Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-15

whose opinion have u high respect, end
he was OF opinion with me tha, it was We
ry doubtful whether This country was in
cIudcd, indeed we rather thought il vas
no, in the treaty. Will any man say that
| II is not of vast importance 10 us to have
the ANAL territory that divides ourpeopls,
| and by fair purchase remove all grounds
of future quarrels. If it has entered into
the minds of gentlemen to make other
than fair purchase of this country from
It's rightful owner, this is not my opinion,
nor have any recollection that any such
motive has been ayowed. A particular
document has been referred To-, the re-
ceipt OF which have heard on. or two
gentlemsnvay, might have altered their
votes on the bill PASSED by the house..
But l was astonished to hear such de.
| claration. 1t could not have altered nv
opinion; it had in my mind no bearing on
the measure. have one farther obser-
vation to make. lfit was doubtful vhe.
Their this county belonged to US, what
would have'been the effect Of adding one
or Two additional regiments TO your stand.
ing army And placing Them on terri
tory you acknowledge you do not believe
to be rightfuily yours! would rather put
down regiment of the present Standing
army than add one maa to il. When our
rights are invaded we shall not require a
standing army to defend them--it will be
the militia that will defend ,hem. am
opposed toa standing army, and ever will
be opposed to it. For these reasons was
in favor of strengthening the arm of tho
executive by an appropriation, instead Of
strengthening it by a standing army.
Mr.. CLARK requested the Speaker to
examine the secret journal, and see whe.
| Their this message were in il.
The speaker said it was, and mightthere.
| fore be discussed with open doors.
Nh. ]. CLAY. I was as,onished when
found thus journal without the message five,
messages appear to have hssn received, all of
! which appear On the Journal, excepting this.
which IS the only massage of any consequence.
did believe when the Injunction OF secrecy was
removed. it applied to all the papers received bv
| the House, and die NOT conceive myself bound
TO conceal enc title OF what occurred while we
had locked doors / sh Guild therefore wish INV
| friend from Virginia, 80 to amend his motion.
| rs to include ali the documents. consider this
essentially necessary TO esucidsts the Transactions
OF TINS ftouse. IL sseTps 20 have been fashicns.
(! bic for gentlemen 20 declare what were their
I motives, Tor the ssyerAlvosss they have given
during the time our doors were SHIT had but
one motive. which hope will continue TO 90.
vern me AZ long as nave seat in this House.
hy ooJeet was TO be prepared for war while
endeavorcd 10 mainssin peace. / voted for tbs.
resolution for the increase of the army because
every body knows, vino is the least acquainted
WIN the state OF the south and south western
frontier, thar the militia in that quarter are nor
able 10 defend it. They are indeed bur a reonIe
Oh yesterday --abens TO your habits and language
and lndsed aliens in every sense of the word.
n lad coz th..f -
was not wiling therefore 10 Withhold from
me executive the means of chassising this ae.
grc-sion, therefore voted for the resolution. L
also voted tor the appropriation of money, be-
caase was willing 10 show Spain that Will.
we were prepared TO ehastise her expressions.
we were also willing, by amicab!e negociationt 10
ADJUST our differences. therefore voted Tor an
appropriation for the purchase of a country
winch deemed highly valuable 10 us Whc-
tnef the money appropriated was TO go to France
or Span did not influence the vote I rave Il
did nor knew then that any circumstances wer-
concealed from the House calculated to throw
hight upon the subjeS, and of the contents of
the message of the 17sf of January was totally
ignotan', as it was handed in the day went ro
fhhadsphia, aud was Immediately afterwards
returned to the President cculd nave vi,hsi
that between the Path Of December and the
1Hh OF January, there had been found time TO
make an oficial copy ofit, since we have hear,
4 m
the votes OF the members of this House /; and Z
| should conceive that it would I've very important
as forming an item IN the transactions of the ses
s'on. When we came here the public expeeeati.
\ ON was highly excited. We had been Injured
and insuted by Spain on land and by England
at sea. The nation required the adoption OF
measures to procure redress, and 10 prevent si-
miiar aggressions in future. What have been
/ the consequences9 We have passed an act an.
propriatng two millions to purchase the EIsri.
das and to chassise Spain, and we have passed
an ad prohibiting the importation OF certain
goods from Great Britain as peace offering to
her. IL is in my opinion necessary that all the
documents should be published to give the peo.
pie an opportunity of judgipg whether their re.
presentatives nave been fsitnfu TO their rust.
There are parts Of those dot umcn,s which 1 sun.
pose will not be published. wnich had a consids-
rab!e influence on my mind on the votes which
| gave alude TO the threat of hostility by
! France.
| Mr.. Speaker here called to order.
Mr. Clay concluded by observing that ~ thew
had published FIVE messages which had contain.
ed nothing. he hoped they would publish the
| one thar CONTAINED something
Nix. DAWSON expressed himself in favor
OF giving publicity to the message, which he be-
| lieved could do no noseible ;nf,,.- G.. a..