i
I
o <
yice t
.i(»al
j point
was ilill
<Jef<-»five
jthout foi*-
refpeA to
irtout any oceaiion
arance. Cosfidenng
what are the refo
.to be considered ? A pro
n'Jhing the frigates, an appro
a of a sum of money for a foundiry
no commercial ration ought to be
-.eftitiltt) and prother for improving our
fortifications. Two of these measures, he
f.ud had long fiiice been fan£tio»ed by the
miufe, aid they were all ncceflary for the
piottAion of our commerce, which was now
in danger of being utterly dellreycd. The
city ot Philadelphia slone, within the last
fi*ty daysliad i«ft half a million of do'lars.
The meafures-now propoftd were merely de
ft and undegone discussion
tat little difference of opinion could exist,
upon the propriety of principles which had
been feitied and agreed U{ on. It would be
t(me enough to eipatiite upon the fuHjeft
of *nr rnmnii' r i""trt to France, when new
measures (liali be !»ro>igbt forward, orifinat
ing in the failure of thur iniffior,. As to
the wishes of his frierdi from S. Carolina
*nd New-York, for unanimity, hcconfeffed
he did not contemplate any great ananimity
'.vith i\'"pe£l to all the mcafares that would
Ik- neceiTary to be pursued ir. the present cri
sis. He believed it would be incumbent on
those whj cotifidercd the nation as placed in
a dangerous fitijation to advocate fueh mea
sures as fliaT! appear to them necessary, what
ever might be the conduA or feotiments of
others j artdlio-.vever flncerely he might wish
for the event, he faw,nothing which encou
raged him to espedl unanimity in their de
term!natii)i.s. He believed, therefore, ge»-
tk-men mu.t d.'fptnfe with this advantage,
and do what was rcquiiite for our national
define.-and honor—they must do their du
ty and leave the event.'
Mr- Pincku E.T could not agree with the
gentleman just fat down, in throwing any
imputation upon gentlen>en who wilhed to
protraft the coniideration of the bufijiefs
liropofeu.
Mr. O. explained by faying that he had
expressly Hated that if upon *»y ■»</■» 1»'»-
thought it jnftifiable to invetligatf t:»;
lives us p-eutiemes, he iliould.be
~ J i euuiu iimii viimii"! UlSffliliau 3.
n.itted that part of his observations which
might bear that conftru£l.iijn. Allusions of
this kind were best kept out of fight. He
belie'ed all hnd the fame ri«ws. All, he
believed, wifiied to avoid war. He was sure
this wasthe desire of both fides of the heufe.
Unfortnnately they differed in the means
btfl to be put sued for preserving peace
fowe gentlemen think an unprepared state
the best ; others think it is wisest to be pre
pared for the wofft. He was of the latter
opinion ; but he believed that the motives
of gentlemen who differed from him in opin
ion wereequally. pure withhis own. Perfed
unanimity as to the moans to be pursued,
could scarcely be but, he believ
t<J there was a perfefl unanimity both in
that house, and throughout tht 1 country, in
a wifli to avoid a war. With refpefl to the
q'.:efiion before the house, it did not go to
the paint » hieh,gcntlemen apprehended.—
7t went only to the providing of the mean!
of prote&icu at house; and the reason why
this fubjefl was now brought forward, he
believed, was owing to the unusual unanim
ity which had appeared in the felecl com
mittee as to the-propriety of the measure.
The consideration of any other meafnres
which might be neceiTary in cgijfequepce of
our <Jifpute wilh France, fueh as arming our
merchantmen, an embargo, or convoys,
would be peflponcd until it was seen whether
any farther information would be received
from the Prefider.t—Mr. P. said, it ap
peared to the committee that there was, at
,-> ieart, a probability that this country might
be involved in a war; and they thought we
(High; not to exhibit the rxtraordinary
fpeaade of remaining, not withstanding this
appreheufion, in a state of unpreparednefs.
