Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-11
which a message was not entered upon

Mr.. Lieb asked whether it was consist.
en-. with the rules Of the house to have the
message now read /? If il were not, he
could not concur with the gentleman
from Virginia in voting for the molten
under consideration, though he agreed
with him in the propriety OF taking OFT
the injunction OF secrecy from all shepa.
.pers.
Mr.. 7. Randolph asked, whether, when
the journal was read, the clerk had not
begunao read the message when the read
ING was dipenssd with !? This was his
recollection, aud if so, it must be consider.
ed as part Of the journal, respecting
which the Injunction of secrecy had been ia.
ken off.
The clerk SAID this was the fact.
Mr.. Lieb then said, tefore he decided
on the resolution, he wished to hear tbs
message read.
The speak CIR said il would be most &C.
ceptable that the house should decide Whe.
Their the reading were proper.
. Mr.. Alston. merely rise to remind
the speaker of the decision he gave, ard
of the question: put TO him when the m,
junction of secrecy was removed. i well
decision of the chair that the
message Of the president and the letters OF
our minister were not embraced in the mo.
.tion for taking off the injunction. And
have not a doubt on my mind that 1t was
lin consequence Of that decision that the
vote OF the house was such as it was. AS
70 the oublisation Of the message, It IS
i'm material 70 me. Ivosxd against giving
publicity 70 the secre, journal until we had
heard the result Of the segociation. 20
nc, consistently OF ih;s subject with that
vote, / am for going no farther.sl believe,
however, for the justification OF those
who voted as did, the publication OF all
the documents will be advantageous. In
voting therefore against publishing this
message, Il shall make "A sacrifice OF my
feeling. To- the public Interest. For this
vote the good of the nation will be my
only motive. But when negotiation Is
about 10 be opened for an object SO I'm.
.por,an, as the Floridas, ask whether It
is not right, appeal TO the American peo.
pie whether they do not think it right to
use every necessary means for ensurlng 1t
success? With regard to the approximation
of two millions with view 70 shls pnr-
chase, / voted for itas set.oh to the re-
solution reported by the selec.rcomnlttee.
| voted for it in preference to a standing
army. I wouldrather strengthen the arm
of the executive with money than with
standing army, so fatal TO liberty. Aud |
believe a majority of the republicans IN
this nation viii uphold me 10 this opinion.
Every body knows the Importance OF this
country. Has it not been said on this hoor
that there does no. belong to you foot OF
ground between the Mississippi and the
Perdldo? | recollect when this country
was ceded to the United States, 20 have
had conversation on this subject With a
gen leman from Virginia, for whose OPT
nion I have high respect, and he was OF o.
pinion with me that it was sery doubtful
whe sher thi, country vas included, indeed
we rather thought il was not in the treaty.
Will any man say that it is not OF vast I'M
pcrtance to us to have the email territory
that divides our people, aud by fir pur.
chase remove all grounds of future quar-.
rels. IF it has. entered into the minds OF
gentle men to make other than a fair pnr.
chase of this country from its rish.iul
owner, this is not my opinion, nor have l
any recollection that any such motive has
been .ayowed A particular docua'enthas
been referred TO, the receipt of which l
have heard one or two gentlemen say,
might have altered their votes on the bill
passed by the house. But was astonlsas
ed TO hear such declaration. 1t could
pot have. altered my opinion; it has In my
niud no bearing 90 the measure. nave
one farthe. observation to make. 1t 1t
At was doubtfal whether this country be-
longed to IA, what would have been the