Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-27
c Q N G. r E S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, April Z.
SPANISH AFFAIRS.

SPANISH AFFAIRS.
Deoafe on the molten Of .ier. j. Randoihh
toflaoAsh hie Presidents Message.
fcoNTINUED1
Mr.. KELLY. | did not exDeS to OF
Ter any arguments either IN favor OF OF
IN opposition to the decision lately made,
from which there has been an appeal; but
as That appeal has been made, rise no,
Tor the purpose Of going into any wide
argument or of accusing any set OF men,
but Tor the purpose Of jnsufyips mtssli
and The vote which SHALL now give as
we'll as that which have gwen. II has
been said on This floor with open doors
that the reason of giving money was to
prevent the necessity of raising standing
army; SC that it was better 10 strengthen
the arm OF the executive with money than
by standing force. From this il NIGH,
be inferred that The reasoning on the part
OF the minority went TO raising a stand
ing army. AS voted with the minori-
ty on this occasion, | will briefly state
omeof the reasons which influenced my
vote. 1t is not in order to say any thing
relative 40 the confidential message, bu,
II Is perfectly in order to speak, of the
message delivered al the opening ofsthr
session and believe it is perfectly fair
to say, that there was no occurrence be-
tween the Sd of Dec. when the public
message was delivered, and The 9th when
The confidential mt sage was received to
changc The circumstances in which we
were previously placed. shall vote in
favor OF the publication of this message as
being the ground work OF The proceed.
lngs we have adopted in secret. wish
It published that the public may Judge
whether those proceedings were conso-
nant TO this message or not, I should
wish the public TO see whether the part
'aken by the minority, or the measures
oil The majority are the most condonaHt
WIN IT. To enable The public accurately
TO judge, think it essential that il should
be pabi shed; az The executive branch of
me government is presumed to be the
best acquainted with our foreign reIa,i
ons. The message of the President at
the opening OF the session specially men.
toned and designated Spain, Il inform.
ed us that, Inroads have been recently
made into the territory of Orleans and
the Mississippi, our citizens have been
seized and their property piundered in
the very parts OF the former which had
been actually delivered up b. Spain, and
this by the regular officers and soldiers of
ihas government" The message also
advised us ihat something was nessary 10
be done. 1t said that some of these ar.
gressions might perhaps admit of a pea
ce.ble remedy, but tina. others could be
met by force alon.-. That message, il
Will be- allowed n all hands, called loud
~ ior some efficient measures on the part
OF The greernmeni---for taking a.>cc;;;;,st
oPain' It not hostile, at least defensive
posture and | will undertake to saw that
nothing which has occurred in secret ten.
"ed 10 Inculcate the proprie,y ola differ.
emf course nor could there be any thing,
Tor the one message so quickly followed
the other, as not TO allow time for any in.
tetvening circumstances. What follow
cd ! n report OF q committee stating tie
aggressions of this power to be Of most
atrocious nature; not recommending a
war TO check the rising growth and pros.
Perity CT the country, but recommeudiug
mat certain nui' Der Of troops shouId
be raised at the discretion Of the Presi.
dent Of the United a,es, TO repeI. the
insults that might be offered, and to chas
Use those who offered them. This mea.
sure appeared to be proper in illeir, and
II appeared likewise to be recommended
by the terror of the message. Ii appear
ed to DC the more necessary, as we had
Information of the collecting Of consi.
derable force in the provinces Of Spain
and at Pensacola. For these reasons i,
appeared to me desirable that such a
force shsald be raised as the presiden,
might deem necessary. This was no,
creating sslandns army--Ths number OF