The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-15

a facrifice of my feelings TO the public iutereR.
For this vote the good of the nation will be my
only motive. But when negotiation is about
to be opened for an Object 70 important as the
Floridas, ak whether it is not right. appeal
to the American people whether they do not
think it right toufe every nece1arv means for
enfuring it fnccefs? With regard to the appro.
priaton Of two millions with view to this pur-
chafe, voted for it as fe,-of to the refolu.iop
reported by the felea committee. voted for
It in preference to Handing army. I would
rather frengtheu the arm of the executive with
money than with A Handing army, 70 fatalto liz
herty. And / believe 4 majority of the repuh-
licans in this nation will uphold me in this OPT
Mon. Every body knows the importance of
this country. Has it not been faid on this floor
that there does not belong to you foot OF
ground between the MiNaippi and the Perdi-
do! 1recolecf when this country was coded
to the U. S. to have had conversation on this
iubie6t with gentleman from Virginia, for
whole opinion have high refpett, and he was
OF opinion with me that it was very doubtful
whether this country was included, indeed we
rather thought 1t was not in the treaty. Will
any man fay that it is not of watt Importance to
us to have the FINAL territory that divides our
people, and by fair purchafe remove all
grounds OF future quarrels. IF it has entered
INTO the minds @fgcntlemen TO make other than
fair purchafe of this country frcm its rightfnl
owner, this is not my opinion, nor have any
recollection that any fi,ch motive has 6een a.
vowed. A particular document has been re-
TERED to, the receipt of which have heard one
or two gentlemen fay, might have altered their
votes on the bill psfIed by the Houfe. But
was aftoniihed to hear ftich declaration. 1t
could not have altered my opinion it had in
my mind no bearing on the meafure / have
one farther obtervation to make. If it was
doubtful whether this country belonged to us,
what would have been the effeS of adding one
or two additional regiments to your ftanding
army! and placing them on A territory Won
acknowledge you do not believe to be rightfnlly
yours would rather put down regiment
OF the pretent Handing army than add one man
TO II. When our rights are invaded we fhaII
not require Handing army to defend them-it
Will he the militia that will defend them. Lam
oPpoied to itauding army, and ever will be on.
po'ed t"'t. For theie reafons was in favor of
strengthening the arm ofthe executive bv an an
proprlat'on' 'hdead OF strengthening it by a
Mr.. CLARK requefted the Speaker RI eva
mine the fecret journal, and fee whether tb;s
mefiage were In it.
The Speaker faid it was, and might tberefors
be dfcufed with open doors.
MR.. j. CLAY. | was aftonihed when
found this journal without the mefape. Fv.
metiages appear to have been received. all of
which appear on the journal, excepting this.
which is the only mefage of any confeouenca
ala helIeve when the injunction of fecrecy was
removed, 1t applied to all the papers received
by the Houfe, and I did not conceive mvG,If
bound to conceal one little of what occurred
while we had locked doors. | fheuld therefore
with my friend from Virginia, 70 TO amend b;o
motion, as to include all the documents. Icon
Ider this ehentially neceGary to elncid,te tb
transactions OF this Houfe. Tt feems RI have
been fashionable for gentlemen to declare ,yb,,
were their motives, for the feveral votes th.v
have gwen during the time our doors wen. nhut
mad but one motive. which hope viii con-
tlnue to govern me as long as have 2 feat in
this Houfe. My object was to he preDared for
war while endeavored to maintain peace.
voted for the refolution for the ncreaE. ne tbs
army becaufe every body knows, who 10 III.
leaft acquainted with the fate of the forth and
fouth weltern frontier, that the militia in 81 ~
quarter are not able TO defend it. Tbev are in.
deed but people of Neutrality-suspicious. RI y,cnr
haot and language-and indeed aliens in every
ienfe or the word. We had fcen that frontier
invaded by Span-I was not willing tberefors
TO withhold from the executive the. n,e,ns &c
chstfiiing this aggreliion, therefore voted f,r
the retoiution. aio voted for the appro,,ia-
ton of money, becaufe was waiting 70 fhoy,
Spain that while we were prepared TO chaaize
her aggreihons, we were alto willing by am;ca-
BILE negotiation to adult our differences
| therefore voted for an appropriation for tic
| purchaie of county which deemed bohv
valuable to us. Whether the money appror,ri.
ated was TO go to France or Spain did not ipfIn-
ence the vote gave. I did not know then that
any circumstances were concealed from the
Houfe calculated to throw light upon the f,h-
jet, and of the contents of the mei1age of tbt
18th January was totally ignorant, as it was
handed in the day went to PHILADELPHIA. and
was Immediately afterwards returned 70 tbe
Prefdent. l could have willed that between
! the Gath of December and the 18th of January.
there had been found time TO make an official
copy of it, iince we have heard that it would
have comfortable bearing on the votes of the
| members of this Houfe and fhoud conceive
that it would be very important as formior an
item in the tranfadions of the feiIion. When
we came here the public expectation was biehIy
| excited. We had been injured ard infulted by
| Spain on land and by England at fea. The ma
ton required the adoption of meafires to bro
cure redrefs, and to prevent fmiIar aggrefTions
in future. What have been the coDiequences /?
Wehave pafied an ad appropriating two MILL;