Under this idea, Mr. P. thought there was
r.o ncceflity for poftponitig the measure, and
Itoped gentlemen would, therefore, f*c the
pmpriety of going into a committee of the
whole at preft&t. If there was a difference
»f opinion ag to the propriety ef entering
upon any particular i'ukjefl, it might be
poftpc.iicd j but he fuppefed there wc-uid be '
certain meafurts upen which there wa«ld
be a pretty general »g»eemcnt.
Mr. Giies did not suppose a few days
delay would make acy difference en the pre
sent bufintfs. So far as felf-defence would
go, he «as as ready t>> adi as any member
in the House; but there were different id<a*
of fclf-deience. It was his idea that it
i ouli not be carried beyond our eoaft where,
liuWever, he d;d not expedt ar.v assault.
Lji:t defence there «»s always proper. It
had been said that there was little j.robabil
iiy that any unanimity could take place as
to the mrafureo ncc:ffar/io be taken. He
Jikcd th« g.ntietr.an r.sm Mjff^chufctti,
;tl\er his hypotheticall wy "■
c. *
with the gentleman from b. thi
,r. Pinckncy). H.drfnot be- of
U the members of that hoult '
,r of peace. He believed iome hn
werf in favor of war. He had lor
.in opinion from a variety of decl
which he had heard in that hodfc, ha
the variety of meafurM which had ca
ropofed. No gentleman could fatn
wind that he was in favor of peace,
- he took arms in hit-hands to go -o
HeJbelicved that there was not only
p»,t of this house, but apart of this gov- «
eri.ment, determined on war. Hewa.b.m- *
felf fcr peace ; »nd gentlemen might at-
O cribc to him whjtf rootivci tiicy pica led. J* t
..ice the other hind,' those in favor of war Itall
uaal events, would take the rcfpomibilitv «f that
mcafure. If, then, there was a war motive . n
Hill and a pace motives it was in vain to ejtpei
,fiv. unanimity. He bad f«me reason for objetf, n
ore- in? to this meafare under this view. e '
t to coufidered the prefentpiopofitions as intend- '
if,on ed to afford a defence beyond the l.ciiU ot
rlnc the United States, as a part of that system
■ e fo- which had a direst tendency to involve us
pra . in war. Tt was said this WMMIy the com- r
pro- mencement of a system, aud it was tins fyi-
iary tem which gave him raoft alarm.
obe But it was said, theic is great impatience 1
' <,ar in the public to know what Congress intend £
~ he to do. If tbis be the ease, this impa'icuce J
r the he said, coght not to be Indulged. He Jid
r the not wi(h to be hurried into measures by any *
now fueh fuggef.icn. He believed if there »an
The impatience in the public, it is in favor ot
. l a st peaee, and produced by the fears of w ® r - '
'lars. Mr. G. asked whether the house had all
y de- the necessary information before them. The '
Son < gentleman frnm S.Carolina (Mr. Rutledge)
exisT, informed the house that otar commifiioners 1
i hud' had not had an audience. Hedid not know 1
lid be 'he technical moaning of the ward audience.
>Hje£t He fuppsfed they had addressed themselves
i lew tf» the minister ef foreign affairs ; but, per
(inat- haps, after some &f>je£tions as to their pow-
to er«, they may not hare been received. The
rnlina gentleman fays the letter of our commiffi
feffed oners exhibits a lamentable fatf. Thij is
imitv ,rBC » hut it is not aeeeffary to know what
voiild to it ? Ought not the haufe to be in pof
lt cri- session of a biliary of the proceedings ! It
•nt on surely ought. Suppose those commiffioncrs
cedin were not poffefTed of proper powers, could
n, ea . it be expefte'd they weuld be received?—
what- When the house knew the ground npon
its of which our ministers had been refufed, they
t wish would bt able t» speak upon the fubjed.
ncou- He would mention another cireuifcHance,
; r d e . in which he, for once, coineisled in opinion
, gen- with the gentleman from Maffachufetts,vii.
