Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-16
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
RlCHMOND:
FRIDAY. MAY Is. 1896.

supplement-, comprising extracts from
the remarks submitted by several gentle
men on the floor of Congress-.
l. Vnbregard to toe document alleged to bave
been sahpyesscd--
Mr.. Aston says" a particular docu.
ment has been referred to, the recent of
which have heard one or two gentle.
men say, mighi have altered their votes
IN the bill passed by the House. But
was astonshed to hear st.ch declaration.
1t could not have altered my opinion; i,
had in my mind no bearing on the mea-
sure"
Mr. Smile says-s' So far was the mes.
sage Of the l7lh Of January, which had
been alluded to, from having any influ-
ence in changing his vote, tina, il tended
strongly 10 costirm him in the propriety
of IL"
Nj G. w. Campbell SAYS 1t is said,
sir, that certain communication which
was calculated TO affect our votes relative
TO the bill making appropriation for the
purchase OF the Floriclas, was detained
some weeks after IL zvaS received from, oar,
minister obroa,i, before ii was laid before
us. say, Mr.. Speaker, that no commu.
nica.ion made, TINS House was calcn,at-
cd, III my opinion, 10 alter the votes Of
the members OF the House on chat sub.
Ject, certainly none that would have
changed mne.''
III. Iyi,b regard to TIE nlcsseat5re Of F;ance--
MV G.. Campbell says" With re-
gard to some o:her remarks made by a
gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr. J..
Clay,) think II proper 10 state that there
is no communication before this House
which authorises the assertion that a
threat has been made by France against
the UnVed States. Ideny, sir, that there
is any document which if properly under
stood, can be construed TO have such
meaning. | say, likewise, That there is
no documents before the House which
anthorises the assertion, that France told
us, if YOU give Spain one blow, we will
give you ten or, two, as stated by the gen.
tIeman from Virginia, (Mr. Randolph.)
There is 90 such expression, nor any o.
Their that would countenance the idea.
France was not brought into the question
as being concerned in our differences with
Spain. She has, indeed, been lugged in,
in The place of argument; and we have
been charged with trucking 10 France,
when in all our proceedings ihe name OF
France has hardly ever beef mentioned,
except by gentlemen in debate, who will
not admit that Spain exists as a nation"
rs Mr. Jackson says" The gentleman
fren Virginia Mr. ]. Randolph) has de-
clared tina, France said if we gave Spain
one blow, she would give US two or ten in
return, and Others have declared France
threatened us with war. Sir, assert
there are no such facts contained in lie
secret dispatches sent TO US"
Mr. Jackson adds---"l will undertake
to say that all the information we received
from the documents on this point, was in
answer to the enquiry, what their conduct
would be, If we declared war against
Spain, 70 which they replied they were
competed to take part with Spain"
III UH6 rega,d to tee charge Of I'm intention
to 6ride France.
ar O. w. Campbell says--.aI deem il
proper also 20 say, that The assertion tia;
any member ofiliis House voted for
measure calculated 10 bribe one nation, 20
indace ano. her to give 10 her rightcal PRO-
per'y' so far as it nay be applied 10 me,
IS wi,holi foundation, and not authorised
by any aet of mine. and that no mar will
undertake 10 say So"
ME AaEi}OcU Ids" Mr Speaker, /
think it proper here Is state that there was
no Part Of my conduct srch as to au;ho.
rise any man 70 Say The measure voted
Tor was calculated to brbe any nation.
This va. ~ my Intention il was MOI,
the intention of msjor,y Of y;,is House,
and such an allegation cannot be believed
10y Che public or BY any rejudiced and
candid Individual"
Mr. Eppes says" 1t IS said we have
appropriated money rot for the purchase
OF Florida, but to induce France TO bully
Spain GU, of her right. On this subject,
have never bad bn, one opinion. have
always believed, and ! still believe, that
the money will be fairly employed in pur-
chssing Florida Of the righduI owner.
The gentleman from Virginia viii do me
the justice to recOlle6l, that held this
language with closed doors. h0d ii now
IN the presence Of the people. That
France may ultimately get the money is
highly probable, and why Has not ,ht.
gentleman from Virginia told US the soye-
reignty Of Spain is apnihiated, tina, the
powers of her minister arc eicrned On . -tc