The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-08

this fate aganft the Refolution of the Houfe
OF Delegates, having been mfrcprefented
by fome and mifconceived by others; feyeral
OF his friends have prevailed on him to furnilh
them with it, as nearly as his notes and re-
collection would enable him-You will oblige
them by inferting it your paper.
JannS,y 6, 1907.
Sez,erai gentlemen bavirg lbskcn, Mr. Daniel
a6dreDsd the chair to the following ef9ea:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN-I concur mott heartily
with all the gentlemen, who have fpoken, in the
expreflion of regret that this fubjeel has in any
manner been brought into debate here. What,
fir, is the real object of the refoluton fent up
from the Houfe of Delegates !? What good is
it calculated to effect ? What location is it
that demands us to withdraw our attention
from thofe fubje6ts Of legilation which proper
| ly belong to Us, and beftow it in re/oEoes upon
the affairs of the United States? Has the CO.
vernmcnt of the United States feized upon the
rights of the people, or violated that little rem
nant of fate fovereisnty which is referyed by
the contribution Is there any dreadful GALA
nifty impending which threatens the deftruetion
of the administration and the ruin of all onr IA
cred inftitutions Gentlemen avow none of
thefe things-and yet they tell you, that none
but great, important and perilous occafions can
Ijuftfy this rejoicing interference on the part of
the General Af1emby. What then is the great
oceafon which utilities this refolution? Why
truly, fir, in the lat Congrefs there were fome
Republicans, few, indeed, as to number, but
great for their talents and the fervices which
they had rendered to their country, who had
independence enough TO oppofe one or two
meafures which, qve are told, were recommend
ed by the PRECEDENT, but which their Judgment
could not approve. This is the great, the PEE
rIlous affair, on account of which we are called
upon to denounce thofc men Gentlemen
in this Houfe deny fuch intention. But, FIR,
look to the refolution. Does it approve the
general courie ofthc government? No. Does it
not cautiouly avoid generalapprobation .ofthe
administration which all of us could have given,
while it ieieets as peculiarly worthy OF euiogum
the only meafures of the government which
were oppofed bya few republicans? Can any
perion believe that this fubje6t would thus have
been obtruded upon us, if thofe meafures had
been oppofed by none but federalifs No. IF
better proof be wanting to eftabifii the fact,
that this reiolution is dehgned as a cenfiire of
the minority of lat Congress for oppofing
what 10 faid to have been'the with of the admi-
niitration IN relation to particular meafures,
refer vow TO the feDtiments with which the in
Productions of the refolution was prefaced; and
to the declarations of number of gentlemen
who fupport this meafure Tin the Houfe of De-
iegates) wherein they openly avow the delign
OF eating ceniure on the minority, and ex-
preis thelrregret that language OF direct repro
baton is not ufed. Who then can doubt the
effect which thi: refoutionis calculated to give ?
1t gentlemen difavow the defign of cenfnre,
mutt believe them.
But. iir, what means the declaration which
is made in this Houfe by almof every gentle
man-which is alto ufed, as know, by num-
Der ofthe Houie of Delegates, and / believe, q
majority, if called on, would exprefs the fame
icntiment of regret, that fach a refoiution is
moved Is IT an evidence that the adoption
ofthe reioluton will produce good ? cannot
count the patrotifm of gentlemen at rate 10
low, as TO believe that they would enter with
iuch 10th and reluctance into the difcufFou of
| any meafure, the adoption of which would, in
| their Judgment, promote the public good. This
circnmtance gives to my mind an irreliRible
evidence that gentlemen either doubt the truth
ofthe ientiments haed in the refotution. or
that they apprehend an improperly in ADOPT
| ing 1t, for fome other reafon. IF they Doubt
the truth of the refolution, they certainly ought
not TO vote fori and what other improprietv
in its adoption is there 70 palpabIe az that il
| goesto ceniure men, who, with zeal & indie
Pendence that Mould always attend every faith.
| ful representative of the people, oppofed thofe
meafures which their judgment could not ap.
prove
But gentlemen FAY, they aa under necefIity
which IS. foreed upon them-'he refo!ution 10
ient up, and we NUT vote. I, fr, acknopv-
ledge the authority Of no fuch forcc-I reGa IL.
will not ling prafes when my heart and nv
10 'gue are not attuned to the fubieG. In the
language Of truth, fuch as is uled in the proppf.
ed fubltitute, / will declare that am not in
formed as to the particular meafures referred 10.
and wait deciion until better information il
obtained. Have not gentlemen who fupport
this refolution been called on for this informa-
ton What is their reply? Does it afford
the information fought Not by any means.
But they fay, qVe baze n VirfEoW PreEdent and
a eOJif GSmiaiRratio1 in WHOM they have con
hdence, aad being put under the uecefiitY of
voting, they will rapport the naturalization.