,t 3 ge, that the house ought to tak» }ip this fufcjtft
tional without reference to any foreign power, and
ir du- merely as it refpefis our commerce. But
j bad {they, he «flced, all the information
•h the ' which they could wish on this fubjeft ! He
r a ny believed not. There were two a&» of the
ed to British parliament which were mare alarm
ifinrf* ing even than the decree of the French di
re&ory. The French had made an attack
ehad upon our ntntral rights ; that wss,
'»« 1" '''rStr fl'T'V.'al .ViJultTce to be apprehended wag
; jpjisiiteiy greater from the Britiflv ftattites,
than fvofa th« decree of the direftOry.
izdo. And before he fat down, he would re
which mark, that though those a£ls pal Ted in July
ans of Isft, and it ti.ight be presumed that oar min-
He iftcr would not be dilatery in transmitting
11, he thein, so t'lat they must have been receiV
sfure «d in Augull or September, yet they were
isufe. not till lately laid before the house, and
neaas 'hat after a proportion was brought for
ce— ward to call for them. They hare been since
(late referred to the eommittee of Commerce and
? pre- manufaftures, and they will not report,
latter and the chairman has laid a resolution upon
jtives the table for the purpose of producing a rc
opin- port.
rrfed Mr. Hartir said it was not unusual for
sued, the gentleman from Virginia to display his
eliev- ignorance of fafls. If it was, it would ap
th in pear wonderful that he fhoiild be ignorant
y, in that these adts had long since been before
0 the the public in the news papers.
jo to Mr. Giles did not suppose that the gen.
d.—— tleman from S. Carolina would get much
lean* from his polite method of exprefling himfclf.
why He knew it was usual for him to . suppose
!, he he had a monopoly of knowledge ; but he
mim- did not suppose his telling an enlightened
com assembly this, eonld produce any effeft in
sure. his favor. He could only fay he had not
"ires seen these a£ls in any news-paper, though
ce of he was in the habit of feeing a great num
-1 our bcr of papers. He ffiould °be glad to fee
roys, them there •, and he should hare sent them
ether there for publication, only that he waited
fived for the committee's report upon them'.
ap- Mr. G. concluded by faying, he difdaiu
s, at td what might be said by any one as to his
light motivet; for they must poflefs more ii)gean
it w« ity than he to discover any iatereft which
:nary he could hsre separate from the interest of
i l his the country, efpeeially as it related to the
Inefs. landed interest of the country,
ewas Mr. S. Smith said, he undcrftocd it
;,aud wasthe wiihof the chairmaH of the com-!
c the mittee for the prote£lion of commerce and|
f the the defence of the country, to call up
rente the rtfolution for completing and equipping
ering j the frigates, and that for the fortifications,
rit be and not the one for the purthafe of addi
,.id be tional veficls.
vould Mr. Siwall said, he should not insist
upen any other, if it (hould not meet with
days the wishes of the committee,
e pre- Mr. S. Smith was in favor c'f going in
voiild to a committee of the whole on the frigates
:n.ber and the fortifications. He fuppefed' the
ideas chairman of the committee would be able
lit it to give the necessary information with rcf
'here, pedt to the frigates ; but with refptd to
Jit.— the other matters referred to the fame cem
"• ™»ee, he did not think the house had filf.
