The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-01-04 00:00:00, page 1

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Vol. 6.] RICHMOND, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1810. pffo. 73.
(D* Published by Thomas Ritchie, nearlv op
posite the Globe Tavern, Richmond, Virginia,
KT CONDITIONS .—F,ve dollars a year, to
be paid annually in advance. Those who wish to
be considered as annual subscribers, must hereafter
designate it at the time of subscribing, otherwise
their papers will be discontinued at the expiration
of the first year.
THE Subscribers intend comtnencim; the
Hope-Making Business. They wish to
purchase or hire ten good Spinners ; they are
also in want of 8 or 10 Labourers, lor which a
liberal hire will be given.
WHITE Sc SHELTON.
December 30. 5t
AMOS ALLEY, at the NKIV YORK SHOE
STORK, respectfully informs the Ladies
of Richmond, that he haj jnst received a hand
some assortment of Ladies Morocco BOOTES,
CORK SOLES. &c. &c.—Also, some tea co
lored Morocco SHOES of the newest fashion ;
likewise. Gentlemen’-* Fine Shots and Morocco
Pumps, and a general assortment of other kinds,
New York Manufacture.
December 30. 2\v
THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED,
A New Theory,
or
The DIURsY.IL ROT.dTJO.Y OF THE
EsIRTlI :
Demonstrated upon MnMicm dic'd Principles,
from the properties of the Cfiloid and the Epi
Cycloid.
WITH
AN APPLICATION t>.*' THE THEORY,
To tutt explanation of the various Phenomena of
the Winds, Titles and of those St<.nv anil Me
tallic concretions which have fallen from Hea
ven upon the sui face of the E irth.
Jhj JQIDY WOOD,
.lutfior of Element# if .reflective, firin
ted in London, in 171)3.
D- eember 14.
JUST received, a large and handsome assort
ment ofSpht Sttau, BONNETS, Trimmings
and Ornaments—For sale wholesale and retail, by
JACOB LYON,
Sign of the Plough,.
.December 30. 4i
r I^O be sold m Gloucester Courthouse on Sa
-L turdsy, the flit day of January next, FIF
1^ VALUABLE NEGROES, belonging to
tile estate of the iute John Sea well. dec’d, t>kcn
to satisfy executions in my hi ml of Warren Ash
hv's *-• the said estate : this propci • v will cer
tainly he sold on tout (lay, unless had weather, d
so, on the Monday following.
SMITH HALL, D. S.
for
NATo. II UR WE LI..
January 2.
VALUABLE PROPERTY FOR SAL^.—
In pursuance of a decree of the Circuit
Court of the United States, in tl.e Virginia Dis
trict, pronounced at the last session of that court,
in the suits there depending bet wen Win. Ku -knll
Sc Co. plaintiffs, against Thomas M. Deane and
others, defendants, ami between Scriba Scrnphal
and Starinan, plaintiffs, and tlic s > me defend ints :
Will be exposed to sale, at auction, at Cuira, in
the county of Cumberland, on Thursday the loth
of February next, that valuable MERCHANT
Mil.I. usually called the L.ttra Mill*—Tobacco
Warehouse, T*vers, mul other I.otu i f Ground
at that place—Also, all the Lands at or near Ca
irn, (consisting of 2UUU acres and upwards)
which belonged to Janies Deane, .Tlioims M
De.iu-t &. I’ratiais li. Deane or to either of them,
onthe 20th day of March, 1801—Terras oi
sale—Ten per cent on the amount of the pur
chases to he paid in ch&Ii ; a credit of one, two
and three years for the residue of the purchase
money, to bear interest from the day of sale,
the purchaser or purchasers giving bonds with
security, in be approved by the undersigned com
missioners, or the one that may act, and aho ex
ecuting a deed of trpst upon the property so
purchased, for securing the payment theiecf at
the periods aforesaid.
Previous lathe day of sale the Land will be
divided into convenient lots to suit purchasers
C. COPLAND, ? CjnnnUA.
W. C. WILLIAMS, 5 0,;n-4.
December .10 emds
FASHIONABLE
HOOT & R //o R- MA KR R S.
-—___ u fwon m Plii.mHphia—VJiom
who irn-y f,r<.r tiioui with their custom may rely
upon being ntutlj fittcii, and promptly alt ended
,to.
