The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-20

w usSt ~ ~ thCt SN"'NuCt WHICH diOUC CAL Opcs
rate upoa VA, that 60 ftrongly condemn. But
am oppofed not only to their meafures, but to
the men themfelves; becaufe they refifted thofe
mcafures which believe beneficial to my coun-
try, and becaufe they have brought the fr.
verea charges againR our administration, with
out the nighteft foundation.
Mr.. FousHEE (of Henrico)-had fuppofcd
there would not be Jingle voice againit this
refolntion. Was il poGble to believe that a
meafure conceived in fuch fpirit of conciliati-
on, could have met with 70 much oppoition /!
And upon what grounds is it objected to ? Some
members have contended that it was an unne-
ceiiary meafure |; fome have even denied us the
right TO adoptit. But I would even place
this meafure upon higher grounds. conhder
it eTential to nnderRard not only what is
our right but what is our duty And
hold it not only TO be our right but du-
ty to ~xprefs our opinion, when any inn
portant concern has come before the Ex-
ecutive Department. Is it not eIential to fup-
port the government, when it deferves our ap.
probation: Is il not as neccfary to give it our
fupport, when it adopts the wiieft meafures, as
It is, to exprefs our oppoGtion, when il pur-
fues a.weak or wicked policy?
Some have however commended, that the pre-
TENT refolution will cat cenfure npon the
minority. But as for myfelf, hold vigilance in
I conceive it to be necefary to fcan and to
fcrutinize~ every az of every administration /;
nor hau that virtue ever be reprobated bymy-
felf. When an oppoftion has arifep, it be-
comes the people to judge, and the people TO
Pronounce the ,cepfurc. Here the centuries
will fall heavily enoueh, without the aid Of a
legiflative vote. But free this refoution is oh.
Jeeted to, am prepared TO offer an amendment.
The lpeaker obferyed it was too late to offer
any amendment, unlefsit was incorporated with
the refolution before the houie.
Mr.. MURDAUGH-Sir, / had not intended
to have fPoken on this quenion. did not
come here with my fentiments already put into
apt pirate, for the ears of the members of this
houie. it is true Lam young man but am
not on thas account to be awed into any con-
cealment OF my opinions, when mealure is
brought up, that my understanding difapproves.
ftand here as the representative of NOT re-
fpeetable portion of my ftate, and have right
TO the indulgence of bearing.
AS to my principles, / am not the man to
saunt OF them. / make no projections of repub-
licanfm. AS the world find me, 70 let them
report me. Let me be judged by my conduct,
and fhall be fatisied.
l am oppofed to this refolution on two
9rounds.-I cannot fee the necellity of lavlhing
Panegyrics upon the officers of any government.
can lee no reafon why mott respectable body,
frch as this is, fhoud fay to any agent Sir,
you have done your duty, and you deferve the
aPplaufes of the world" In my clofet ; in
the meditatons my own mind would APP.
prove tuch nneritorioHs conduct. would tell
Asca 10, perhaps, in private. But were he a
man OF any understanding, he would laugh at
my anxiety TO make fuch formal and public
tender OF my thanks, as is now contemplated
IN this houte; and if he were a man of generous
virtue, he would be more delighted with the
iecret confcioufnefs of having the attachments
OF nation IN his favour, than with all the plau-
dts of public Afembly.
But, Sir, am oppofed to this refoIuton on
another ground. 1t may fcem vanity in me-,
an humble individual, to fay to the luxurious
Executive of the ..n:cn &c Yooiii have dong
wrong. You are not infallibe. You do not
always deierve TO be applauded by your coun-
ty." Sir, 1 will NOT recall there expeditions
nay, Rnnana'r EFT errare. am of opinion,
they are not 70 vrtuous 70 wife, as to fay they
dcierve all this applauie.-In what, Sir, does
this mighty virtue coniit? Do the friends of
the reioution perceive it in the conduct of our
Executive towards Spain and Great Britain
AS to their wfdom ; can fee nothing 70 re-
markably wife 10 their department towards
theie nations. What fhall we fay of that mon
ftro,is purchaic of Louiiana? Would wife
id'"'S' PuiCHdiS idnu WtHOut knowing Its
nletes and dimeniions And where is the man,
who will pretend to fay, that he has afcertain-
ed the boundaries of Loui6ana? No man
knows them. AS to Great Britain, when fee
our ports continually blocked up by Britiih
ihips OF war when hear daily of my follow.
citizens bound in chains, and compelled to put
the match to the cannon to blaft their own
countrymeD when hear ofthefe things, with
what truth could fay that all the acts of our
government have been prompted by wifdon
But the republican minority lave been nam
ed on this floor. The gentleman from King s.
Queen has talked about young men being led
HRray 10y the ditingufhed talents of their lead
er. He lays he admires him. too, FIR, adj
mlre his talents and his virtues; nor have met
with any man, with any pretenlions to under
Handing, who would not admit that he had Ia
tents equalled but by few, or who would hint
fuipicion of his virtues. He, Sir, has prefer.
red very ferrous charges againit the Executive
and fome of its officers. Thefe charges have
never been cleared up to my fatisfaetion. But
] hold it to be a facred truth, that 70 foon AS a
public officer fhoud be fnfpeefed, he fhould in.
hantly be able to lay open bis kofom, & prove
his Innocence. Is there one here, who will
May they have done this!
MIR. ARcHER.-I cannot reconcile il to nv
felf to remain fleet after hearing the remarks
OF the gentleman from Cumberland (Mr. Ba-
kerr When he fays that no republican would
oppeie this refolntion. am bound to contra
dict him. LAYER, that now act from the prin-
ciples Of republicanifm. Mut we be continu-
alIy Drafting and THANKING o,,r r,nbI;, c,r,,o,o