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[VOL. ll.]
AUGUSTA- PRINTED BY DANIEL STARNES 3c Co. WEST END OF BROAD-STREET.
CONGRESS.
House of Representatives.
SPEECH OF DR. 8188.
Monday dan. 2g.
The biU respecting the com
mercial intercourse between the
United State* and Gr at Britain
and France and for other purposes
under consideration. %
Question, shad the bill prss .
Mr. Bibb said he was so ex
tremely anxious fora decision ol
the question, that he would not
solicit for a moment the attention
of the house, did he not know that
other gentlemen intended to ex.
press their sentiments upon it. —
In the present embarrassed state
of our foreign relations (said Mr.
B.) a difference ol opinion upon
the measures to be adopted wa*
to have been expected; but sir I
rejoice that on this occasion the
line of party has not been drawn
—that a spirit of liberality high
ly honorable to this assembly has
been manifested throughout the
different stages of the present de_
bate. For tnyself I have felt a
diffidence in my own opinion up
on the subject, proportionate to
the difficulties with which we arc
surrounded.—l have called into
action the resources of mv own
mind, andlistened with attention
to the arguments of others, lor the
purpose rs possible, of ascertain
ing what course would best pro-,
mote the welfare of the country.
The result, aided by the circum.
stances which have accompanied
the progress of this bill, has con*
firmed me m the opinion I origin*
ally formed, not only of the pro
priety but the necessity of pas
sing it. What arc those circum*
stances ? When first introduc
'd by the geode matt from North
Carolina (Mr. Maeouj whose re*
commendation ia entitled to as
much respect as that of any man
in the nation this bill had scarce
ly friends enough to oh’ain
lodgings for it in the house ; and if
all we read is to bo believed, it
would have fated badly— very
badly indeed out of (he house.
•And now we have ihr. r strongest
evidence, (the vole which was ta
ken a few day a ago) that its advo
cates constitute a majority ol this
assembly— evert day’s dissension
hs*ddcd to the number of its
friends, ar.d if we may judge of
the future from the past, the more
it dial! be invrsitgated, the fewer
V| d bo the mimUer of, its enemies.
1' indeed it he understood that
r,<nt!eme(* are inline-need by the
honest convictions ol their most
deliberate judgements, such is the
pride oi opinion, that nothing less
than the omnipotence <1 truth i»„
) e, b could h-. ve icmovcd the pre
judices which were excited against
it- 5
In i.,e present linexampled state
ct tb « World, tV.r. Speaker, it
no; tii l)c supposed that any
< our.«c can !>•; in r >£uhed which
• ,J 'be entirely lice f.om oi>-
J rf '-* on * v *Vb: may determine wi:at
18 morally right and ho'v far
Ibc two great belligerents of Eu
ri 'i K Klve dt parted from the tno
ar.d puLlick lav, but unless we
“ 2 H tho means of tnforcing that
‘"termination, it will lie perfectly
unavailing. Every .nan who is
,ca 'ly an American hi feeling St in
‘cotiaient—nho i* not insensible
to the impulse of patriotism, will
acknowledge, that England and
r »nct* have Unregarded ali moral
lit igations, an i wantonly trimt
pled on the rights of this
fading nation, But ir, the great
HUcittcn we are called upon to tic
cide, ij, what shall be done to re*.
uirdy tl )e e vil—*lo maintain our
,: gbts- In the adoption of rnca j
t J rrjiorthe atiaininciit of those
objects our view must necct-ssarily
comparative-—nur choice, a
thoice of While the just
re -emnient of on injured people
K !,t tl;rm to ans 9] despara.
