The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-04
Cyorumr 2.

make another overture of civility; and if that
Ud nor fucceed, our connection could he d;i
continued. If after that, it f1ould I've necefJary
20 put onrielves in hottie array, he knew there
was courage enough in the nation to maE., an
ing our fhores. ..r
/ Viewing the fuhiee in this manner. and ,.o,-
ceiv,ng the propoiition as one of catenation of
mea'ures on fubje6 of great national impor-
lance and uncommon public folicifudc. he WAC
earneIt In his hope that il would be carried. JLe
inc preceding one, not by a mere majority. but
| by an unahlniousyote. &c., - - 0'S
Mr.. BAYARp.--Mr.. Prefident--If there h.
any oolee,ion to the refoution COW before ms.
20 mar II meters the executive eovernmenc
fromthat Responsibility as 10 its neal;,rrs 49,,
properly ought to attach TO it.. The duty ,,ra.
lcrtped 10y the refolution is OF AN executive ma.
snre: and the charged with the carr.
OF thoie interefs for which the refolution :, r,,
vides. BY prefcribing coutfe of condnet' ~,
the executive, we releafe that branch of govern.
ment from responsibility as to the event, &:takc
u upon Ourselves. But, fir, though feel this
onlectiop, yet at the prefeat H1oment II ia ont.
weighed by other considerations. The aate of
our public affairs is critical, and at fuch a time
ithnS II becomes every branch and member Of
the government to Cooperate with cordial;t,,
and zeal IN fupport of each other, and to ftr;vs
70 DO more rather than lefs than their reflective
duty. 49, E'-' '>.F's'e
The design of this refolution, fir, prefsnts r.
ieH 10 my mind in a very different point of
view from that in which it appears to IN. Cos.
tieman from Vermont (Mr. Smith.l .rb.th"
nourabie member is oppofed to it hecauTe he
thinks 1t gives juit caufe of offence to the Prei-
dent. That we prefcribc to the Prelident
duty which he ought certainly To perfor n with.
ont our injunctioD, and of confeoueuce we be.
trav doubts that he will do what; belongs to his
ONCE without our interference. For nv part.
mr. do not contider the refolution as intended
IN any degree for the PreGdent, but as defgnea
Tor the brItlih government. iuppofe without
the retolution the PreGdent would take the
co,irie which it marks out. But we intend to
man'telt by it, that it is not fimply the opinion
OF the Prefident that fpeciic redrefs fbouId be
granted Tor the wrongs we have fuffercd. but
that 1t is the concurrent fenfe of this branch of
the government, that fuch redrefs flloud be ir.
hted on. do not mean that we fhould be
conhdered as Offering an empty menace to the
br'tilh cabinet, but denomination of the uni
on ofthe different branchesof our government in
demanding fatisfaetion for the wrongs done us.
Foreign governments calculate much on our
dlviilons, our union will difappoint thofe CAL
culatio1s.
1t has been objected BY the gentleman from
Vermont, that il is improper to pats the refolu.
tion, becaufe is not the ground of any leeifla.
live proceeding. The gentleman is too late in
making rms objection. He has voted for the
f.~t -afalnt inn which l~fs th.,, .hA ~,-.fa. :.
the bahs OF Legislative act. At prefent it is
defgned only as the declaration of our opinion
as to the conduct of foreign nation. But L
am not difpofed to admit that thefe refolutions
may not become the ground of a Legislative act.
1t belongs to Conerefs to declare war, and
when give my af1ent 20 thefe refolu,ions, L
contider myfef AS pledged to vote for war if
IrsTe lie n ed 70 In al
frR retaliation, we have goHe too far to recede.
We have declared that unprevoked aggrefIions
have been committed on the property of our
citZens-that our neutral rights have been vi
olated and our national independence treno he'd
upon. This unanimous declaration is record
ed in your journals; and can we hefitate whe-
Their we will bear the wrongs and affronts put
upon US, or hazard the peril ofa war! Can
we, fir, after the declaration which we have
made fit quietly down and confole ourfelvcs
with the meek virtue of fuffering with forbear-
ancea For what purpofe have gentlemen a.
greed to the firlt refouiion? To thew the
world we knew the extent of our injuries, yet
from Incidence or dread we meant they ihould
pats unredrelied and unavenged.
Ihope, fir, that it will not be thought that
with for war, or would, without atie suate caufe,
plunge the nation into it.. am cortending on
| " that we mutt learn to Unfit upon our nation.
We muft learn to defend our honor ia peo-
| pie, or foon we fhall be without national cha
raeter. We are beft protected againft war when
| it is known that we ready to meet it. Let
| the nations Of Europe know that love of cafe,
dread of difafters, or an apprehension of pr-
vations, chain you to fate of peace, and they
will drain your treafury of its laft cent, and
make you drink the dregs Of humiliation.
| hope the government will never go to war
without jut and efficient caufe. But when
that caufe does exit, hope they will no, be
appalled, by the dangers or calamiiies Of war.
! The refoution before us is not, however, de-
| earation Of war. We have fated in the firft
| tefolution the wrongs we have fuffered, we hese
| 0ate the redrefs we expect. I do not confider
that the refontion etjoins on the PRECEDENT any
particular mode oe negotiation, or to- demand
any fpecific fatisfaeton. But it requires fome-
thing fubttantiaI, direct fatisfaeton or equiva-
| lent indemnity, and fome a6urance Of future
fechrity.
| am in favor of the refolution becaufe
think it will facilitate the negotiations Of the
PRECEDENT. When it is feen that we are united
in inhfting upon our rights, that rather than
| abandon them, we are refolved to encounter
any alternative; it mutt create impre ffion and
ferrous reflection abroad. The refolutions iuf.