Orders from the Country shall b* duly i *e. ti
led and are res >tcUuily solicited. A*; ! (tv y
ti**t that liy the ■ .is aiii tv u\ ,i- t >n they
" ll inerit a jlt.ircol patronage in the hue of then
profession.
CAMPBKJ.L & PAUL.
I bras or four good Journeymen will meet era
ploy as above.
November 14. 2ni*[
r h Subscriber wishes to hire forilie ensu
I ing year, five or rix XLCKo COO Pi RS
and a few Boys—lie wiH also tie in the burnt of
puicliasiiij 1 obacco ol a good quniity, ior which
tiie highest prices will be given.
M. GRARTLAND.
December 14. Vv4t
TAArl liSliA P/iPEH M1IJ.S.—'i’hosc who
w-isli to encourage the maiiulhcfurtiH <rl the it
own stale aro inim-iir <1, that they can 7; su[ pli
«d with Paper Manufactured in Petersburg, in
any quantities.
PRICKS AS FOLLOWS:
Fine Letter P iper Vellum, A 4 75 d
D‘>. do. Laid,
Fools Cap No. 1.
Do. No, 2.
Do. No 3.
Folio Post Veil 14,
V'■ Laid,
F.ue printing Medium,
Do,
F ' il.Mit Wrapping Paper,
r ’ * b.V-r-.ld* uo^itt ma i.-. to w .
eh U'f ✓*•.
*'• ■'t* any oFth ’abe ve , , d\
1 ' 1' <aciib»rs exccii>*. , u thv wnltsl
*»■«'
+*t" - ' wtf
9 ^UE Subscribers next door
1 aoovc M.bis J>i*o-.»er «ttul
M uicure’s V< nd-ie-Ofti :e, 'xm
fom Phiiatletpiiia —uve com
menced tire inaoutucliirc i f Boots
aui! Shots, or’ lie most f.tshu, a
ble slm;v?s, rtauy at d faithfully
rm;de out of l! c best materials,
fce'crU'd witii lrmcli cure and at
Congee^.
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE It.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DEBATE
os me yotsr KEsoLunos
j J/1/iroving- the conduct of the Executive in
I relation to the refusal to receive any fur~
tker communication from Francis Janies
! Jackson.
Tuesday, Drc. 20.
In committee of the whole, Mr. Basset
in the chair—
Mr. M’Key—I rise to submit a few rc
m.'.iks on the subject of the resolution now j
under •consideration, in violation of a rule !
which I had prescribed to invstlf. which !
was, to take no part in the public discussi
ons ot any. general question which might
come before this house during the present
session—a ruie to which I might hnve ad
hered, had it not been aliedged that those (
who were opposed to a resolution of last j
session, approbating the President for the J
prompt manner in which lie met the over
ture made to this government by Mr. Frs
kine, would act inconsistently by support
ing the resolution now on your table.
At the opening of me last session of Con
gress, the President of the United Suites
communicated to us uu arrangement tutor
ed into between this government and .Vr.
Erskine, the lepresentativc of the British
government in America, important in itself
and more so when considered as opening
the way to a more extended accommodation. 1
i he terms ot this arrangement were earn
ed fully into effect by the United States,
with the expectation that the terms of the
agreement thus concluded would have been
carried intonpci ation by the British govern.
incut, liut, sir, it is now found that this
arrangement has been disavowed, the minis
ter by whom it was made recalled, ut.d Mr.
Jai kson sent to replace him.
I ms new minister in the explanations
which he found it necessary to make to this
government of the causes producing this i
disavowal on the part of Great Britain, i
thought proper to use and respeat a language
highly indecorous and offensive; and out «.f'
these circumstances the prescut question !
has arisen.
We find, sir, that this new minister, in'
die threshold of his correspondence with I
Mr. Smith, insinuates that the arrange- j
ment made with Mr. Eiskine, was entered i
into with bad faith on the part of this gov
ernment ; for we find the following state
ment in pages 30 anti 31 of the printed docu
ments.
“ ^ °u state, sir, very truly, that an ur
rangemant had been made between you and
Mr. Eiskine, and that his majesty had
thought proper to disavow that arrange
ment.
