The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-31
Gonnreae..
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, Jan. l6.

| FRIDAY, Jan. 10.
DEBATE on Mr.. =. Randolpb's motion, re
quefing Information from the Exeeutiue
touching any illegal combinations aga;aR tb
peace and Eytety Of the Union.
(ConeL.dedJ
Mr.. SMILE. The gentleman from Virrini;
AXIS If ever cohiented to call on the Preliden,
Tor Information. have. But never have
called upon him for information during pend.
ing negotiation. With regard to what faid
or the executive, fay it again, and believe
thoie who know me, will not doubt that
have as much independence as the gentleman
from Virginia.
Mr.. ]. RANDOLPH explained. He did
NOT, he iad, queftion the independence of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania. He only quef-
toned the correctness of the principles which
he principles on which he hoped
he would never aet--principes which would
lead to practical dependence which he hoped
the gentleman would ahjure.
Mr.. SMILE. do not know what princi-
pie the gentleman alludes to. will fate what
iaid before. If we adopt this refoluton we
betray want of confidence in the executive
magiitrate. fay 70 again. 1t belongs to us
to provide the means, and to the exec ,ive to
apply them. 1t is his duty TO ak for means
when he coniiders them necefIary. I fay, when
the neceiiary forces are prepared, or about to
be prepared, fuch requilition betrays an i'm
proper jealoufy, want of confidence in his
Judgment or integrity. IF the object of the
gentleman be to declare war, agree that call
Tor papers may be proper. But this object is
not avowed
agree with the gentleman from Virginia in
the opinion he has exprefled of Handing armies,
and it is becauie hold this opinion that ne
frr ,if oh
For my part / am not difpofed TO the knight
errantry ofcontending with Bonaparte neither
nave any fear of French or Britiih invafiou.
apPrehsud no fuch deigns, and with regard
10 this conipIracy, think we have the means of
cruihlng 1t within Our reach, without referring
to an army. To me it is ftrange that we be-
hold 70 much zeal in the eait, when the weftern
ftateS are 70 little alarmed. My obie6t is to
avoid war as long as l can confidently with
honor. Iconiider it as among the lait Of evils,
and Inever will refcrt to it but in cafe of ne
ceiiity. 1.-THE gentleman is correct in the por-
trait he has drawn, will not fay that it would
be altogether incorrect to make ufe of the means
ne has propoled, but entertain totally diff
ierent opinion of the Gate of he country.
Mr.. EPPES. fhall vote againft the poft-
poneuent, as involving the principle contained
In the refoution. fhal vote for the refoution.
hecanie believe the information it calls for i'm
portant to the Houie and the country; and be-
cauie / think its terms fuch as OUGHT to pre-
clude every pollible objection to it. IF the gen
tleman from Virginia had confined his oblepya
tons to the refolution, ihould not have OPEN
ed my mouth. But when the vote gave la(t
year is quefioned here or elfewhere, / conlider
myielf bound to jultify it in the face of Cod
and the nation.
Whether we fial retrace the ground Of the
laft felton, do not know. For one, however,
am aganft rafting an army, and call on gem
tiemen to thew its necefiity in the prefent pof
ture OF our affairs What circumstances have
arIien to make an army more necenary now
than then! Then the armies Of the u. s. and
OF Spain were arrayed againa each other OF the
Sabine, and there was an enterprife agaist the
Spanifh pofiehious. What is now the fituation
of the U. S. as to its force on the Sabine II
Is iufbcent. There has been no time when we
mad not man for man with the Spanards. An
agreement is made and our troops are with
drawn. But we are told that Orleans is to he
attacked, that the fsfety of the country is en-
dangered, that the very union is nj fake
Where is this danger? Do gentlemen expe6f.
as in days ofold, an army to be raifed from the
ground! is not B'ennarhai1et with his mifera.
bic party OF so men, checked in every quar-
ter For my part, do not know the exifence
of danger and, although ffall vote for the re-
iolution, believe that the preient force of the
U. S. is efficient to fuppreis the confpiracy and
to meet the Spaniih forces. The orly reafon
that the conipiracY is not already fuppreGed,
is that the laws do not provide for cafes IeCs
than treafon. But we have jut palIed law for
this Purpoie. AT prefent, ] ak gentlemen to
point out any authority by which a fineie boat
can be ielzed, unlels under the fate laws.
AS to the lituaion of the wehern country
feel no alarm. do not believe the fair fame of
itate oughtto be impeached by the rnifcon.
duct of few unprincipIcd men. We NAV
weep the whole bench without endangering
the fate. The conduct of the fate of Ohio
has been eulog(ed 10y the gentleman himfeIf.
And what is the conduct of the territories In
Orleans they are prepared to meet the confpi-
rators. The merchants have periodically ONE
forward with tender of their fervices. For
my own part, / do not fee in this cafe any in
dicationS of danger, but l am notwithstanding
in favor of adopting the refolution, as the
means OF giving us information, which, be-
lieve, will be valuable to the Houfe and the
country.
The quenion was then taken on ponponinp
the further confederation of the refoIution till
Monday, and loft ayes SO.
MIR. ]. RANDOLPH. Before the auction
IS taken, will obierve, tho it may feem ftranee.
that this is not Propofition to raife BANDING
army, or to declare war. Nor do / fee how
the opinions of gentlemen on thele points are
implicated. For my part, have the fame