babil- ficient infermntion upon which to aft. As
cc aa to the two afls of the British parliament
He which had been mentioned, Jjc.bel'cved tKey
-stti, Wo.}:i bf-mcre to the commerce
I,
, ■ tti* United States than 'pei
ll'i l»bjta IWld bt before P '
I
1 » Aucuft. Immediately up
have called for them, "e Pjade a verbal U
call and tjiey were promi fed, but they
not received fill five'or fix week, afterwards t
in tli« v-ay which had been dated. g
Mr. C» > mpl.k said there was no differ- fe
f nct of opinion in the committee of com- n
merce and msDufafture» t as totht:fe «g
being in llrift conformity to ibe tr <aty >
the only difference was »nh re to re
porting a remedy to the eviu artfuig :rom g
'Hie Speaks* complained that gcoth- d
. mtn did not confine tbemfelve« to the que - o
. | von. What was the opinion of the com- <
. i mittee of commerce and manufa&ure* \-'t '
refped to the British J<a» had nothing to do a
! with the present queffion. •
f Mr. J. Parker thought the hoiiie ought c
! to go into a committee of the who'eon the i
3 state of the union, in order to take up tlie t
resolution with refpedl to the frigates. Jn t
the present critical state of our country, be r
thought it was necessary they fh</uid be tin- 1
- ifhed, in order to defend our commerce a- t
1 gainst the pirates of one nation as well as
. those of another ; for he wished to opp»fe }
] the unjust attacks of all. Officers, he said, v
, were appointed for the frigates, and they '
wt re in a llatc of readiness. The one at 1
f Baltimore is ready to bend her fails, and j
might be got into the ocean in four or five
1 weeks. He hoped, therefore, the house <
e would go into this business ; though the o- 1
) ther fubjefts, he thought, would be befi. de- •
5 ferred until th: house had further informa
v t">n. .
Mr. Harper, had not the least objection
to going into a committee cf the whole, for
r . the purpofeof voting a sum of money tor
r. completing and equipping the frigates. It
e was to any new measures which might be
necessary with refpeft to a foreign nation,
that he alluded ; and though he felt prepai
!t cd to go into any of the measures proposed,
f. and much stronger ones, yet he saw there
[ t were gentlemen who wished to have farther
rl information before they afted. And when
Id hitlery of the business before
_ them* they would, probably, be convinced
)tt of tlie propriety efjoiniag to carry intoeffeft
>y the measures proposed. If a few votes could
begained by this delay, he was desirous of
e> obtaining them, and he believed the-houfe
, n watild arrive at the end of the business as
jr. soon as if they now to ro into it. Mr. H.
ft juftified the executive*ig»iiifi the charge of
delay in not communicating the Britifli a&s
u t and said they were well known to the mer
in chants of the country, as their corielpon
le dents in England took care to give them ev
lc ery interesting information. «■
n . With refpeft to the question of war or
jj. peace, he would state his opinion. The
;k gentleman from Virginia had said that he
d w> oot j JI\I ta iinfiieirT bt 11'^,
aa fever^l li tyji«|ua«Jcn»'w!cdged, that if gentle
.s> men meant by peace, that we (hould sub
mit to the insults of a foreign power, he
■ e . was not for peace, though he wifced to ftt
]y serve it, and would do all he conld to pre
n. lerve.it, if we could obtain redress for our
ig grievances. But if nothing was left to us,
V- but either to submit, or go to war, hecer
re tainly would be for going to war. He be
id lieved that this was the sentiment of the A
ir- merican people, which would be re-echoed
ce from all parts of the Unioa. He believed
id that state of things was -arrived, when this
■ t , country' must either submit, or refifl. He
, n was willing, however, that a delay (hould
c . take place for the communication which
might be expe&ed from the President.
or Mr. Livingston said, until this mo
lis ment, he had determined to give his vote in
p- favor of going into a committee on the state
nt of the Union, for the purpose of voting a
re sum to equip and man the frigates,believing
that that meafore would have no relation to
n. any foreign nation ; but when heard
:h gentlemen fay they were prepared for mar, -
,f. and that the period ivat arrived for it, he
fe dreaded to put arms in their hands, left they
ie (hould be made an ill use of. If from a
•d knowledge of the late dispatches the gen
in tleman last up is convinced that all negocia
-3t tion will be ineffe&ual [Mr. Harper said he
;h bad no other knowledge than other gentle
n- men on this fubjeft] and that a declaration
?e of war mult take place ; with such impref
m Sons, he wished to keep back arms. For
d fiuce these sentiments jwere avowed on this
floor, how did he know but the executive
u- might concur in the opinion. [The fpeak
is er said it was not in order to allude to the
m- ; opinion of the executive.] He believed if
-'h these means ©f offence or defence were put
of in the hands of the executive, that, provi
de ded he concurred in opinion with these gen
j tlemen, they would be employed in bring,
it ; ing the country into a war, as they thin\
n- J the only means of prefcrving the honor and
nd j fafety ot the nation, lies in war. Know
»p iug this, and wifliing for peace, would it
ng not be insanity, to put arms into their kand3?
