Granting a preference to our own navigation will insensibly bring it forward to that perfection so essential to American safety; and though it may produce some little inequality at first, it will soon ascertain its level, and become uniform throughout the union." But no part of the system was discussed with more animation than that which proposed to make discriminations in favour of those nations with whom the United States had formed commercial treaties.

In the debate on this subject, opinions and feelings with respect to foreign powers were disclosed, which, strengthening with circumstances, afterwards agitated the whole American continent.
While the resolutions on which the bills were to be framed were under debate, Mr.Benson rose to inquire on what principle the proposed discriminations between foreign nations was founded?
"It was certainly proper," he said, "to comply with existing treaties.

But those treaties stipulated no such preference.

Congress then was at liberty to consult the interests of the United States.

If those interests would be promoted by the measure, he should be willing to adopt it, but he wished its policy to be shown." The resolutions, as reported, were supported by Mr.Madison, Mr.
Baldwin, Mr.Fitzsimmons, Mr.Clymer, Mr.Page, and Mr.Jackson.
They relied much upon the public sentiment which had, they said, been unequivocally expressed through the several state legislatures and otherwise, against placing foreign nations generally, on a footing with the allies of the United States.