1 ; -If-Ti
Hi
Gazette
:
Oars are theplaftoffairdeHghtfu) peace,
Unwarp'dby patty rtge,toUelikebrotber.
Monday, Junk 2, 1806;
" No. 349.
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DISPUTE with. G. BRITAIN. A
Debate on -
Mr.G4Ug'$ RiwLiTion,
Continued. )
1r. G. W. Campbell Speech.
1 am not disposed, Mr. Chairman,
t pursue measure;that will'critn
som the American fields with Uie
blood of her citizens, any more lhan
other gentlemen ' who hac spoken
on this subject ; nornvJiUingthat
iliousahds of innocerfvpWsonshQuld
suffer distress and ruin, for .the Bene
fit of a. few individuals, a few rner
chants whiclr, it has been stated
will be the effect of the measure be
fore you; neither, H Sir, will I ever
give 'my vote forfny measures that
shall appear to me calculated to sa
crifice the agricultural interest of this
ndtion to that of commerce, or have
xtendency to enhance the latter at
the expence of the former ; and so
far as the resolution before you ap
pears to me likely to produce this
Effect, I shall oppose it. The peo
ple whom I 'huve the honor to re
present are "chiefly agriculturalists,
nd it will alwars be my wish and my
pride, to support their, interests and
to cherish and promote the agricul
tural interest of this country in - ge
neral, so far-as it may be in my pow
er. But I am not, at. the s'jtme time,
prepared to see the nation sutter,
without resistance, every indignity,
with which G. Britain may choose
to treat her, and submit patiently to
rverv ajrorression and outrage htv
cruisers, under fcer authority, may i
choose to commit on ourcitirens Sc
n our commerce? I conceive it our
xluty to take sucfi measures as will
prove to the world, a determinsuicn
on our part to resist injuries and
maintain our rights. Jn .regard to
the commercial relations of this
country with foreign powers, I deem
it proper on this ccasion to declare
it as my opinion, which I have al
ways entertained, that ' it would have
l)ctrt better for the American peo
ple, if government ht.d never Riven
protection to commerce out of sight
of our own territory, or beyond the
a-each of our cannon from our shores
It would have been well fur us, sir,
if the American flag hail n?vcr floa
ted on the ocean, under the autho
rity of gvernment, to waft to this
country the luxuries and icevof
Elirropean nations, that effeminate
and corrupt our people, to excite thr
jealusies and cupidity of those
powers whose existence, in a greal
degreer-depcnds on commerce, and
to court, as itf were,. their- aggres
sions, and embroil us in their unjust
iind blaedy contests. If we had
guarded -against those pending evil"?
by leaving commerce tQetk, her
own protection, except within ti;e li
inks of-our own jurisdiction. we
should have hid a fair prospect, ol
continuing to flourish a free, inde
pendent and happy nation, much
longer than I fear it will be our des
tiny to do, if we continue to become
more 8c more entangled in European
pojitics .and intrigues, to be subject
to feel the' effects of European con
vulsions, and national contests, in
consequence of being deeply enga
ged in commercial relations with
"European powers. If we had adopt
ed this "policy, foreign nations would
haTe vied with each other for our
commerce arid our friendship, would
convey, the surplus productions of
i r can m try from our storehouses',,
and urnish us in return wiliv those
articles and . manutactures ;otoheir
cavmtriev which aur necessities or
convenience flight require, and we
miht then b "hold the Collisions ol
the great po7rs on the continent
of Europe, and their jarring inte
rests contending for ;, superiority,
without endangering ur peace or
our happiness, and with o other in
convenience than the regre.t ve nuglrt
feel for the miseries and su tv,ngs
of that portion of; he human I. -'iiy,
with whom, however, vye had J)o
immediate connections.
But, Mr. Chairman, we have as
sumed the character of a commercial
nation, abroad as well as, at home.