I have here in the outset, to regret the
loss of the advantage of verbal intercourse
with you, as I should have availed myself of
it to enquire whether by your statement, it
were your intention to complain of the disa
vowal itself, or of a total want of explanati
on of it, or of the circumstance of that ex
planation not having been made through
me. . I observe that in the records of this
mission there is no trace of a complaint, on
the part of the United States, of his majes
ty having disavowed the act of his minister
toil have not, in the coniercnr.es we have
hitherto held, distinctly announced any such
complaint, and I have seen with pleasure,
in this torbeara . e on your part, an instance
»4 t It lit candor, which i doubt not will prv
v.iil in all our con.muni, lions, inasmuch
u» you could not hut have thought it unrea
sontiblc to complain of the disavowal of an
act done umi--r such circumstances, as
r'Ull* 'jUiU 'e.iil to the consequences that
have nci,tally to lowed,”
-Vir* J-ick.s*ii litre congratulates himself on
• ieardor arid forbearance of Mr. Smith in
tun failure rrefusal to make any complaint
whatever of ilie disavowal of the arrange
meat made with Mr. E: k'me, allcdging as
a i easou tortile absence of every trace of
complaint on the part of the United States,
that the arrangement was made under such
circumstances as conldoniv lead to the con.
sequences that Tiave followed. The conse
quences here alluded to, are a disavowal of
ole act of Mr Krskine.
Now, sir, if our executive negotiated an
arrangement with Mr. Erskine or any o
tlr r mir.isier. under such circumstances as
riH.id i nl* lead to a disavowal of the act, by
■ he government with \vh .«»• minister the at.
»-c gemcns was made, and n knowledge of
thee circums'ances rendered it an act of
fmbear.inco and candor to make no com
plaint whatever of the disavowal—it must
' ecessarily follow, tliat the arrangement
dms made wjj improperly entered into t-v ,
tins government; inasmuch as a reliance on j
this arrangement by our citizens hul over- *
spread the ocean with American commerce,
wiiic.i was wafted hy every gale to distant
regions, all subject to the avarice of Iiritish
ermaets, and this fact was known to those
tyh . a,(,n ni ,.ei ed our government at the
ime this del to ive arrangement w >s marly.
sit*, appears to me to be the I lir in
f"i ence resulting from this sentence, when
divested of os i, pmai uic jiuiinncry an d re- I
duced to plain English.
Mr. Jack son seems to find a mot ive for '
this insimiari u from u co natunicati m rn.ule !
b/ Mr. E'p.kinc to flic iiritish govei uncut, ■
in which m/Ntatr. that he had submitted *<»
tlie consideration of M™. Smith the tim e
Conditions mentioned in Mr. Canning's des
patch of the 23d of January, and inasmuch
as the arrangement of Apnl is Variant from
the e thres conditions, and so nnitted ' ■% he (
status) in lieu oftiiem, In* hence infeii* the.
nndi-ub ''d right ot his m-pe-iy to disavow
the i- i a tgi*meat, and • '•lumnly decl"fp.s th -it
tins v ts the only despatch iy which the!
condition'! w.-re prescribed to Mr. Erskine i
for th.* nuM-.l.ision of an arrangemtiiK with
this conn* ry.
•Mr. Sioiilr replies to ?*Ir. Jackson as fol- .
lotfo t
it thure he uo trace o: ccaiplarnt again*;
t!i« disavowal in the archives r,f the missi
on, it is because this government could not
have entered such complaint before the rea
sons for the disavowal had been explained,
aud especially as the explanations w-re just
ly i11'^ confidently expected through the new
functionary. And ks to the supposed re
serve on my part on this subject, in our se
veral conferences, I did imagine, that my
r^Pe:itrd intimations io you of the necessity
of satisfactory explanations, as to the disa
vowal, were sufficient indications of the dis
satisfaction of this government with respect
to the disMvowal itself.”
Mr. Smith, in this reply, seems to mani
fest a surprise that it should be declar 'd
that the despatch from Mr. Canningto Mv
Ernieine ot the 23d January was the only one
by which that minister was to regulate his
conduct, and tiiis surprise seems the more
natural, when, by a reference to the cur
respondent** which took place in Ao'.rii ia-.;
between Mr. Smith and Mr. Erskine, at
the time the arrangement was concluded *
v/e find Mr. Erskine submitting, conformu- j
bly to irihtructionv, certain propositions for
the consideration of the American govern
ment. This official declaration thaL Mr.
Erskine had received the instructions of his
government justified tiiis g ivornmeut to
proceed with the negociatiou, unless, as it
is allerigad bv the gentleman from Connvc
ticut, (Mr. Dana) it l^cnme tlie indispen
sable duty nfthiig rvernment to see andexa
mine Mr. Erskine’s powers before anv ar
rangement was concluded with him. inas
much as a ratification ot’ine arrangement of
April last was not reserved—and several:
ancient an horities are prod need i ij support)
of this opinion.
