Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-03-26
Col,gre(s Of tbe lirlfeD States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
TaGay, February p.

Debate or the bWresi0ed from tbe Senate
entitled" an ia to repsal certain ats
w/teRixg The orgarisatisn the carts
oftte L. Sfates."
Mr.. Huger--l have endeavoured to
catch your eye, Mr.. Chairman, at this
time, under the expectation ard III the
hope, that, as the committee have, during
the two lat days, enjoyed vacation from
public budneis, thall run the lefs riique
of exhauling its patience, ndmay cal
culate the more largely on the good ma
tu.e and indulgence of gentlemen, in the
courfe of the few observations, ! lhall
venture to lubmit to their confederation.
Little accu0omcd to deliver my icnti-
ments before public audience, from my
mode and habits OF life, feldom Obliged
even TO concentrate my ideas on parti-
cular fubjea, l have at no time Preiumed
to address this honorable body, but with
great d;fidence, with the utmoit defer
rence-never l can truly fay, have | ielt
more frongly and ircerely theie ieniati-
ons than at the prdent moment; nor have
l without great difficulty, and after much
heGtation, venurcd to offer myfelf to
your regards, and take PoAeaion OF the
floor. Believing, however, as | DO,
that the deare.t intercaS OF the COMMIT
nifty, the very exiitencc of our national
government and Union, are involved K
this momen,ous qucfion, | feel myicit
compelled in duty and In confidence, to
express my dihene, and enter my protea
asaina the lin my humble opinion uncon-
fl5u;ional and nifchievous) mcaiure which
we are now called upon TO adopt, in Ian
guage more ftrong aad decided than might
be conveyed by flent vote.
When l was before up, Mr.. Chair
man, on the mOtion,for poapone'nent,
made by the II mber from Delaware, l
took location to exweis my regrets, that a
constitutional point Of the frit mas aitude
and importance llould be brought for
ward at moment 70 inauiPicious to fair
and impartial inveaigation of it, at time
when the palions of gentlemen had been
70 greatly excited when party feelings
and party zeal mutt neceha'ily have TO
powerful an influence on their minds -
when they had juit gained after long
and irritating fruggle, complete vieto-
ny over their political opponents, and
found the nCelves at moments waning,
put in poaelion of the whole power OF
the government. I could not but lament
and dep!ere the falIibility Of human ma
tore, and what appeared TO NE to be
the infatuation of men, whom | knew
to be wife and honorable. l deprecat-
ed and protected againtt the hate and
precipitancy, with which this H,eafure
was 70 uaneceHarily hurried on for con-
federation, and conjured gentlemen to
paufe and condder, whether it was at
this moment, and under the prefsnt Cir
cumeances, that they ought to give
loofe to their feelings, and urge the
houle TO decide irrevocably and rna'iy
great, an all important national and
conatu1ional queRion F.; involving in its
deciiion the ,proaration and complete
overthrow Of the only bar-the only
eRi >ient Check, which the Contribution
had provided, to their newly acquired
power, implicated, as it unfortunately
was, With another iubjett, peculiarly
obnoxious to them, as party, and ne
ceGaEily exciting in their minds 70 many
uneleefans and Irritating reco'lettions.
Now, Gr, let NE ak, fabm!s It to the
candor Of the committee TO determine,
whether the courfe which has been pur-
Gued, anl the occurrences which have
Gace taken place, do not falIy warrant
and clearly evince the CORE ttnca and
p1opriety of the CELEBRATIONS l make On
that occaGon. Which of the honorable
gentlemen, who have advocated the
meafu1e now lubmitted to your eonhdc-
ration, which of them I pray you, has
been able to divef himfelf of bis party
feelings ana enthufam, and laying