MIRROR OF THE TIMES.
tion,it behoves the guardians o*
their rights, who have a view of
the whole ground, to consult their
imxit deliberate judgements —to
ascertain before they act, shat
their means are adequate lo the
attainment of the object* for which
they are to be employed, & to pur
sue that practicable course which
promises the most advantages,—
Such in my humble apprehension is
the character of the bill btfore
you. What is the situation of this
country ? For years past we have
had ample cause for war with
both England and France—-our
rights have been invaded our sever
eigntv insulted ; but owing to;hc
peculiar state ol the civilize!
world and in conformity wi‘h the
genius of our government, » .
honorable exertions have beta
made to avoid the vortex cf too
present war in Europe, into whir.n
each of the bilbgerents has been
anxious, to engage us against the
other. We have thus far suc
ceeded, and as I contend, with
out relinquishing any of the assen
tial righiiof the country. We have
forborne it is true to avenge our
wrongs The nation has been pre
served in peace—the people are
comparatively happy, while Eu
rope presents a scene of miserv
carnage and devastation which
not been surpassed in the an
nals of the world. The peopi
have been subjected to some pi-L
vattoos and inconveniences, but
if they can compare their present
situation with that of the most
favored people on eatli, without
feeling greatful lor their distin .
guished lot, they must indeed be
unthankful. .Sir they are happy
and contented iu the enjoyment
of peace and plenty, and I pcr
ceive the strongest possible in
ducements to stand aloof for. the
present, from the dreadful con
flict which ha* shaken the oi l
world to its centre. The war is
near a close—England, the au
thor of most of our present politi
cal evils, is now writhing under
the couticqucnccs ofher own injus
tice.—lhe period is fast ap
preaching whrn she will be com„
peiled to sue lor peace—when she
will be constrained to terminate a
contest which has desolated the
fairest portion of Europe and ex
tended its effects throughout the
civilized world. It is well known
to every nun who hears me, that
out ot the present war h u grown
our principal disputes, and that
tiuy will ntceeusariiy cease with
the war. i ask then whether it
can be politic for us to depart
Irom the paths of peace for the
attainment of objects w h ir.h will
ceat>e to exist so soon peace is
restored ? At such a moment at
t,he prescut “ big with the fate of
empire*” it does appear to me fir,
that we should take warning
‘Votn the examples before us—that
wo should await the approaching
cr isls. I do not mean to say that
'Vans the greatest of evils, or that
i siur form of government is unh:
i lor the purposes of war under any
ciicumstautej. No sir. But as
j it is the only government in the
j *votld founded in the wi.* of the
| people, so it is the only govern
ment in the world where that will
is all important to the prosecu
tion of a successful war. Cim ■
vince them that an appeal to arms
* f*»r the preservation
<1 Ryjr ri<*ht, ard the people and
i ,he government » re as f< ‘ r supe
rior j those of other countries
I * or the purposes of war, as they
arc for the enjovnrnt of liberty
and peace- And why sir ? be -
I cause the government is free and
j its soldiers are free men—ln other
i nations the roice ol the people is
hot heard—they are compelled to
! fight the battlfp of their masters,
! for objects over which they
have no coetroal, at'd in which
1 they feel no interest ; but it is
the peculiar i-nd distir.gutd-.att r
“ hold the mirror up to NATURE.” — Shakespeare.
*>ute of th'a people to rule their
ulers.' Are they' at tins in oment
united for war ? I know, sir, that
the people whom I have the hon
>r to represent, are ready to en
counter any difficulties —to brave
any dangers in defence of their
rights because the love of conn,
cry is rheir ruling pas.ion. Bui I
ask is the nation in a state of pre
paration to commence hostilities
with a reasonable project of gain-,
mg by ihecon'est f In my humble
opinion it is not ; talk ot w»r in
the present situation of party divi
sion< is out of the (] icstion. With
t!te knowledge which I have that
a large majority of this I loose
are determined for the present
not to take an hostile attitude I
•rill not consent to conceal fiom
the people the real intensions of
their icpresentauves, uor mil 1
deceive th*>m by b jlding out the
expectation of *var when in t art
it is not to be apprehended.
When gentlemen propose to lay
an embargo, preparatory to war,
they should recollic’ that wc have
had an embargo, and that to tfiei*
disgrace, it has been abandoned.