Whatever may he the rule of proredum
wltere one government, hy its rep»v>. uta ■
tive, makes important concev.’mn* t > non
tner, or w here the terms of the agreement
are unreasonable*nr unequal in themselves,
I cahnot pretend to answer; but where the
terms of the agreement arc reasonable and
equitable . in themselves, it has not beet*!
the practice ot more modern times to do i
.. •» 1,1 uh: instructions possessM i
by the minister making or prop'.sing to in be j
•ht uVraugement. By a reference to the |
ro4*resr) indence which took plnce bet\vr;< n !
Mr Pinkney, mr minister at London, and
Mr. Canning, in which Mr. Piwkr>ev sub
mit:; certain propositions to the British gov i
eminent for tlieir consideration, we do :ict !
find that Mr, Pinkhey was called on to shew ;
his instructions or iutei rogated respecting .
them. 11 is official statement, that he was
instructed to make the overture was then
deemed sufficient, and although Mr. Can
ningdid not Uiink proper to accede to the
terms proposed by Air. Pinkney, yei no want
of power or authority is alledgedas a reason
for the refusal on his part.
1 here seem* to be a manifest impropriety
in the notion ot demanding a sight of instnic i
tions in ordinary cases, inasmuch as the '
act of the minister, in violation of his in- j
structions, would be obligatory on his gov
ei nmeut, according to the usages of nations, !
where a ratification was reserved, in all ca-i
sea where the terms of the agreement were !
reasonable nnd equit ;bie in themselves.— j
l^o.v, sir, what was acquired by this govern
ment in the arrangement with Mr. Erskine !
unreasonable or unequal i Was any thing!
more obtained than a recognition of our na
tural and indefeasible right frei Iv t j navigate '
the ocean according to the rules of public !
law, aright belonging equally to all foreign ;
and independent nations i If bv the an ..nge !
ment of Aoril 1 asr, a raiiiiratinn had b.-en j
reserved, the British government would in J
good faith have been bound to have wined
the agreement, as no good reason could be j
assigned for failing to do so.
Ami, sir, this failure to see and examine |
Air. Ecskine’s instructions is not a lodged bv j
Mr. Jackson a:; a c luse or reason v hv tills j
government had not a right to complain of;
the disavowal. From this I infer that the I
oiuei..i naiemenicontained in »'lr. JSrsh.ne «*
correspondence, that he had instructions,
and that lie was authorised to -.*•*> Ice the «r
rangement, w;is all that was ner.es-arv tobe
known by this government before the ar
rangement was eu-ered into, and that the
Secretary of State was necessarily lead to
believe that Mr. Krskine had other letters of
instruction than ill.>se rnntained in Mr. Can
wing’s despatch of the 23d of Jan. last.
Sir. let us now examine Mr Jackson’s re
tdy to Mr. Smith’s statement, in which Mr.
Smith declares this government had not a
knowledge that the instruction contained in
Mr. Canning’s despatch of the 23d Jan. was
the only despatch bv which the conditions
were prescribed to Mr. Krskinefor the con
clusion of an arrangement on the matter to
which it relates, and declares, if this fact
had been known at the time the arrangement
was made, that it would not have been
made.
Mr. Jackson, in his reply to Mr. Smith,
declares that Mr. Smith was acquainted
with the instruction which was given to Mr.
I'a'fckim:, ami tc it ha had no other instluc
*-.«>•» than that contained in Mr. Canning’s
despatch of the 23 I Jan. Is it possible to
conceive a contradiction more positive than
1 bat contained in this reply? It a gentleman
in his place states anv matter of fact to ex i
ist, and ho is told in reply tli it the fac t st i }
ted is untr ee, and that this statement was !
in uk: wi ha perfect and intimate knowle.hr.-'
ol ns i d«ch;,. t. alt the world would at one** 1
ugi re lit: was insulted, \nd the present!
ca:, d'K-s not. ui(Vo;- from tlte case I put, t x j
:'ept thiitit i. ODicured with diplomatic ter
huge.
