It appears unneceffary to pursue any further the Examination of Propofitions, which the difficult Situation of the United States could alone have fuggested, and which will prove more inadmiffible or impracticable as the Subject is more thoroughly inveftigated. The Alternative is painful; it is between a continued Sufpenfion of Commerce and War with both England and France. But the Choice must ultimately be made between the Two; and it is important that we should be prepared for either the one or the other. The Aggreffions of England and France collectively, affecting almost the Whole of our Commerce, and perfifted in, notwithstanding repeated Remonftrances, Explanations, and Propofitions the most candid and unexceptionable, are to all Intents and Purposes, a maritime War waged by both Nations against the United States. It cannot be denied that the ultimate and only effectual Mode of refifting that Warfare, if perfifted in, is War. A permanent Suf penfion of Commerce, after repeated and unavailing Efforts to obtain Peace, would not properly be Refistance: It would be withdrawing from the Conteft and abandoning our indifputable Right freely to navigate the Ocean. The prefent unfettled State of the World, the extraordinary Situation in which the United States are placed, and the Neceffity, if War be reforted to, of making it at the fame Time against both Nations, and these the Two moft 0 2 power ful ful of the World, are the principal Caufes of Hefitation. There would be none in reforting to that Remedy, however calamitous, if a Selection could be made on any Principle of Juftice, or without a Sacrifice of national Independence. On a Question of fuch Difficulty, involving the most important Interests of the Union, and which has not, perhaps, until lately, been fufficiently confidered, your Committee think the House alone competent to pronounce a decifive Opinion: And they have, in this Report, confined themfelves to an Expofition of the Subject, and to fuch introductory Refolutions as will be equally applicable to either Alternative. The Firft of thefe, being merely declaratory of a Determination not to fubmit to foreign Aggreffions, may perhaps, at a first View, appear fuperfluous. It is, however, believed by the Committee, that a Pledge by the Representatives of the Nation, that they will not abandon its effential Rights, will not at this critical Moment be unacceptable. The Mifapprehenfions which seem to have existed, and the Mifreprefentations which have been circulated, refpecting the State of our Foreign Relations, render alfo fuch Declaration expedient. And it may not be useless that every Foreign Nation fhould understand, that its Aggreffions never will be justified or encouraged by any Description of American Citizens. For the Question for every Citizen now is, whether he will rally round the Government of his Choice, or inlift under Foreign Banners? Banners? Whether he will be for his Country or against his Country? The Committee refpectfully fubmit the following Refolutions : 1. Refolved, That the United States cannot, without a Sacrifice of their Rights, Honour and Independence, fubmit to the late Edicts of Great Britain and France. 2. Refolved, That it is expedient to prohibit, by Law, the Admiffion into the Ports of the United States of all public or private, armed or unarmed Ships or Veffels belonging to Great Britain. France, or to any other of the Belligerent Powers having in Force Orders or Decrees violating the lawful Commerce and neutral Rights of the United States; and alfo the Importation of any Goods, Wares, or Merchandize, the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of the Dominions of any of the faid Powers, or imported from any Place in the Poffeffion of either. 3. Refolved, That Measures ought to be imme, diately taken for placing the Country in a more complete State of Defence. |