew, thus mnjusthi brought into operation, how, has that government conducted in relation to captures, in which after the mos. minute investigation, all thc ingenu ityof her courts have.not i?een abU to. discover iiy principle to wattarti thetfcondemnatioh. The perplex! njr (liOiculties, the vexatious delays'and the ehormbus'expence atteh(!inJthy' prosecution of a claim throurHi everv- fstage of. itV progressplace an at viost lnsurnrojaniaoic Darner, in uu way for obtainirrg justice. To': fact,, all her commercial maxinis and tht; whole system of her conduct, dis cover a manifest intention,. 9 fixed determinatiori toconbummate themin of the,comiQercefpU;ountry. I am ar:thma'iiy of the cap tures and ?c;ohdemhations, of which we have heagpioUeomplatnU.' are strictly warranted by the law nations. . An immoderate desire' ol gain very frequently leads xhmtf cUfrp is to engage ill a ttUiieJ ! vhich the univtr'sal consent of all natron, has declared to bc un la wful . This observation will, ho wevei, perhaps apply with more propriety to foreign ers, who have fixed thtir residence "among us, to enjoy the advantage of trading under our neutral right. than to Hie real American merchant. Thisldescripticn of men, undiic, no f influence -of patriotism, and tbo gen erally unrestratned.by any principles bf justice, pursue their object, wlibl -fy regardlesfiof the interest of our country or of any injurious conse quences to which it might bev, sub- iected through their misconduct. I have no idea of involving my country in any difficulty on account of these people or their trade. As thy are citizens of the world, eqiially,attiich ed to every country, I would always willingly surrender thern. to be pun ished according to the lawa'ofQ'V. ever couptry-.they might be rftouml transgressing. But in withholding protection from.. thee lawless adven turers, let us not withdraw it r from the real American merchant, .v Act ting from- motives of patriotism as well as of gain, he combines his own interest with that of his coun try. While he is accumulating wealth to himself, he is addintrgto the revenue and riches of his coiin-- try, arid while he is searchini market for. the productions of ithe farmers, he is discovering something mat may coBtrioute to tneir conve nience and cbmforu Heia a peces- sary link 111 'the cham orur-society 1 nre is a mutual : uepuunce u tvvjxt him and?tje'"'ftrer.;tlhe in tereet of the one is preriioted' by the success of the- othejr l his being dis-lithe case, theseevhould 'the extremeiyclwusTw they suf i' fer that?luncej betwixt theni j prove a source pi distress anu caiami- ,ty to them both Nor would I have it inferred from any thing thatI nave saidtbat I am going t6 be en advocate lor the, pro tection even of American merchants, : never agree to risk the -peace rand safety .of the nation, iti such a cause, Kyen ;inJ.dputfol case'sVor where the lawras'.noierfectlyear,,-if they wputdCcmbafk their , properly, let it be athetrj' own hazard, j But in ear rying onthc direct trade of ur coup? try, " and even in thexarrying. trade, i while tney confine themselves within , the acknowledged - law:cC:,nationst I riueresjt 01 ;ue country y ciiensn- f iiavigauon ipa corcain.exreni or our defence. f Q.n Uiis subiec, J l:- i , annot .express sepiimentSpeuer UjartA - " - .r ;.'V W J '.I i:.i)-...'l 1; njuu.inem jexpresajeo ui erjepoix !