H'lt, sir, Mr Smith in his lc*ti of the lflth :
<f Nov. cxiMo-Kts his dissatisfaction at die.
liberty taken by Mr Jackson, and declares!
such insiiyiatii/iiH inadmissible. And ".'ia:
i. Mr. Jackson's reply to Mr. Smith? Why,
sir, we find in page 7 1 of the printed docu- j
meiits, the following :
“ Yen swill find that in my correspondence I
with \ a, 1 have carefully avoided drawings
Cunt fusions that did not necessarily follow 1
h oiu the premise . adv mcedby me, and least*
of al* sh -old I think nt utteii ig an in«iuu * |
lion, wh<;;c 1 was unable to substantiate a
tact. 1 o Inctn, vac a as l Irsve income ac- I
quain'ed with them, f have sc*n->uiouslv a l '
fit-red i’c in so doing J must continue, when !
eft:r the good faith of his m, jesry’s , i\crn !
mut-.» u called in 1 indicate ich '
honor and dignity, in the manner that ap
pears tome best * calculated for that pur
pose ”
What were the insinuations which Mr.
Jackson had made? Why, first, that the nr
iwngemer.t negociated with Mr. Krskine was
done under such circumstances as could only
lend to a disavowal, and it would have been
an act destitute <u candor on the part of this
government to make any complaint of that
disavowal: and secondly, that Mr. Smith
whs perfectly acquainted with Mr. Jits
kine’s instructions, and knew he had but the
otivj instruction contained in Air. Canning's
despatch of the J.lrl Jan. Notwithstanding
Mr. Smith positively denies any such know
ledge. and complains of such insinuations as
inadmissible, yet Mr. Jackson would least of
all make an insinuation where he could not
aubatun’ia'e a /he! ; and to lards, Mich as he
hart hem sir acq unite ed with them, hr had
scrupulously adhered, and in so doing would
Continue!
This, sir, is a justification of all the char
g's fulminated against this government by
Mr. Jackson, and a notice given that he
would continue to charge them with bad
( lith in the formation of the arrangemetr,
»1 of possessing a knowledge of Mr. lirs
i'ttn* s instructions, winch had been positive
ly denied.
What course was left for the administra
tion to pursue? \\ hy, sir, either to hang
down their e*rs like the sluggish ass, anci
bear with patience Mr. Jackson's flippant
save isms, or cut him oil* in the manner they
have done, and put an end to farther op
portunities of abusing this government. The
course taken was surely 'hr only proper one ;
uiul the question now before us is, whether
wt* will sitnpnrt our government in the me t
i *•'**£ thus taken, whatever consequences mav
grow out ol it? I am prepared to say tk«i
we will.
^ It lias been stated by the gentleman from
Rhode Island, that he did not see where this
insult was given. Why, sir, it does appear
to my rnrnd as clear, and as * vident as the
light of d.ty is to my’sense of sight, from an
examination of the documents, that an in
salt was given to this- government beyond
heaving; aiui I should also think that no
man could examine those documents with a
determinatfon to give the facts stated their
proper weight, who would me make the
Sime disceverv. lint, sir. according to the
oltl ullage, none so blind as him who will
uui
I come now to that part of tl.e subject
which principally induced me to iji.se, which
' to shew, (it I can) tiiat there exists ho in
consistency in itiv opinion on the resolution
!>: oposed at tiic last session by a gentleman
iroui Virginia not now in his jJlace, and the
support illicit 1 mean to give the presort
resolution. Indeed, sir, I might retort on the
gentleman iroro ( onnccticut, inasmuch ns
lie was in favor of the resolution of last ses
Sion and is u«w opposed to this. If the two
i (.-solutions are substantially similar, lie
must be inconsistent ns well as m\ ::t lf, and
it would prove only that we had changed
sides, lint, sir, I take this • hange as pre
stilting an irrefutable. proof that the two ca
se^ are dissimilar, and tire intelligence of
that gentleman has discovered this * fact_
'l'ha resolution of last session was merely
approbatory of the conduct of the President
t »r the performance of an act which appears
to it*c to have been merely n ministerial one.
C. ongie.is had vested tile Piasiileut with a
power to remove by proclamation the in
terdictiou of our trade with (J. Kri ain ami
1* ranee, or either of i lem, on tlie happening
•d a particular contingency. This contin
gency happened in tilt opinion of the Prt si
dent, and lie discharged hjs duty. But, sir,
lie*, i csoltiiion on your table is a pledge on
the part r 1 Congress to the President, to the
nation, and to the world tlist v.e will sup
port him in the measure which he has ta
ki n, whatever consequences may grow out
of it.
