The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-25

INTERESTING DEBATE
In tie Hirxinia Hogie Of Delegates.
Ne3asjaay, December II.
Mr.. r. B. Robertfon prefented the following
refolution, accompanied by few remarks:
"Reotved, TbatH LtgjGafare Of Yus7ia s.afiaue 10
vitro .eib TIE big6 appreciation, ne f,m, jardAhtrai
policy, zuIi5 ebara9trJssSe osna17 Of .St ssperns.t
sffbs y. S. ts4vayds Jc,eisn naiisnt,"
Mr.. MILLER (of Powhatan.)-I feel myfelf,
6r, on the prefent quefion, reduced to moft
delicate iitnation. had fuppofed that the re-
folution, whisb we adopted yetterday, would
have been amply fuficent for the mo- er of this
refolution. ! find however, that gentlemen are
not yet contented with the declarations which
this houfe has made; and that they are anxious
10 hurry 1t into meaiures, which had hoped
our preient itsation would have withheld.
Sir, it is not my intention to rcfufe my warm-
a appreciation to the general acts of this 60
verRment. Generally fpeaking, / believe the
prefent administration to be as perfect and as
nfeful as any naturalization could politely be.
But, fir, this is not the queftion before the
houfe. Why did not gentlemen boldly come
out with their views Why did they not de-
clare that the prefent refoIution is not meant to
apply to the meaiures of the government, &C.
nerally conlidcrea but that few particular
acts were particularly implied, though not cx-
prefsly de6gnated by this refolution Sir, this
is the real object of the mcafure 1t is intend
edto enlia our appreciation on the lide of thofe
meafures, which were specifically adopted to-
wards Spain and Great Britain.
On thefe points, fir, an not prepared to
FAY that the government has acted wifely; And
why Becaufe there are only. two means, by
which the wifdom Of any meafure can be teH-
ed; and neither of thefe is in our pofefiion on
the prefent occafon. We mutt either have the
grounds of any particular meaiure fairly laid o.
pen before he or its coniequences mutt have
appeared, before we can decide whether Il was
or was not wife meafure. But, fir, how can
vote for this refoution, when on both thefe
points, / do not pofFefs the neceiiary know
ledge / have no means of information, bat
through the public prints. / have no intimacy
with thofe great men who guide the affairs OF
our government. i have not all the documents
before me requiiitc 10 form au opinion and
thefe meafures cannot yet be Judged of by their
effects. How then is it pofiible for me to fay,
that with refPeet to thefe points, the bef and
wifea courfe has been purfucd?
l have an additional objection, Sir, to this re-
folution. do not deem it republican to be
bringing forward thefe adtlreiies to orr Execu-
tive Magifrate. Some gentlemen have howev-
CIR contended that there is an incoabGency be-
tween my practice during the IAN winter and
Ay projections during the preicnt. But our af-
Airs were then in verge fercnt crifis & cal
led for very different meafures. The Prefident
had folemny declared, that Spain had violated
our territory ; that fine had prated upon our
commerce and that Great Britain had inter
poiSed new principles into the laws of nations
The public fentiment q. that Enoaicnt called
Tor an ayowai Of our opinions aud the hcr
1ntereits OF our country required that foreign
nations ibonld Zee the confidence which we re-
posed in our administration. But there is This o.
fher tact worthy of our confederation that the
fneafiIres adopted towards tnofe nations, had
DOT then been aded upon.-But does any fuch
crifs exit at prefent Are not our Affairs in
better train than they were then ! Is it necef
tary always 10 be Whispering into the ear of the
3Prehdent that we love him? Let this princi-
pie once go into general u!e, and il will foon
lose all its effea. No man in private life fcts
any value upon praifes and thanks, which arc
iaviihed without determination and the poii-
ton Is equally true as to any public officer.
But, iir, confider this as An auti-repubiican
reiolution, on another ground. II is we'll known
that there are certain men in this country, who
have lately dared to differ from the admnnra-
ton. For years, have not theie men been de-
voted to the fervice of their country On
mere points of expedency too has this differ
ence OF opinion been erected. Shall we then
throw our whole Legislative weight into the
ICdr o' tnole, WHO may hereafter Oppoie them
before the people? Shall the Icgtlstures OF the
hatcs put down the consreIfonal minority that
little Spartan band, whole motives no man has
cared TO fufpeet Is this republicaniGn -
here was time, when the republican party
OF his country ufed TO cenfpre the repeated
soGTeiies, which were layfied upon Gen,
W sf3ikgton and Mr.. Adams. Shall we now
then betray an iDcouffcncy with thefe profef-
hohs is this the clote-woven rtpubicanifm,
OF Wh'ch we ufed TO boat 70 much Sir. this
Tort OF Tepublcanifm is too fmiy to Ian fo,
nur i1Iereits. You may dart ihickle through
y. rs FOR my part, Iwould not wear it for
liGing.
Eat let ns recollea another confederation.
There are other men in the Administration, be-
hdes the PreIident Of the u. s. One Of thefc
officers mas been held up as a candidate for
'ne next PreHdenta election. / do not FAY, Sir,
wh'Ch "'if iupport; whether il be lanes
Mddiion or James Monroe. But is IL not ex
t'eine'Y improper for us 10 commit ourCe,yes
even IN the moh indirett m@afnre on this mo-
meEtous qucfi'on and to declare by implica-
HOT, which OF theie candidates we frali fun
port Sir, we were not fcnt here to legi(late for
the y. S. We were not delegated TO engage in
eIeedoncerine tricks 10 fay that this man i,
''g and oughtto &c trufed that man is wrong
and ought TO be turned out. No, Sir, we were
tent here TO legillate on local concerns.
But let It not be fuppofed from any thing 7
have laid, that have relinquifbcd nv confidence
- the Prefdent of the u. S. In his patriotiGn.
his talents, and his wifdom 7 renoCe an en,;-s