Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-03-11


your revenue dwindles, and your conditi-
on i desperate, They willreply that you
came NOT TO their assistance in the only
Inotneht you could have saved them.
That you balanced between national ho-
nor and sordid interest, and suffered Them
20 be borne down and subdued at time
when for trifie yon pld have secured
the Mississippi; thu how their interest
must Be consulted, and il forbade any as
sistance to you, when following IN the
same train Of ruin whichhad overwhelmed
them. IL the evil does not immediatly
proceed the full length ofabsolute disuni.
on, yet the strength, the unity of exertion
the union Of interest win be gone. We
are np longer one people, and representa-
tives from that part Of the country in our
public counsels, win partake Of the spirit
and breathe the sentiments Of q distinct
nation--they win rob you Of your public
lapds-they win not submittotaxes--they
win form 4 girdls round the southern states
which may be denominated q foreign yoke,
and render the security Of that country
very precariois as TO It's peace andprcsent
connexions. Indeed every aspect Of such
q state of things is gloomy, and alarming
to men who take the trouble Of reaecting
uponit. -sE = + : : =. <
But SIR said Mr.. r. have heard it
suggested that another mode has been con-
templated for getting rid Of this crisis in
our affairs. five remain perfectly quiet
and passive, shew no symptoms of uneasi.
ness or discontent--Ifweg give no offence
to the new and probable masters of the
Mississippi-may be they will sell!! To,
me il is utterly incredible, that such an
effect would How from such Conduct
They might possibly sell If they found us
aymed, in possession, and resolved to
maintain it. They would see that even
conquest would be hard bargain, 81 20
distant q country--our possession would
be evidences of . Fixed determination.--
But when we have no army, no military
preparation, no semblance Of resistance,
what would induce them 10 sell I Sell, sir
for how much! Why sir, altho' there Is
no information before this house, Of any nv
terms, yet 1 have seen il stated IN the-
newspapers, that those who now pretend
20 claim that country may be persuaded
to sell, by giving two million of dollars 10
certain influential persons about the courts
- Here Mr.. Wright of Maryland called
MIR. Ross to order and said that he thought
i improper to debate upon confidential In
formation which in his opinion should be
kept secret. i &c. 4. 9 =7--s.. 10
Mr.. r. denied that there was any con-
6dential information in that house. E
The Vice President said thereswas mo-
confidential information before the senate,
hath recollected, and that he perceived
nothing improper or out of order in what
had been said. = sa.a
Mr.. Nicholson said be hoped the gal
leries would be cleared. Il appeared 10
him that the gentleman was about to dis
euss points which ought to be kept secret.
Mr.. Ross hoped not--and would give
his reasons. -
Mr.. Nicholson objected, that il would
not be in order for the gentleman to give
reasons.
Mr.. Ross. will never speak upon this
subject, sir, with closed doors. The
moment you shut your doors l cease---
and when they are opened viii proceed.
There Is nothing Of q secret or CONFIDENT
d nature in what I have TO say. Mr.. r..
concluded BY caIlingfor the yeas and nays.
upon the question Of closing the doors.
Mr.. Wright read one ofthe rules Of the
senate, 10 shsw that vote was not neces.
sary for closing the door. b: 81
Mr. Wells enquired whether It was IN
order 70 interrupts agentleman while speak
ing md to make motion while he was
in possession Of the floor.
The Vice President houghtthat IN such
case, where q senator thought that the
subject required secrecy, itnightbe done.
The doors must be closed az the request
OF any senator, and afterwards the senate
would determineby vote whether or not