is, He believed it would, and he could not in
di- his confcienct do it
Mr. Otis was ready to declare his •pini
rift on, that in the present situation of this coun
th try, this hotrf: ought daily .to resolve itfelf
iate a committee of thr whole on the state
in- of the Union, whether they were b'kely to
tes adopt any partictilar resolution, or not
he Surrounded ai we are by danger, agitated
Me by alarm, infu'ited abroad, and divided at
u- home, the hcife ought constantly to (hew
to to the people :hat tha anxious cares With
m- which they are at this time o'ppreffed, reft
»f- also upon the minds of the members of that
As house, and thjt they are desirous of enqui
:nt ring with contaut solicitude whether they
icy could, or could not, do ativ thing to serve
rce their enwi-.trr. Vet, notwithftinding this
taenfeM, unprovided state «f the nation, he spent
wa* forty to find gentlemen studious toavoid way
.11 measures upon which the. peace, the li- -of it
berty and the happiuefs of the country de- P°»
A 5?
Fei With rftfpeft to the g*tW*fro« St
ginia. To those who reca]frfte£|he af&-
rjty with which he generally chofeto exprefi
lu. opinions ; to those who remember the a nu
temper which he difeovcred the last fcffion,
it would sot be a fbbj?a of furpnze that he pro „
(bovld have discharged for the firft time try, !
those phials >f wrath which he has been en- only
gaged in filling from that time, to the pre- P J
sent, in a bold, ungraceful, and in his opi
nion, difgraceful afferticn, that net only E ,
trentlenien ir. that house, but the Executive re f el
of .tie United States, were desirous of war. one
The attack was tefch* *¥ **l*' Jg
ge »fhc gentleman had proceeded to remark,
that he generally differed from him in cpint- forc
oil. Mr. O. '/aid that to proclaim, this . #l , ri
fa ft wrs to da hiia honour —and that in the but
fame proportion that his political sentiments rej«<
, approached, to those of that gentleman,
they .voaid approximate a vortex otprej'idi 6^
ces and errors, and recede from those which f
: he had been taught to consider molt nearly
• connected with the happiness of his coun- chsl
, try —and that ft they »
• might entertain for each other, he hoped had
they should continue to differ upon political ult
- topics. . . e( j
3 The gentleman had blamed him for lm- {
: wilting sentiments to Sim which he after- 0 f [
wnrdi acknowledged- They were, that gen- cou
f tlemen were anxious to find motives of de- wf
t lay againtt providing the sneani of proted- ere.
