The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-11
soeat uf Gubersime:.:.
SENATE UNITED STATES,
FRIDAY, FEB. IA.
BRITISH AGGRESSIONS.
1'ESHTS on TIE feeond rrfoldioa reported By a f.
tea committee, Is aiirad, gi1,sn.
coNTINuED.1

n'r. MITCHELL oberved that he was fOrry
TO intrude upon the patience of the Senate at
mat late hour; hut the obfervations of the gen.
| teman who had iuft fat down induced him 70
beg their indulgence for few n1oments-tbr
gentleman in tic ce,rfe of his obfervations
| Teens to have made two proportions as the
ground ct his objection, viz. that the refolntion
| now under confederation contains cenfilre I'D.
on the Prehdsnt as not having done his duty in
| negotiating; and that nv psiiing it we are 90
| ing TO facrihce the honour and intercts of the
| United States and its citizens.
MIR. Preidcnt, l would ak in what manner
we thail doei'her. How frall VIC cenfnre the
Preident! He has negotiated until there au-
pears no proiPed of obtaining that iullice 10
when we are entitled; and he has now fubmit-
yea the matter to Congr"fs TO pur:ue fuch mea-
| lures as tha'l appear to them prudent.
And what are we about to do? Sir, we have
already unanimously pafied one refolution, in
which We fay that the capture and condenna-
lion OF the vedeIs and cargoe8 Of our citizens is
an unprovoked violation Of our independence,
ano an aggreiiion upon the property of our CT.
tiZcBs. ard 1t that declaration is correct, VIVA,
are we TO do further? Are we upon the ftrength
ot that declaration to fit down and fold orr
hands together. and expect Britain to do lis iuf.
ice! Or are we to- declare war! Sir, are we
prepared ut this moment TO declare war. Will
u re wife! Will be prudent, without one eff
tort to avoid ii, with all its horrors of blood &
de'truetion Are the people now prepared to
'nee' VI without our making one more attempt
to negociate' Will they fay we have af,ed
wiely! believe not-Sir, we are one com.
ponent part of Congrefs, who have the f,,e
power OF declaring war; and by this rsfoluti-
on we are going to fly to Britain not by our
ielves, tor we arc not by the contribution autho-
Tied TO iPeak to foreign nations in this way :
nut We are about to requen the PRECEDENT, in
our heha't, anu IN our name, ard in the name
OF the whole people of the u. S. to Eay to Ri.
tain, you have injured us by your unprovoked
aggrcflions, and we demand fatisfaeion. We
can bear thee infuts no longer; therefore make
us compensation for paf injuries, and DO us
luit'ce III future; and we are willing fill 10 he
trends. Wherein does this cenfure the Pref.
dent He has purified negotiation until lie
'inds II unavaiIiDg. We now ak of him 70
make one laft effort in our behalf before we an.
peal to the Ian refort of war, and I trpH we
mall arm him with power thai viii give energy
to this TAT negotiation. And wherein are we
gong to facrihce the honour of the u. States or
the interet of the citizens? Does it f,cr;6ce
our honour TO cndeavour to fettIe our differen.
ces IN an amicable way, rather than to Ry 10
arms and deluge the earth with blood, win
IT hx figrra upon us in the eyes of any ration
al men or nations: believe not, And how are
we going to facriicc the interet Of our citizens
Do we do it ny demanding iuitce for them OF
Britain! ] believe that they thenfelycs will
not view il in that light, when they fee il fol.
lowed bY the third reiolution, which hone
will be psiisd. And indeed had II not have
been for the expectations of that refolution be.
ing Carried into effect, in fch manner as to give
energy to this, fhouId have withheld my vote
/ from fhe 6rR Eut t,pJar 81 s..
that the third reE,lution will pars, and 20 Dir
not believe 1t contains any ceniure upon tn.
Prehdent, and rs believe IL will do honour &c
the u. s. and will nave tendency to fecure re.
paration to our citizens, lisIl chearfully give
! IL my vote.
! Mr.. Smith (of Ohio)--Mr. PrcGdent-h!,ho
the refoIbtion on your table cannot impofe :
new obligation ON the chief magifrate of thi,
country IN It's prefent form, yet, from its coin.
cidence with the letter and fpirt of his neiIap,
at the opening of the preicnt ftfion--.from il.