That embargo was laid by an j
overwhelming majority for the
purpose of compelling the belli.,
gerents to respect our rights by its
>perMion on their interests ; of
securing the property of this ru.
lion, and of being prepared for of
fensive measures if they became
necessary. The first object was
in part and would have been whol.
ly accomplished of which we have
evidence irrefutable, but for the
premature abandonment of the
measure ; and the lat'er objects
were fully attained Why was it
repealed ; Because a m»j >rity
were convinced of its inefficien
cy? No sir, a large majority of
both Houses of Congress at the
vety Burnt nt it was repealed, did
co isider it the most successful
mode of warfare, that could be
waged against the enemies of our
peace ; arid yet a large majority
voted for us repeal. Yes sir the
same majority who acknowledge j
their firm conviction that the em
bargo was doing more to enforce
a respect for our rights than can
now be effected by war. Yet un
der such auspicious circumstances
it was abandoned—aud why r
Becausemf the clamor of the mi-j
noriiy. The people were der.uu 1
ved ; they were particularly in
oue portion of the union, induced
to suspect the patriotism of ihVir
rulers, to believe that the measure
had been adopted in eubsei , vicn r v
to the views of Napoleon, and |
that it could never bring England i
to our terms. The minority was j
apoarently increasing in numbers j
and in an evil !i tir you yhdd <1 j
the shield of your define*’. Why j
was war not then declared ? The I
same cau.es which are now urged <
in favor of such a courv exited !
then, and some of the moat ob
jcctionabie features of the orders
in Council which were then in
force, have heen since abuidoued
by the Britih goverumen f . \V r e i
ivcie then in a much better <.itua •
non to meet the conflict ilja” wc
possibly can be now. Our lif
ting capital was safe in port, and
much Imeigu property in tii
country Ihrgland was threaten
ed with alarming com motions for
the want of our provisions fit raw
matehaU. But tlic scenes is now
lias a sufficient of
our products-—an hundred oiilU*
ons at least of our property is wiih
in her grasp ; the party in this
country who occasioned »n aban
donment the Embargo and
who prevented a resort to war
when it might have been waged
successfully, has cncreased, and
sir, notwithstanding all then uru
propitious circumstances, seme cl
thf'se very gcailetncn who were
driven from the hisih ground they
had honorably taken, again pro
poses to us embargo and war.
for o*ie ; I will not consent u k!ci
(tich circmnff ances to embark
lin a contcll in which we have
been once defeated, when eve
ry coufideratio!) was favorable
to a complete triumph ; because
i am unwilling to be defeated
again.
Gentlemen should recollect
tliat the effort had been
under circumllauce* much
nio-c fa vorahle than the
prelent, and they cannot
b: ignorant of the causes which
rendered it abortive. They
are to be found in the misre
prefcn.aiions ofdcfigning tnen ;
in the differences of opinion
which prevailed among honed
men, and in the tdant of firm
ncfsin congrcfs. The people
woe told that England wanted
peace with this country ; that file
had done us no material injury
that the reflrictions we had
imposed, were the conlequtnce
of a determined hoftiluy to.
wards her, and of a desire to
p-omoie the views of the cm
poor of France. Well fir,
go to war in theprefent (late of
(he countty and you muff ex
pect deader in the commence
tnent ai leaf!. What will then
be said ? Why th at ihe war
was unnccelury in the begin,
oing, would be diilructive in its
confcquencss, and mull be en
ded. If you were compelled
to abandon the embargo, when
no doubt was entertained, that
in fix months it would fettle
your disputes ; I ask ipi
the name of common sense, is
it probable the war would be
continued untrl the objects
Ihould be attained for which
u v/as begun ? These are un
pleasant reffefctions— I will pur
foe them no further. But I
beg gentlemen to take warning
from the past —to occupy no
ground which they are not futc
can be maintained with honor
to the nation.
lutliis country, Mr. Speaker,
it is proper not only that the
people should be iatisfied of
the in lilpenfiblc neceffily of
war before it be reforteti to;
but that thole who adininifler
the executive branch of the go
vernment who conduct all
negociations with foreign na.
