Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-06

consistent with, and in opposition TO truth
IL has been intima,ed that the minorit
( we're in favor of war or By intimatin,
thai the majority were in favor of pacii
measures. the inference has been draw
that the minority were in Favor of war
I The fact is this--and as the message o
the President has been read al part o
the journal ordered 10 be Published. a,
| the Speaker and clerkfave attested,
VIII undertake TO state what it contain.
unless prevented by the chair.
The Sneaker interrupted Mr.. r. by OBJ
serving that such statement would mo-
be in order.
Mr. Randolph. will confipe myself
/ then 10 stating that the division of sen.
tlment in the House, was whether we
| should have a territorial accommodation
OF our differences with Spain, whether
| we should have an accommodation which
did got merely suit spain and us, or a
monied accommodation which neither
suited US or Spain, but France. 4 re-
cnrrsnce TO the journals will shew ,ti, to
have been the principal difference that
subslstcd within The walls of this House.
There was no party ofmenin this House,
or elsewhere, in favor of WARRIOR beg
leave TO cali gentlemen on the committee
TO witnessathat the opinion ofihe MAORI
ty OF the selcct committee was that we
should neither give money or make war !;
but that rye should defend the limit. OF
the old United States and The territories
acquired from Spain. What were the
facts! Our army was dispersed in can.
comments, God knows whers The coun
try 10 be protected was far removed from
any considerable surrounding populatiul
IN country which, from the clrcums;an-
ces in which il is piased, must be kept
and held by military force When the
militia of the United States from the
most contiguous states 10 New Orleans
We're deputed to take possession of the
Country, events proved that it could no,
be defended by militia unless ind eed BY
The militia Of the Chjckasaws, the Creeks
snd Chociaws. ilIsnot only cut off from
the populpus parts of the l.. States, but
II ID Pro,ruded into the gulph of MEXICO,
land also SURROUNDED by sx eDsive marsh
es whica 90 uot adm,t of is being dsfsnd,
ed IN the same manner as the other parts
Iofthe u States. so mpch with regard
10 standing ARMY. The committee ap
lplied to the head of the proper depart
ment to know what force would be remit
ed to, defend the frontiers. Our report
has been published. Why have not the
letter addressed TO the secretary Of war
aud his report been likewise published!
1t the executive of the u. States Will take
upon ltsclftlie responsibility of defending
the country with single grenadier, be il
so. But 1t was. said there was not suffi.
cient force 10 defend the country : and
are we not now attempting by a landed
bounty TO generate this force These en-
cumstances prove our views in commit
tee, and I do not hesitate to say that all
the force we have should have been plac-
ed in the vicinity of New Orleans--,hal
was the weak point which ought to have
been guarded.
| There Is another view of the subi.Gt.
Against Spain, with whom we had tried
the fair experiment Of negotiation, and
which had totally failed, we took no man.
ly attitude ; while we reserved all our
energy for G. Britain, and determined to
coerce her by prohibiting the infportsuoh
OF her millinery. Yes, against Spain,
when our negotiations had totally faile d,
and under circumstances of disgrace 10
the United States, we took no manly
ground, but begged her to take money !;
while with Great Britain, with whom ne.
gociation had not filled. while negocia
ton was depending we declared ourselves
in favor oftsking decisise and hostile
latiitude.> Here is The real difference of
opinion. IN the one case We had pc nd
| ing segociation. In The othsr it had been
J tried and failed. But that sno all. Be
cause we bought Louisians from France,
IL was contepdcd that We should bo FOL
lowing the old precedent by buying the
Floridss of Spain. But IN snswer il was
observed thztinthe FIRST case we made an
Offer to purchase as prelude to negocis-
ton and it was declared that the rais.
conduct Of the Spanish agents WA Ghsu.
thorised. But here the cEss was cora.
pleiely reversed. There was 30 doubt
of the MISCONDUCT Of the Spanish agents
being authorised, and negotiation bad
been tried and had failed. There was
another difference, In enc case We msds
a far and honorable purchase from
France who owned the prOpsriy buS IN