1 he gentleman from Connecticut hascoa
sideredtnis resolution in tiie nature ol a de
fiance of war, and that preparations are ne
cess ary to meet the event. 1 <l> not consider
the resolution in this light; neither do i con
sider it a measure giving any just cause of
war to England. Hut. it it should be made
a c ms • ot war, I conceive no p evious pre
parations are necessary. Whenever war is
m..deon this nation, that spirit of patriotism
which has been lying dormant for years will
ba aroused; it wilt he communicated from
one end of this country to the other with the.
rapidity of the electric fluid ; it will convert
in an instant the merchants, farmers, me
chanic*. and yeomanry of yarn* country into
citizen soldiers. 'I’he immense and almost
inexhaustible resources of this country, v ill
be rendered active, and like Leonidas and
his Grecians, they will defend every inch
of ground, and, if without success, that snot
of this country where the last hopes ot hbtr
tv deserts them will he their tomb. In what,
sir, does the strength of this nation consist ?
Not in numerous armies or in large and well
appointed fleets; hut m the affections of the
people to tiie government If the people are
with you, your plans can be executed with
e/lect. If they ace against you, you are
weak andean do nothing with effect. 1 am
therefore in favor of the resolution.
Mr. Wheaton. Mr. Chairman—Honored
wt'h a seat in tills House, and csllrd upon to
iny Vote in the decision of a ijnestinn i
imp rtr.otto mo- nation, it becomes my duty 1
and i duty.whiefi ought no. to he resisted by
it. li m.on io submit for consideration some
rem it Its respecting the subject upon which
"e ate to decide : and I indmge tne hope that
on this, as on every at her occasion, otirdis
cus: ion# i ce, proceed with c ->lness and in ;>
manner becomhig the legislature of a free
and di.meruit ig people, who know what is
doe to themselves and the rest of man
kind.
i’iie resohttioas before us, sanctioned by
th«honorable Semite, now sodcit the alter)
lion of the Kcoreserpaiives of the American
people, and i ongly invite them togive fheir
i.tose.tt to several;propositions, deduced from
a rorrcspoiKler.ee, lately held bet m-cii the
Secretary of S;a:« and t!io. British Minister.
Mr. Jackson, relawvely to the prims in dis
putt* between that country anri 'hir; and o
their own Iwh.ilf and that of tiieir constitn
i "ts, to signify tiieir entire i ppmbati hi O’
the i* r lent. u.u. ion i i v'..e Executive eovern
nunt resulting thm tnm, which put aaend
to that correspondence. %
Notwithstanding me opinions of several
honorable gentlemen, manifested on a for
mer occasion in this ii'*use, to whom much
respect is due, and whose opinions will al
ways have great weight with me when torm
"“S niy own ; yet I cannot but -till hold it, a»
a correct principle, that in a government like
ours, springing from anti supported by the
will of the people, they have a right, and
that it is even their duty, on great occasions,
to signify their approbation < r dis.nppmbal
tion ot <tic conduct pursued, or the me. sures
adopted by those m power. For as on the
i.ne hand it may be the means of correcting
an erroneousproccedure. soon the other, si
may die and vigor to a w ,*e and li«nfc3t
policy.
ii indeed praise is asked for as an alms, it
should always be denied: but when ii is well
earned and ically due, it would not only be
illiuornl, but unjust, to withhold it. \v he
thei die i lie or the other be the case in the
jpiesem instance, we may hazatd our own
opinions, but the great question will still re
main to he decided before the great tribunal
oi the public. For whether we allow of an
appeal to the people in this case <r not, the
P-Vph* will sustain the appeal and will final
iy judge and deiennhie as they snail think
proper.
I presume the honorable Senate, who sent
us these resolutions, Requesting our „ou
«it r re nee in 'them, did not, and I presume
the Hdv* cates for the adoption of ihein, in
-ill* House, (iu n»t w isli lor expiessions of
appi oba.i >n from any one, tyhere they are
not sincerely felt. Expressions r.f approba
itan may indeed soaictimes be com pulled ;
*»nt i't 1 approbation cannot; it must be free
|.‘ given. It cannot bo extorted, hot by the
I discovery ot the wisdom or prupiiety of the
t. jcloct oi measure proposed to he approv
ed.