(ions, and who consequently
are b.ttcr acquainted with our
relative ti nation than other per
fops poflibly can be, Ihould al
so concur in the opinion.—
What evidence have you of a
difpoliuon ori the part of the
executive to make an appeal to
arms ? None hr. On the
contrary the couilc which has
been purlued (nice the difrnif
fal of Jackson (and I am far
Irom ccnfuring it) precludes the
idea ol taking a v;ai like attitude.
The faith of the nation is pledg
ed as far as it could b: by the
executive, to receive another
minister from England, and to
renew negotiation in the event
that Jackson (hall be recalled.
The mellage ot thejjrelident
to congrcfs and the iuliiunions
which have been feat to our
minister at London, are fuffi.
cient to faiisfy the mind of eve
ry man, that the adminiltration
prefer for the present, negocia
uon to war. If indeed, as
fotne gentlemen luppole, the
prclideut is for war, I have no
hj button in fayinghe has lailed
to perform a relponhble, con
tliurioaub and imperative duty.
[No. 86.]
MONDAY, June 4, 1810
The conftiunion declares “ her
shall from time to ume give to
the congress information oi the
Bate of the union, a.id recom
mend to their consideration
such ineafures as he (hall judge
necefTary and expedient." I
am not disposed to believe that
the president has (hrunk from
his duty—he has not judged a
rcfortto war neccflary and ex
pedient, he has preferred fur
ther negociaiion, and he ha*
given congress so to underftand*
Under such cii cumlfanccs,
therefore, I will oot consent to
incur war expenccs for a peace
ellabiifhment.
What then, it may beafked,
is to be done ? Shall tj)e non-,
intercourfc be continued? For
one, I hope and trull it will
not be continued. It cannot
be the interefl of this country
to continue a measure which
gives England a monopoly of
the commerce o's the world,
which yields the principal objefci
it has been her policy to attain,
and holds out the Ihongeft in
ducement for a continuance of
her obnoxious orders. What
are its eft’eds at home ? To de
moralize your citizens, by pr«-
fenting temptations fortheeva*
fionof your laws; by embargo
ing the porfuus of the honest
merchant, and affording a pre
mium for the vilest fraud and
collusion. - Sir, if the wisdom.
of congress had been exerted to
its utfnoft extent, to devile the
ways and means oi enriching
the molt worthlcfs pan of the
corrfmunity at the expence of
the honed, they cou dnot have
hit upon a project better calcu.,-
latcd to attain the objed, than
the preferu non intercom le.—'
Compare the high price o! cot
ton abroad with the price in this
country, or at Amelia lllmd,
from whence it is carried in
British vclfclsand on Btitilh ac
count, wherever it is wanted,
and tell me if it be not an att of
political suicide. That it is ru*-
inous to the revenue, there i»
ample tedimony before the
house, from the Treasury De
partment anJevcry man knows
that while it drprelles thcpiice
of our produds, it has enhanced
the price of Uritilh goods from
fifty to an bundled per ceot.
But, fir, wc arc told that the
non-intercoUrfe produced the
arrangement with Mr. Erskine-
The memories of gentlemen
have certainly been unfaithful
to them on the prefem occasion.
The embargo produced the ar
rangement —'.he non mtcrcoufe
was the cause of the disavowal.
If gentlemen will examine dates
they will find that it was per
fediy impollible the no'n-inier
courfe could have had any
share in the arrangement ; and
on the contrary they will per
ceive the flrongell circumftan*
lia! evidence in support of the
, allertion that but for therepealof
the embargo, it would have been
confirmed by the British go r
/ vernment. What were the
circum(tances under which Mr.
Oakley was dispatched to this
country with the inftruttions
authorifing, as Mr. E fkina
supposed, the arrangement ih/u
was made? When he left Lon
don, all the information which
had been received from this
quarter, was calculated to in.
fptre the mold perfed alfncioce