Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

Congress of the United States
IN SENATE - November 30, 1809

Foreign Relations.--The following motion submitted by Mr. Giles for the consideration of the Senate.

Resolved, That so much of the President's message, as respects the relations existing between the United States and Great Britain and France and the accompanying documents, be referred to a committee, with instructions to examine them and report thereon to the senate--and that the committee have leave to report by bill or bills or otherwise.

Mr. Giles introduced the foregoing resolution with observing, in substance, that in presenting this resolution to the consideration of the senate he did not mean at this time to suggest any specific course of proceeding, as proper to be observed upon the very delicate and interesting topics embraced in it, nor to pledge himself upon presenting any proposition, for the final adoption of the senate--he was induced to introduce the subject at this early period of the session, because he was impressed with the importance of the disclosures made in the message, and the accompanying documents--they respect the interests, the character, the independence of the United States--and that considerations so vitally interesting to the nation certainly demanded the most prompt and most serious animadversion as Congress had presented the resolution in this form, to give the committee the freest range in devising and reporting measures, suited to the exigency and delicacy of the crisis.