I Although my praise or dispraise, appro
ib * Mon or dsapprohu! ion. either as a private
! ciilisen, or as an individual memher of this
I House, ma; he considered as of ldPe intpoi
j tance to those who hiaud in thelirst lanks
jm conducing the great concerns of I lie rm
|lum '• vctit i could see what has been my
| anxious w.Hi to see, and vlmt othors ima
jgo.e they do sec, that our executive govern,
irent h d pursued tl.u wisest mid most m o
■ c-c..!.course relative to the subject embrac
,cii bv these rusolMtmns, it would be highIy
|j;rv.il) ing to my pride-Co be able to lundsh
I" *c.w Materials lor u muniuuent to their
plaice. In doing Ibis. 1 should feci as much
pleasure and satisfaction as did the poor E
K' ptiU'i, when gathering together a few splin.
ter, of a broken boat as a funeral pile for the
gt e at l’otiipi y.
It is but natural, that I should be prcju
t red m favor ot my ow n country—the coun
’>• tuat gave mu birth, and in which I
have ever since lived, and of the govern- /
“‘““t 1 l»»*e »‘aU -“'Me small share iu form
j>"g, 'isid ltd the forte ot tlio obligation I ii'
(un. under, by all just ami pi ope r means in \
|mj power, to promote the interests and \
i uappmess of the ene, and to give aid and *
support to the other. I cannot, however,
| under these impressions, and with these o'»
jvc.s in view, . flier feel ,he necessity or
[make a.yseif willing to break through those
sternal and immutable obligations I am un
der to niyluod and my fellow-mm alway s
to maintain justice and u mb, h is my vvisb
to examine, wiJi fait ne>s and candor, eve
ry subject wiiicli it shall become my duty to
c-n ider. and that n.yu ngue i«;u> always
uc liitt true# index of my h«*tn cw
1 know it is a maxim in some g .vernunrnts,
j tint the supreme power of tiie state cm a do
i.o v rung. [ believe, however, that this
maxim lias not icccited ti.c sanction of ex
p.n ience in any govei ninent. Jt has some
times b -t /i questioned, even in that govern
ment tu which tlitistr resolutions point, arid
: he i • solutions themselves are made to de
cide against it 1 should hardly then have
expected, th at in this early period of cur
in irpuuuc, sucn a u.uxun would lie re
ceived, and li«cnme current hire. May we
not >it,sir, humbly and ni idestly enquire,
••-veil though sucli enquiry should lead to
doubt, whether bur executive government
(as this government is but a creature of our
power.) have done right or wrong in the
late hasty step tiny have token, especially
as we aro now called upon, and in pcetty
strong terms too, to approve of it i M we
are jet freemen, and retain any of our (dis
criminating facilities, shall we not examine
for ourselves, before we venture to expivcss
our approbation ? If we do not, shall weisot ,
be in danger of exhibiting to the world, 5\he /
picture of convivial, though tasteless coi n,
p iny, over some sparkling adulteration, corn,
mending their champaign? For myself, sir
1 have examined, and though, with inodes-’
ty and deference lor the opinions of others,
[ am compelled, as an honest man, to say,
that wlm is proposed in these resolutions,
does not m?ei my approbation. In giving my
reasons, 1 will state some tacts, but careful
ly avoid drawing conclusions; leaving th it
to be done by tiiosc to whom they may ap
ply.
The belligerents of Europe, anxious to
excel in doing each other harm, have both
done much harm to ns.
'Fhe French, it is .aid, have committed
some 'rt-fifiaast» on our commercial l ights,
and notwithstanding ah our gentle entreaties,
show lit,b* dispn ton to c nmpuusate lot the
past, or dcsi-it liom fiitinc injuries, until, In, V
m g acquired as mm h power bv sea, as tiny
have already bv ho d, they shall have been a
bite to send their il i ing colonies abroad ; ami
then if we may jod;-c of the probable t ffr cis of
the one, from »lu we;have sren orheartl
of the other, we may easily snticipnte what
kind of redress will lie offered ns. If we do '
not like the fate of Copenhagen, we may have
that of Switzerland or Spain. Those harps,
on which we are now playing, we may be
obliged to han r upon the w illows, b- m an
the loss of a stolen President, and in a differ
ent tone, to hail the arrival of a victorious
m ister, from the family of the 11 naparles
Tnc French minister is s ill wi h us, and
f r aught 1 have heard, in full communion ;
and our accustomed communication* with,
and civilities toward* that nation, ate not in
ti erupt', d.
For the British government, air, I feel no
piu tuii^ ; with British sui jteta, I have no