3 ing our commerce. This he had avowed, J™
e by faying he was in favour of defending the fM
c country by land, but not by sea. But, f ar
"said Mr. 0- we cxn defend ourfilnes, by sea ; [ e s s
.. and the beoflt of America -will defend thcmfelvi i hat
by fit, as well as by land ; and- when decla- be:
rations are made which are calculated to ®
n palsy the efforta of the people, thry ought (o '
i r to be repelled. And if that gentleman, or
,r some others, wete determined not to take t j,<
r t measures for the defence of our commerce, ne
, e he hoped there would be found a large ma- thi
, iority in that house who would do it. He F l '
would bimfelf foonsr lbfe hie right hand »
j than it (hould not be done ; indeed, if gen-
re tlemen should decide that commerce ftoultl r ar
, r not be protested, the country would not j n(
* n long be worth the pains ps defeuce ;it would So
re become difmited, and there would be an end ha
■J of its prosperity. _ j
ft If the gentleman from Virginia wished
j j him to declare whom he thought in favor
3 f of war, and whose measures led to it, he
f e would fay it was those who constantly im- b*
a, peached the Executive authority ; who ut- d<
•J. tered sentiments which had a tendency to w
0 f dispirit the people, and lead them to believe
they could not be defended, and that cam- w
r . merce was not worthy of proteftion. These
measures, he said, led to war—not to so- b;
T . reign war—but to civil war j a war of friend it
agaiafl friend, andflute againfljlate ! e<
8r Mr. O. thought it extremely improper, £
b e at this time, to introduce any thing relative *
he to the futur? operation of the two a&s of q
SJ- ' j.'Jvi Wi .iric ai
| c , would come under a fcparate coofideration. d
Jj. What was the obje<S of this allusion ? It
he was iutended to fticw th?t we had as much
< e . cause of complaint a«ainft one country, as
- f . another, ap.d that therefore we ought
ur to fit dowr. patiently under the outrages t>f f,
aj> all*; that we (hould tamely fuffcr ourselves b
:r . to be divided and parcelled out, and become 1
)e _ the humble-(laves rf a foreign power. Be- ai
fore this would be fuffered, he triifted the s:
£ d spirit of the people of Ahieriea which had v £
ed lieretofore been difpiayed would be called t ,
4is out in defence of their injured country. f {
■ic lu regard to what had fallen from the w
ijd gentleman Crom New-York (Mr. Livingfton) «
c h Mr. O. had a refpeft for his private charac
ter, and hoped he would fee the Jmpropri
-1- ety of changing his mind even admitting
in that one gentleman had said, the ci ifis had 0 |
ite arrived when it was necessary to submit or tl
r a go to wnr, this opinion could be no reason i»
»g for voting against his former opinion. In- P 1
to deed, he believed, his friend from South l |
rd Carolina was misrepresented. He'underftood | f
ir, the fentimerit to be that which every Amc- ei
be "rican ought to repeat, ««that when the cri- tf
:y Cs arrived rather than facrifice the Liberty gi
a and Independence of this country, we ought 't
n- to go to war." He toped, 'therefore, the
a- house would go into a committee of the
le whole without delay.
e- Mr. Giles said, the gentleman last up g ;
an had said some things in relation to him, tf
?f. which he found it necessary t6 notiee, and ei
or for which he did expeft he would have been a '
lis called to order. . He had charged hfm with ei
ve using df grateful exprcjfmns. This was a
k- charge which neither that gentleman nor a- w
Ke ny other dare make in any other place, [yf c <
if loud call ft tnler.]
ut Ths S peakir declared it in *ain that he I di
rir endeavoured to confine gentlemen to order. 31
n- Almost every member who had spoken had
g. transgressed in this refpeft.
lk Mr. Dana observed, that the gentleman J,
id from Virginia had cbjeftedto go into a com- tl
it- mittee of the whole, because the two afts al
it of the Britilh Parliament were not before ' c
s? that committee, and referred to what had
in taken place in another committee. [The
Speaker observed, that every thing which \
»- bad been said in relation to these a£ls,-with
n- refpeft to the opinion of another committee, j e
:lf was out of order.] Mr. D. added i!?at he ei
te had adls publilhed Weforc be canaa h
to to Congrefc thtf session, and he thought it ' r
extraordinary that apy gentleman should "
-d wait for the opinion of a committee upon a r
at fubjeft before he formed his own. Mr. D. i;
w fa'd. the queflion was not, whether the' y
:h ho t ufe would adopt any of the resolutions, ii
:ft but whether they would agree to discuss ''
at them. 1:
11- ' Mr. Kittera said, the houfehad already 1
ey spent half the day in debating whether thry 'J
ve would go into a cojnmittee of the whole, a
lis and he hoped farther time wea'i,d net be i<
spent nn tbi. {ubjefl. Ho tlu ugb* tkt heft
way ot war.was u b e pre,.^
For it. ..le fished, therefore, t* eater n
pou lhe bufinef*, and proaecd witk it. - * &
d] ir be,,ev,: tin mu( * tim«
could he scent Hj»n-«^ q q«fr, on , if i t WSI Ao *
roleadtow*r itfeiUrA l"K c V arie ly ot r,L„
jefH whjch, ha,l lice*referred to thi, commit,
tee of the «h..lc, had giren « T if e tn
a number of observations on theft- different sub"
je£U. The ehairmanef the committee for tL.
