The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-15

ON the man who fhould dare to atfcrt fuch de-
teaable claim to the indfputable property of
the nation, and thereby difparage that property.
Our opponents fay, the dangerof being dragged
into courts of juitce at any difant day, howe
YER uncertain the apprehension ofthat anxiety,
which the mott dihant profpe4 of being dfpof-
fefied in our old age of buildings, orchards gar
dens, eitablifhed by our own hands, NUT iiatu-
rally create in men, will keep all purchafers d
loot, will efeauaily prevent all Eles, and keep
our mott important and NOT expofed frontier
forever weak and defenceleis. anfwer, let thofe
lands then remain unfold: the nation will fuf-
tain no damage in its interet thereby, for it has
more at market elsewhere than the demand is
likely to take for great length or time. 1t is
even my opinion that intereit will be materially
forwarded by the fufpenGon of fales there ut
this time. 1t it not now fay weak s. defence
lefs frontier WHICH it is 70 necelary to ftrengthen
Immediately with new fettlers, that the attain
ment of that end could jufify our giving 4
bounty to fraud. The moi vulnerable point
of the union is now removed many hundred
miles farther from the centre, and every fettle-
ment made eliewhere at prefent contributes to
diminiih our means OF covering that point with
the iMpsnetrable armour of republican militia.
Shall we permit thofe motives Of policy to 60
vern us i'll this happy time of afured peace, un-
eXampled PROPERTY and rare tranquility and
lnanimity, which we fhould always reject with
ifdain if it were not that, il not the ftratagems
aud deceits, at leaf the forbearances towards
fraud, vice and crime often necefiary in actual
war, arethoughtin fome degree juRifable alto in
certain other periods ofnational danger, embar-
raiIment or difficulty. For myfelf, never could
have lent my voice i'll this houfe to fupport that
policy even when fuch reaions had their ftrong-
eft force. Much leis can acquicfce now.
cannot content that this government fhou!d
draw veil its eyes to admit the approach
es of fraud. i cannot give my content that 1t
ihould tamely fuller itfelf to be bullied out OF
fuch ferrous portion of the national wealth, as
| 6, 100000 dollars, which a former ACT of thefe
houfes has led our commil1ioncrs to offer in or
der to quiet thefe unfounded claims. / have yet
the ftrongef hopes we fhall difnifs them unfatif-
fled by rejecting this bill. Surely we will not
by pai1ing it ennoble with legislative favor the
myfteries of Ejaculation we will not hold out
| to the tribe of fpeculators all expectation that
| this government will in future gratuitou(ly I'M
derwrite on all their land adventures, if they
will be moderate in their infuraDce. Our boun-
ty to the innocent fufferers will do no trilling
mitchell by removing from credulity its only
reitraint, hmdity and doubt, which otherwife
mutt have been greatly fortified by this difref-
| ing example. / hope however we ihall extend
that bounty TO them. But upon the adventu-
rers themfelves, or on thofe who knowingly
| embarked with them in this desperate and in
famous icheme, the nations forgiveness and its
filence is the only boon will ever give my voice
to bcltow. We fhall, ardently hope, grant
them 10 other here. IF they reflect think they
will accept that and retire let them do TO-,
aud in retiring let them filently return thanks to
the great creator Of all things for his bounty TO
man in granting him through this life free will
uninterrupted, unreftrained by heavenly inter-
ference. But for this bounty, the wrath of ea.
/ ven would have arrefted them in the commence
ment of their fcheme. They have made that
ule they thought beft of heavens favor: they
have cody protected, and ptrfucd their own
choteU plan for advancement in life: let them
not look to this government for aid to bear them
up under the disappointment of its failure.
But few days ince their hopes were high I;
they expecfed Immediately to attain by our flu
! pinenefs, the end Of their forcibly moderated
defres. Thank heaven, by the bold ufc Of its
NOT noble gift, which was then made by one
gentleman particularly in this houfe they were
iuddcnly topped in their progrefs, g. that hope,
unlefs they are thoroughly blinded by thcit own
ardor completely extinguilhed. They efcaped
the thunder Of heaven, but they have not the
certain earthly punilbment. Since that day
they have food in the eyes of an indignant natl
on, riven, biated, tripped of all the lovely foli-
age of reputation by the lightning ofeloquence.