Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

By some means we did not receive a Washington paper by Tuesday's mail, (though others received the Washington Federalist) whereby we were prevented from presenting our readers in our paper of Wednesday, with the proceedings in the House of Representatives on the passage of Mr. Giles's embargo bill, as amended and reported by the select committee, to whom it had been referred. Having not seen the bill as amended, we are not enabled to say what amendments it has received; but we infer from the debate, that they are not important, and that it has passed nearly in the shape in which it came from the Senate. The amendment to the second section is, however, important, as it places all citizens upon the same footing, the privilege of having their rights and property settled by a jury of their country, instead of depending upon executive favour. The truth of the case may now be given in evidence. Our readers will, no doubt, understand, that the bill must be returned to the Senate, for the concurrence of that body, before it will be sent to the President for his approbation. Very little, or no doubt remains with us, as to the passage of this law, which may emphatically be called a clincher.

It would be an act of supererogation in us to undertake an examination of all the objectionable, and we may add, odious features of this bill; the very brilliant and argumentative eloquence which has been exhibited against this measure, in the two Houses of Congress, leave but little or nothing to be said on the subject.

The people are not aware of the situation into which they are brought. They have parted with their power to participate 'in the regulation of commerce' for the next four years. It will be in vain for them to endeavour to escape from the pressure of the embargo, by changing their representatives. Their efforts will be in vain, unless the President and Senate change their opinions. This shews the imprudence of passing embargo laws without limitation as to their term of duration.

It appears that an extra session of Congress is contemplated in May or June, and a resolution for that object, has been, as will be noticed in this day's paper, introduced into, and passed by the House of Representatives. The embargo will keep all fast at home, but whether the non-intercourse and military measures are to be suspended until the meeting of the extra session, we cannot undertake to say. We should apprehend that the former will most certainly be adopted to its fullest extent. It is an experiment, and if it fails, as we expect it will, the doctors can only shrug up their shoulders, and try something else. It is unfortunate that the benefit of experience is rejected. Our rulers seem determined not to be convinced that our intercourse with the belligerent nations is not essential to their existence or safety. When we speak of the belligerents, we mean only Great-Britain, because, as to France, she approves all our measures of restriction on commerce. We seem determined to keep pace with Holland, and the other dependencies of the emperor Napoleon in our anti-commercial decrees; the Dutch are to be pitied, because they cannot resist.

NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT. The debate on that subject, affords us, among many other matters, conclusive evidence that war against Great Britain only, is contemplated. We have always considered a war with France as absurd to speak of, and whoever takes the trouble to examine into the speeches of members and the writings of the present majority, must be satisfied that the conduct of France, monstrous as it has been, has given no serious offence to our rulers, or the party who support them.

It was some time since, that we took occasion to notice the independent conduct of the common council of London, in respect of the conduct of General Dalrymple. In this day's paper, our readers will find some proceedings of the house of assembly of Jamaica, which do honour to the patriotism and independence of that body.

It has been common with us in this country, to believe and assert, that civil rights, and liberty, were but little understood, or practised in any country but our own. But this resistance made to, and jealousy of the executive and military powers, are not unworthy of the applause, and imitation of the most free and enlightened nation.