protraon of commerce and defence »fth tfO L
try, had declared, that out of thefe-febied* he
only meant to call up what related to the te' w *
jing the frigates, to the eftaMiftimert of a fa,'"
darv.ani tojihe ptarchafe of a number of tclTc)!
in aid at the frigates.
Exclusively oi these, there were other fubitfl,
referred tn thf fame comtnittee of the while
nae of them rclates-to our fortifieaiions, anotil
tr t« the eflabliUiuunt of a commiflionp,- 0 i
marine, and another,to the arming »f rn?r _
clliaU' vefTets. He tonfidtred lb me o[ thtfe
fubjedU as with our relation tu i n C
foreign nJt on, so far at it relates to any
which may hare taken place finctthe lift fefli,,.
but with refpeft to any proposition whiih
reieiSed it tbe last feffioo, cY any new propoj.
lion which may have been produced 011 tj, e
ground of a change of our situation, k« was n*
ready at prefetrt to aft upon it. And it wo
be that not only tbe arming of rap.
chant#' vtftels, but tbe propofiti™ for the put"
chafing of reflels, was rejetfed at the last fefß,«
Mr. O. agreed that a change ofour Ctuatii,,' 1,
had in a certain degree, taken place finee tVj
laft.feflion i he agreed this change was of i m .
portarice ; it confiiied in the intelligence receir.
Ed from our envoys extraordinary that they Kit
sot been officially receired by the goiernment
of France, though they h«(J remained in that
country about three months. The queftioa
was, whetbe.r that intimation in itfelf is fuflU
cient to induce coKgreft to adopt new mei
fares, or to take up such as were rejected at the
last feflion. To him there was not fufficient
reafou for this porpo r e ; hecauf« h« expend
farther information upon this fubjtfl j and un.
less the bouse kneu , not only that our wmifttr,
hid not been reeeivtd, but wliy they hid not
. been received,and whether it was from the want
, of powers, or any ejrcumftances not kno*nto
u >, it was difficult to fay what meafares eujht
to ke taken.
Another reason was, though our tnjSiftai
themfclves inform the executive that they hut
> net been received, nor have any hopes of it, or
- thiit the et their nsiflion will be acton.
» plifbed, they still refrain in Vatis ; and f» W 1
j as they remain there, 2tow«ver " feeble their
hope, they have some hope of being received,n
. they would leave the place,as itmuft be unpia
" fant to them to faci ifice their fceliijgsby reraam.
t ing thsre a»y longer'than the occation rcqjires.
I So long as we had not information that they
1 had left the country, he did not thiak any nor
measures ought te be gone into, «r meafurn
j which, in their tendency, must lead to war.—
When he said this, he did not mean to fay any
' thing againflt taking meafureo of felf-defenct,
e We ought to take every measure of this kind j |
i- but, unfortunatelj, however easy this was to be
dene on land, it could net be carried to fta,
0 without danger of war. Such is the naturt of
c ! felf-defence at sea, that if it be carried eit of
} our own jurifdi<slioa, it is uatimatily tonaefltd
with offenlive operatioas.
e Thus with refpefl to armingef mcrtkanttncn,
by putting arms into the hands of iadividutli,
iJ it might lead to war, whilil they wereintesii
ed only for felf-defence against attacks. In
r deed, fuels is the law of nations with rel'peflte
fearckiag of refTels, that it is difficult todiftin
r guilb between lawful and unlawful fearc'tci.—
8 Other i-tntlcmee whokelje.veiiuoffible toroiri
.j . i■* J i.ajiga, anu wno
ic at tea, net ealy wifk the measure now to be i.
n. dotted, but they did not wilh it at a former
It session. The fame reason, however, which W
li the honfets rejedl thismeaf»r«li«ytof»re wo»14
JS lead them to oppose taking it up at thi) time.