Oar government has, in some jde
gce, pledged the uatiwn to protocl
.commerce, and under this impres
'o our rhi.enH have -embarketl
1
At'
civ. in trade, and made consider
derable progress therein The en
terprising spitit of our merchants
has raised this nation to rank, in re
gard to commercethe second in the
world, and from this source also,
our revenue is chiefly derived Un
der these circumstances, I am nat
prepared to say, this is the propi
tious moment to retrace cur steps,
and without even giving notice of
our intemtiontto do so, abandon our
merchants and their property to
the rapacity of a foreign nation. I
conceive, on tht contrary , it is ur
kuty to afford them such protection
as the resources of our countrv, and
the prospects we have heretofore
held out, would authorise them to
expect.
Vln examining this subject, the
first important enquiry that presents
itself, is in regard to the grounds of
complaint, which have occasioned
the resolution befor you to be pro
posed. These are two. FJrst, the
impressmentxof aur seamen, and se
condly, the unjust, and as we believe
unauthorised aggressions committed
on our com tn reef; iy the cruizeis
of Great-Britain. If. yon look at. the
documents on your stable, you will
see that our seamen hav been Im
pressed by that nation foryears pasi
without the color of right, and in a
manner, which is not pretended,, cn
this fioor, is authorised by justice,
or sanctioned by the laws or, usages
of nations. They have becn treated
in the most inhuman manner, if in
formation i:s to be relied upon, com
pelled to perform th hardest duty
her ships of war, and forced against
their will to fight hW enemies who
were at the same sumc tinae on terms
of friendship with us. They haw
been takes from sea to sea ; and
from plsce to place, from one coun
try or island to another, shifted from
ship, to ship, and often srnt to dh
tant parts of the world, so as to place
them beyond the research of their
friends or their coun'ry, and put
it out of the power ; of cither tu
reclaim theno, by producing tht
proofs inquired of their citizen
ship to obtain their liberation. It
has been stated that Great Britain
has always been willing to deliver up
such impressed seamen at were pro
ved to be isona .fide. American citi
zns. But this is a falacious pretext
on her pu t, from which little or no
benefit can arise to us. She impres
ses our people, without enquiring in
regard in their citizenship, or pay
ing the least regard to their protec
tions. Their friends know not
where to find them, the government!
cannot ascertain where they are,
an&years sometimes pass btlore it is
known whither they have been car
rifuV It ha therefore, in most ca
ses, been found impossible to, pro
cure their release, and restore them
to their friends and their countrv
Sc there a"re at this moment) unjustly
detained by that ihlion, between two
and three thousand, of our seami-ry:
vhO hate been impressed xvitkout
any Oliver pretext than that they
spoke the English language, or re
sembled m their persons, the inha
bit? it of the British embil e. Our
government -has in vain,7i'emcntra
ted. time after time on this subject
to the cou.t of St. James'. No sa
ti$faCtry srangements could be ob
tained, nor is theia any fair grpund
to expect a change in the conduct ot
that govei nmcntf in this respect.
Complaints have been made and re
peated in every quarter of the union
on this subject. The outrages com
mittetl on our citizens have made an
imuression unon the public mind,
that demands on our part the adop
tion, of some decisive measures, to
correct the growing evil. It hajs,
indeed, been uid by some gentle
men on this floor, mat there, exists
a prospect of the fair adjustment of
our differences with Ureat Bntam
en this subject. I would ask. those
gentlemen, upon what information
ibis op'yiiqri(,js founded ? Fr",
iclf, Mrliirman5 I know of no
just ground to authorise such ex
peciation. The doctiniehts on your
.able do not justify a; belief, thai
ctisre is at- this tirpehe" least 'prospect-
of adjusimenf-hey'' infonn
us, there was once such a prospec'
but thut it bas long since vanished;
.and so far as we can collect in form's
tian, from those dticifments, :as wtli
Jj 4 from ther soVces? there t
I tqjlje fbyjhcl in the '.ebndudptf thq
Britith ministers, the slightcst'lroun-
dation for a belief that they ere dis
posed to relinquish the ground they
have taken, unless it is rendered ne
cessary by some effective -measures
ion our part. 1 would tnen put it to
gentlemen to say, it we are not at
tnis time, to take any step wnate4
yer, towards vindicating our Tiola
ted vihts, when will be the proper
tame for us. to act? Have, we not
patiently indurad those injuries long
enough? And if not, how much
longer must we tamely submit to
them? What time can be more fa
vorable than the present to resist
them ? Will it bcwlien Great Bri
tain has gotten into her possession a
greater number of ouceamen ?
