And whereas the Government of the United States has repeatedly remonstrated to the British Government against these injuries, and demanded satisfaction therefor, but without effect:
Therefore, Resolved, That until equitable and satisfactory arrangements on these points shall be made between the two Governments, it is expedient that from and after the —— day of —— no goods, wares, or merchandise, of the growth, product, or manufacture of Great Britain, or of any of the colonies or dependencies thereof, ought to be imported into the United States. Provided, however, that whenever arrangements deemed satisfactory by the President of the United States shall take place, it shall be lawful for him by proclamation to fix a day on which the prohibition aforesaid shall cease.
The House having agreed to consider this resolution,
Mr. Thomas said he had seconded the motion of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, and should give it his decided support. It would however have suited him better, had it gone still further, and interdicted all commercial intercourse with that nation, until she should cease to commit depredations on our commerce, impress our citizens on the high seas into her service, and abandon the new principles which she had lately interpolated in the maritime code, and which he considered as unjust as they were unauthorized by the acknowledged law of nations.
But as unanimity in the Legislature of the nation was desirable at all times, and particularly so on great national questions, he was disposed, in order to produce that result on the present occasion, to yield a part of his own opinion to meet the views of other gentlemen.
The present was an important question, and he hoped the honorable mover would consent that it should lie a day or two for consideration, and moved that it be printed.
Mr. Gregg said his wish was to refer the resolution to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union; and made a motion to that effect which was agreed to without a division, and the resolution ordered to be printed.
Thursday, January 30.
The bill sent from the Senate, entitled “An act to empower George Rapp and his associates, of the Society of Harmony, to purchase certain lands,” was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on Monday next.
Mr. Stanford, from the committee appointed on the twenty-third instant, presented a bill for altering the time for holding the circuit court in the district of North Carolina; which was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole to-morrow.