It remaiaed to be conftdered whether it wooM
r P ro P er 10 F® '"to a committee on those mtv
" fures which were agreed to at the iaft frffien ;
rs but .which now required further appropriations.
16 There were two such measures, via. the frigate*
.. and fortifications. With refptft to the foit.fi
1C eatioas, he was always willing to appropriate 11
, much as was neceflary for this objefl,
ference ev«r took place on this ftibjeifl, except as
!Cl to amount appropriated. He flinuld, there
fort, have no objection to this mLfure ; kul it
le was net neceflary to begone inte at preltnt; it
1 j would do to be considered any time during thi*
c _ session, a« there remains a balaace of 90,00*
,j_ dollars unexpended of tbe last appropriation.
The only taeafure which seems necefliryts
be g-ire inte at present is the frigates. Thi
'd otjeifl;«n made to this measure had been, that
3r the executive might employ the frigates in ii
m improper maaner. This apprehenfi*u he fup
n. posed to be grounded upon the firft feflioa or
the aist of last fefiion, whieh gives the preMeot
, the right of employing them, without rfftriftios.
' If it was their opiaios that the preCdent wsuid
employ the frigates in * manner dingeroui te
1- the peace of the country, it would be « good tr
y guiucl.t againlt appropriating the money ;an 4
1 t it would be within the recolleflien of members,
that the sense of the house' was twice taken i*
favour of reftriifliag the use ot the frigates; but,
e for fear of losing the bill, this point wisgi«»
up. Though, however, he was at that timca
'P gainfl the president's having a discretion to sle
a, the frigates as he pleased, he was not nowafri i
id of their being employed improperly. He hiJ
;n always sppofed tbe building of the frigates in
.jj every stage, because he thought the expenflt«-
tending them, would be greater than tbe adrH*
a tage to be derived from them ; but he did not
a " wilh now to oppose the motion for gding intoa
d committee on thia fubje<a.
With refpedl to the question of W, Mr. 0.
it did itot believe any gentleman could with (or it
r _ as an abftradl good. He believed every one
j thought it an evil ; but he believed there «" re
gentlemen in the house who would be willing t»
go to war, for caofes whi:h others did not think
in jaflifiable. He did not know, indeed, but w"'"
1- they eame to go into the fubjtdl that they
ts all ?gree ; but he believed this was the diltmu
re ion to be drawn betwixt the different opißi"*'
j as tiiflerent geatfjmen.
|e Two ether reasons might perhaps be alledg
, why the house Ihould not go into committee on
' this fubje£l ; the one wk, because the t- >-
had paftponed for an enquiry into tbe u
e> je<9 of former expcncea, and the ctim* I '-'
le enquiry have not reported, for his own F '■
J8 he believed tbcre had b«en much e * tr f" 3 %'
J t in the expeaditar* ; but as no report * *
1 j njade, and as it could not be ioo n ' x P e .' .
believed those gentlemen who , t4 , t k "
a fr.gatss equipped had better pioceen ' n 1 c
\ r.n?f 3 without this report. The etner reaf.»
le was, that he thought the house had net ■ .
13, information relive to the pay and fu 1 c c -
fs tbe navy. When the account «>»
laid before the house, the, ration* ' ere^ c ,'
, lo cents, they v/ere now charged :» ceo. ,
it was well knowii that there had beeoo .
•7 vu;'.e m the price of P rovißo«< »
additicn. And thdugh he had
be {nil in Y'% atre.nurs toi- e en' the