When instead of near three thousand
she will have gotten, six, eight or
ten thousand?. Will it then be
fa more proper time to make a stand
to call upon her by some efficient
measure to dc us justice, to treat us
as an independent nation, cr to tell !
her, thai he will at least, cease to
treat her as a friend ? I presume
not, sir. I cannot conceive it pro
per that we should wait or such ane
vcni before we make a Und in defence
ot our rights.. Qn the contrary, it is J
: .. .. . .. !
my opinion, mere can ie no time
more like than the present, to ren
der effectual any measures we may
adopt. The present stale of the
war in Europe, which sufficiently oc-S
copies the great powers in that qnar- J
ts:r, if properly 'considered, and its
probable results, in regard to us.,
duly Weighed, ought it appears to
ne; to convince any man of ivfiec- j
tion, that this is the most favorable ;
moment, co insist on finally adjust-
ng our (iiRcrences on tins sutject
with Great Britain. Ther right of
our seamen to prolectioriwlme they
s;ul under our fi; g, i undeniable. It
is a -perfect right, as uhjcIi as tli
Hsht to be protected within our hoDtl
:J ..." .. .... . SJMM
c, r in our cartiAKeH on me n:gn
way. You ought, therefore never
"10 abandon it, on any pretence
whatever; nay, ir, you cannot uLan
don it, m justice , 10 your citizens, j them, the t become neutralized, and
unless, indeed, you are willing to ji 'a much apart of the common stock
surrender your independence as a i of the nation as if they had been rai
nation. The ocean is a highway for M sed on your farms, and the same
all natians, over which i cue nower l!
has exclusive jurisdiction. It you
resign this right now S Great Bri-!
tain, what reason have you to be
lieve she w ill not push her demands
further,"-and urge you to rrsign an-
tier, that may be still mce impr
U;U? It is high time that this, bu
siness was brought to u i;al clone,
for if your seamen are to be seized
w here veri-they are found on the
ocean, 'ou had better strip yojj.r
ships ot every 'sail the? carry,, coni
fne your citizens within the limits
J of your own jurisdiction, to fight
;your own uauies, snouia it Decome
iVecessaiy, rather than see them ex
posed against thek wiyin fighting
fthe battles of a foiVignnatioii. - ,
The second ground -yof complaint
is the aggressions comlittrd'on our
commerce, contrary to the law of na
tions, and in violation of evet y prin
ciple of justice. G. Britain assumes
tojnerself the! right tointenlict to
nett'tral nations fa commercial inter
course wiih the colonies of her ene
mies,cxcept under such. modification
as she has been pleased to prescribe.
She justifies Jthe-caot ure of your ves
sels on the ground of their being cn-
afMrl tn n rfvmmirrp. r!lirlnr t li
v. Ill vuiuiuliv, VI 1 1 1 vw
war, that was not open to them in
Urne ot peace. 4 If this principle be
once ; admtttcdas correct, and car
ried tc the foil xtentof which it ;is
capable it will be found hits conse
cw&ccir almost wholly to destroy,
tJoToniy the commerce bfthis conn
.try, asla neutralbut that ofevery
neutral natioiliri tha wbrldJt You
are told you must not in time of war
exceed- your accustomed traffic .
time of peace. Vv hat is the conse
quence I War - in a great degree
estrovs the trade-?Whicl you were
accustomed toAeniov tinltime of
peace, as a great part of it' becies
contraband df War ; n4 This new
principle shuts tip ail the avenu of
. commerce tnat were upeneo, in con
sequence of,: or evch'during tlic war.
