Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-05-10


what the circumstances were which had
led TO this Gtuation, he could not, coniift-
entity with his duty as representative of
the people, jufify the prefent motion. AS
far as the defence Of the country was con-
cerned, there was no need of recommen-
dation from the throne TO induce the houie
to do what oyaIty, unanimity, and har-
mony would have fuggeaed. This was
an Object which, in the view of a threat
OF inyafon from any quarter. the houie
would ever Rave in view, but they would
more particularly conGder it, if that threat
came from France.
AT a moment when that which was
dearef was at fake, there was 10 room tor
difference of opinion, becaufe every man
in defending the country only coniulted
the means Of his own defence. But had
not the houle and the country right TO
have it made out that the conduit hi:her-
TO purified by his majeRy's minifters was
not unwife and impolitic that improper
conceaions had not been made, that the
country was not unnecefarily again TO be
plunged in war? Till this explanation
was given, he could not, confidently with
the public duty, continue the fame conf
dence which he had formerly repoied,
He did therefore hope that fome explana
tion would be given by miniters how iar
they meant to go with the preparations,
the necenity OF which they had itated..
By agreeing to this vote without expla-
nation would in fact fay that the fame MI
n;fers who had by the greatee facriaces
concluded peace, were to be allowed 10
bring the country into war, without at
fording the fmallea information as 20 the
ground OF the renewal of hofilities. Il
thew out theie fuggeaions, not 70 much
with the view of catering iotc any detail
ed difeufion, as of engaging gentlemen
of greater abilities to take up the iubJeet.
Minifers owed it to their own characters,
to the houle, and country, TO fhew t'atwe
were not bro't into cur prefsnt perilols
ifualion by any fault on their part. Per-
haps to their conduct the extraordinary
preparations now called for were owing,
and it was farely not fit that ,hoie who
had brought the country into a fituation
where war was the only alternative, ihould
pledge the houfe to the iupport OF thai
war, without afording any information
refpeeing the circumfanccs on which it
was to be founded. This, be commended,
was the clear law Of parliament, the pre-
fent was not moment ralhly TO plunge
the country into war. 1t had already
been feen what efeta his majeay's mef.
hge had produced on public credit, and
how much the profped Of a war, no one
object of which was explained, would DIFF
hearren the people.
AT a time like the prefent, when every
exertion might be neceGary for the fup-
port of our independence, il was CT high
Importance that the people Gaould repofe
the mott ample confidence in his majefy's
confidential iervants. The leaf diaruR
of their capacity could tend only TO diff
Iiearten the people, and to fill them with
aitonilhment and terror. AT moment
like this, when we might be called upon
to Aruggle even for onr exiaence as ma
ton, it was a lamentablc confederation
that the ability of the country was ex-
cluded from the government. At the
mott per;lous crihs in which the country
was ever placed, we were deprived of the
opinion, the advice the talents Of all thofe
great men, whole cordial CO operation
was 70 enential to the falyat;on of the
country. This language might give
offence TO many members, but this was
not moment for an independents reprefen-
tative of the people to conceal his fenti-
ments. 1t was neceflary TO fpeak ont
under the exiting circumstances. If the
fhip funk, th:n would all go down with
the uolkilful pilot. He wilhcd to prels
thefe confderatious on the attention of