-vc secure ,10 ourseiyes at van -Mmca&uK the means of .procuring a itparketA; or such ai tjcles aswe iiaveior k we iurnhvme;ans ofpromoting ip-t 'ustry, and.we ..lm&iproyoW vhe maipteraceof .men, ,or whose .4) bravery arid exertions m theveat pf A4 j ar,. we must always rely very. much. - A Mate", while. Secretary of Satetranrl' 4 ' ) htch I cqniJer as 'declarator y pf ;-: ' he true imeretji of the : natioq X . hall thereioteftaehe';nben i . reading a paracfph pFhat;rrpprtJ4' I 1 of indntrw ie 'vuliiahIJL-l ftit da iokV .''s I source oixieiencc, esenat-uvs vajue:,-? i !nT the deiietidnc ooKmany otliet' kY Ti branches on it, In trmesvot general ,4 eace u mvlUPliescompetUcirs Tor: j,. . . em ploy ment inftrenspor tutipn, --'and '4, t ; keeps uiat at its proper -lvel : tana - i jivirmesjof war.Uhat rS tosay,:uhen ,V i'i np: cartierfi.hiirTbe at war with - , aaclr theri jf we -pave ubt" 'withjhv t 'd expcnccT of War freightaud insu-. - riace, and the article! whic b wil ?bot ; hi arihatj! mtit pensh on bur harids Hut' it isVs'aiiTQrdeYeuceO ihatournavigaHou vkttlVtinut, neither 5 neglect or torbtarance.V Uie n 1 :ion and ctrcuinstancrs oCjthe? 0; S leave' them not hing to fear oft ineir-?i jnd-bard, and nothing vto desire hefy ' yond their present ri ght&k But ori u heir sea-boaid they are opelo4p-i.v; j urv, and they ' hii ve t Here; too; 'a.V ?v. ' I This cri ily be done by, p(seiit7V'! !i respectVole body of citizen searnch 7 ;j , md of artists and ettablUImients in- Ji r.edines for ship build in ri- From this very brief view of thl4ii 1 i conduct of the BrjtUh irovenimcnfi"1 - to wards us. and T have coifintdpifi ' merely to hS points 'tated Hn lhe i-iciiijm: uj c i rbuiuiiou ; every : can di d , every tin pre ju diced pe rsbn (I , '"-i think must ackholtdgt,Mht weVi i .fe"l arris ed 1 at a crisis ; th whVw i ! reai bed a perioTahichlhe horto V, the int crest-rand the public err " .! ' ment of he country; so faVasit h'.aj V been expressed, call loudly, oh u. C to u.pVe a Mand.-'t'Che evil we lv ao : aliady ntffdrvd is gVe W and it ; i progressing. Like a cancerous c 6m plaint it is penetrating still deep-, r 1 a- ;; wards our vitals While we yield year after year, Grea "Britain I van i res step by step ; yt a hule ' longer and our commerce will be anir ihilated ' jnuour iiuiCenaence suovcted. , nere ine great mincuity present. itself, yiiat; , the prater siep jr f)- w ue.iaKen, wnai measuns that wefi can adopt will be most li'ly bef- c,cv uic oojecv we nave n view,, anxt i its pperatioa produce the I smallest rtronyeniertce,toourvelve!i? I Hav, rejected "much on ihis subject. I 'V Haycuiwjucrcu, SO .ISP as l.WaSj 'a 'Yl, pable,. the bearing wKtch every mea sure, whfch I have Ward proposed, S wmild have on it. 'The jeuUokinjr reflections is, tht nndw 1t th..-:.. : 1 cumstantes of the case, Jhe reioliif; tion which is now the subket of im-' in, this rmld and moderate, tho' ma v-1 ly and firm Janguage. : 11 You hav instiled the dignity of ourcountry by impressmg our seamen,-and cOin pelling them-to tight your battles a.'.Y jnniii. iv nauon wun wnom we are at pace : You have plundered us' o much property by that jpredato-t war which you authorise to pe carH flul Ahese tnjuriea, insult and opprci ' viiussum ought tote adopt-' ed. What is the resolmtoHi' whaler does i sav ? It addresses tV: Rritain ston we will submit no longer.' .Wevt j do not, however, wish to destroyrthatl' 1 inenuiy- intercourse inat ougnt. ta -V-T, subsist bet wixt nations, connected -by-H the ties of Cemmon interest to whlclsV j several considerations f seenr to me s 1 peculiar strength., "The citieria'pC our country and UiiesutijecU f yotirs k& j s from 'the Jong .habiii of supplying :.V f their- mut ual wants; no dubt feel ft V t -, wish , to preserve! their 1 ihterc'oursej " II f 1 '1 l: ri:. I t i If 11 1 !! 4f
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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March 31, 1806, edition 1
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