iW hat comerce thjvkt me ask,
wilt e left to the neutral? None
sir, that will deserve the pamc of
commerce. But the reasons ad van-
ce4 in' support of this prmciple, will
is
go still further to shew its destructive
consequences. One of tiie reasons
given why you must not cairry eri
this trade, is, because it1 is berlefi
cia'l tp the enemiesnvBritain
you thereby- fu rrish thenvvith r pro w:
sionti and other articles of merchan
dise, which .relieve - them fnem the
? i
pressure of the war, and prevent her
r
irom deriving- all the benefits sire
otherwiss would do, from her supe
riority at sea. ..-If therejs any soli
dit y in Uii s reasoning,, U
whole length to prohibit YQnffiowt
carrying the prdductioas.of your own
farms to any nation the enemy a G,
Britain. Your provisions, bread stui
beef and pork, are surely as useful
for carrying on war, as the produce
of the West-India Islands She iia
hitherto, it is true, applied this rea
soning only to the prorluctiohs of the
colonits, but it will equally apply to
those of your own ceuAry. -Hence
the injustice and absurdity of the
principle must apnear evident to e
very discerring and unprejudiced;
mind. ....'
But she has already, in carrying J
into effect her new principle, gene
iurther than merely to prchibif.ieuv
trals from carrying colonial pijciluce
directly to the port of hr enemies.
She has laid tho ground work to pre
vent you from carrying to those ports
your own productions. Your vessels
are seized and ? condemned for
being engaged in carrying to her en
emies colonial produce, winch-have
been fairly purchased and paid for
by your citizens, brought t ths
country, -and according to your re
yenu laws, made a part cf the corri
mon sto k cfthw nation. If there is(ft
shads cf. difference in prjnciple be
tween this case, and that in which
: the produce ofyour own farms should
: be captured on its way to the same
i enemies ports, it is as fiimy as can
: be conceived, to exist. When your
t people have pnrch&sed the produc
tions of ether countries, and fairly
, paid tor them, brought them into
; your own, and complied with your'
municipal regulations respecting
principle that would inhibit you from
carrying thesetto the ports of a btli
gerent, would by parity of reason
ing prevent yVa from carrying to the
same pgrta the productions of your
own farms. .
But, Mr. Chairman, let us for a
moment enquire, whence G. Britain
derives ihe right according to any
knovn principle of law or justice, to
seize and condemn colonial produce,
1 the property of a neutral, in consp-
Vtence of its being destined for the
ports of the parent state, her enemy ?
Strangers can acquire no rights a
"gainst each other, in consequence
of the domestic regulations relative
to commerce, which a power inde
pendent of them, may choose to. es
tablish. Suppose, France by lavv,
in time of peace, should prohibit the
importation of colonial produce to
her ports, on the continent, except
in her own vessels, G. Britain could
have no righjQ;capture.-an Ameri
can vessel engaged m such trade.
France alone could rightfully seize
and conllemn such vessel for the in
fraction of her laws, but no dther
power could have such right. S ap
pose such prohibition is removed By
France, during a war, and the trade
tdcclared lawful, could G Britain
thereby acquire a right . to- capture
such vessef for being.? engaged in a
trade .now declared lawful, which'
she could not do, when - it was un
lawful ? Certainlj ..she could not.
Such doctrine wouM j?e contrary to
the plainest dictates of reason, and
common sense. She nad no right
to capture such vessel wHile the
prohibition continued, and she could
j not certainly acquire the right by
i &uch prohibition being removed.
The intervention ,6f war cannot alter
th e r c&sfe
except so5uidf emain the
samelin time of war, as they were
during peace. 1 must therefore,
consider this principle assumed by
G. Britain as . a flagrant violation of
the law of nations, contrary to every
principls uf justice and 'such s oughy
not oe fcanciumeooy ims or any o-th-r
indepeudtnt- nation If you
tamtly submit.
