The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-04

france have no attachment to any country
but the one in which l live. i am willing to do
jutice to all nations, and to require II from all.
But fuppofe Bonaparte fhou)d fucceed in the
conquelt of Europe! 1t will be a long time be-
fore it can be effected and if effected, it will be
found that a fleet is not the work of a day. 1t
will be found To be the work of years, and years
ct peace too, before he can poffefs fuficient
1hips s. feamen to deftroy the Brtifh navy. And
what are the dreadful terrors of the French go-
vernment! There appears at the head of her
affairs man who tranfcends in talents and am
bition the other potentates OF Europe. But is
there any thing permanent in thiss Much, e.
very thing may depend on hs-br!ttle life. On
his fall, fhe may become as feeble as ihe ever
was before. The nation we ought TO fear, ac-
Cording to the gentleman from Virginia is not
that which has the a6naf command of the fea-
No, the gentleman is not afraid of her, but Of
the nation which may have the command of it
Hereafter, I Mould regret to fee any nation of
Europe hlotted out Of exifence. I hope that
Bonaparte will never conquer England, or Eng
land conquer France. But I cannot attach
much importance to diftaHt, while am mena-
ced by preient dangers,
The gentleman has alto pourtrayed the great
danger to the contribution from war. agree
with him. / too deprecate war. ! conider it
one of the wort evils that can befalI mankind
But as have already fhewn that this is not a
war, but peace meafure, his remarks do not
apply. know that war is attended by numer.
Gus evils. thatit not only ex',aufts our blood
and treafure, but that il has fill more fatalef
feet on our manners. Still am I not willing to
proftrate the dignity, the ntereft and the honor
ofmy country, even if war fllould be the confe-
Iucnce.
The gentleman has ALTO founded an alarm a.
mons us becaufe this is not a meafure of the ca
oinet. That gentleman however knows full
well that any member on this floor, without
even confulting any of his fellow members,
much lefsthe cabinet, has right to bring for
ward any refoIution he pleafes. But he faid at
the tame time there was no cabinet How then
could he expect MS to confult the cabinet when
no fuch thing exits! My frieRd, who offered
this refolution. flowed it to me before he pre-
tented it. concurred in it, and now advo-
cate It, becaufe think it right, and the gentle
man will not deny that every gentleman on this
floor has equal rights.
! The gentleman has alto told us that France
1 In 1898 was doing what England now does :
that fhe was fighting the battles of the world.
For my part do not believe the world is in
dehted to either of thofr nations. much lefs do
! believe that we are. But this fame England
I can do wonders, and 1t feems we are not to con-
tend for oar rights with her, LEFT fine fhould pet
ont OF hunour with us ] know the power of
the Engiih feet, and know we cannot con-
fend with it. Debaucbed however as her %.
yernment is, dol believe fhe will go to war
with us; but if fhe does not, it will no. be
owing to the caution we have obfrved in DIFF
cutting this fubjeet. OF this nation, thus re-
prefented as fighting the battles of the world.
may perhaps have formed wrong opinion, in
the efimation have formed of her humanity
and jnfice. Go to the -Indies-throw
youreyes on Africa-iook back on the Ameri
can revolution, and tax of her humanity An.
plaud her for iuftice, when there is not nation
on earth at this day, 70 much difpofed TO be
koftile TO US. Sir, fac will never forgive us for
having achieved our Independence Her hofti-
hty is 'nvgorated by another circumfance {;
flieS is the frft trading natan in the world. we
are the tecond. We Interfere with her aggran.
difement, and fhe has determined to cruih us.
Shels proceeding ftep by fep in the work of
6eftrutton, and if we are 70 puiillanimous as
to iubmit, fhe will puGh on to our ruin and dir
grace. The gentleman has told us that if we
aid any power in her efforts to delroy Britain.
we ihall endanger ourfelves. Indeed, fir, 10
many evidences of the fiendihip of this nation
are brought before us, that only want expert
enee TO believe them.
Wcare ALTO told by the fame gentleman, that
France will do us the honor only to make MS
the lait nation ihe devours. WHY all this cla
NOR about France, when ihe is not iniuripe ne
while we are 10 tame TO other nations who are
violating our deareh rights3 / truft we mail
know how to refpett ourfeIves with whatever
nation we have TO DEAL and il France acts TO us
as England has dong, that we will treat her rs
we are now for treating England But till tbi,
time arrives tbefe remarks are nifapplied.
leone nowto reply TO one thing faid bv the
gentleman from Virginia, which am very FOR.
ry ! am under the necefIity of doing. The fate
of this country isplaced in irrefpongible hands.
Torn, Dick and Harry ought to be put into
ftraght waacoats. Whether this LANGUAGE ;s
coniitent with the refPeta due to this Honfr, or
TO this nation, leave the gentleman to Judge
for himftif. ! will grant that that gentleman
has right to the exercife of his opinion ON all
political fubieds. ] will even allow thar h.
has mind more luminous than belongs TO noa
men. But will alf, fay, that the rights which he
olaiSs FOR himflf, he ought to allow to his fell
low members. i I entertain IN oprion which
j. wrong, and any n7D can convince me il ia 10.
am ready to acknowledge if bat how come "a
tse gentlemen 70 reprefent all the members n,
this floor as iet offools Why, fir, if I were
TO pretend to fay that John Locke was a fool
that Milton was bad poet, 'aat Bacon was =
rni!srahle lawyer, whatever my intention migbt
he, " nd'ne ieroe7te from their characters.
| believe this will I've the cafe with the members
~ this Houie, and that the character of no man
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