jwill aisuredly push her aggm v5
; sioYis still fiier ' encroach' oh vour' 'm
encyaqa.:interest may requuwi -tin
J til fche;. nas eitectualiy clestroyett yoor:
jccnLmercc and mohoDoiied to helrSli
1 self the whole of iits: profits
part'ef pur commerce that becomes
jjirrMn ed iately u
tibn of Hhis ntiy prmciplt hasabeea
iiabecnridiculed as'rfbt ttflhfc!;.SS
nfjuce; or government; verytc j
rrari?';howe;ferf wHl,V-pe:J
fiend, sh er?Hnt i t is-not so iirsigmfc
ficant lasithas been represented 3f;
In our trade l with Great Britain tKer
is a balance in her favour of nearly
twelve, millions of dollars Thi fca- '
lance must lie paid our of th 'pro :
ceeds of ihce-ports: of the tnitcd;3
States. to other countries. Manv. of 3
those countrh s tliat consuihe a' grcaf tl
nnrtir.n :t nir tivoYtrir ft f-3inrt criv it - - C-ii
specie hi returnitlu7 merchantirnust ffi
therefoit:, in . such ce lesT.'t aUfe; 4n..re 3.'
tern-, the pVouUce--a-iil trianu'Facfures
.of such ' countries instead of specier
and as the "quantity of forcigiv pro
(luce- and goods, ihus-rtceirhd ex
ceeds the fmountineeessai y toV sup-
ply the dimands for crtlumpiion in - -f.
this countrv l it becomes important
that this 6un'usshouid be canicrl - '; -
to o'lver mautetii where there is a:
demand for it, sn'd where specie, call .
ote obulned in ie?uni. This has '
'hii!ie;tobeen dons by our tnercliartts
by first importing-'such.-'.ifoyeign-liirV-?
duce into our oivn country ) and Jthett
re-exporting theesme for, a market
tnd by means of ibis trade alono
have they been enabled to discharge
the balance against us in vur trade
with Great Britain. The annual
talue of imports into the United
States, amounts to about seventy
five millions of dollars, of thisv
twenty Kignt minions 'are re-export -ed
to all parts of ihe world,, anWf
thft? amount, eihtV-n millions- go
to the dominions of Hotlend Ffancey
Spain and Italy. The greater part
0 whiv h is subjected to capture by
the new principle, of the law of na
tions acted upon by G. Britain. This
is the carrying -trade, Sir, which
gentlemen have considered so un
important, as not to merit the atten
tion of government. Instead of es
timating this trade at 8 50,000 "dol
lars as gentlemen hava done, beiug;
the net revenue derived thereirom,
(and which ia not' considered as pcicf
by citizens of the TJuited IStates) it
may fairly be es'imated at nearly
eighteen million t about one fourth
of the whole of y bur exports, nearly
in the proportion of eighteen mil
lions to seventy-five. For if your
merchants are not permitted to re-
export the surplus foreign produce
to those markets where there is a de-
mand for it, it will remain on their
hands, and rot-in their store houses.
This would also sink the price of
your own prodace, as there could
not b a sufficient demand for It, be
cause your ur.erchants would not re
ceive in return foreign produce.
Your trade must, theceftrej be di
minished nearly in the proportion
before stated. I ask gentleman if .
this trade is cut off, how your mer
chants are to get speci to meet the
balance in favor of Great Britain of . "
twelve mjjlions of dollars? If this
cannot be done, your imports must
niiin:sinu propottion as tne means,
of remittance fail, and your revemie.
must also teei the shock and lesser
in the sarafe proportion as your iru-
poriauons are lessened. J his ia a
view of the subject, which I presume
aeserves, at least tht serious consi
deration of gentlemen, and I beg of
tnem to pause before they relinquish
without a struggle this portion of
our national rights. For if you sub
mit in this instance to the interdic
tion imposed byG Britain of cairy
ing ctltnial produce to the porta cf
rhr enemies, she will assuredly ad
vance her pretensions as already sta
ted, still further, and insist on ih
rijht to prohibit yu from supplying1 "
them with .your own ; and it may
fairly be aktd, on the ground sho
has taken whera . is the difference,
between sending colonial produce to
her enemies and senaing your owiif
produce ? The quantum of injury
to "her, and .of benefit tt them, wilt
be the same, and the will have near?
th same right to prohibit in the
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