Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-27


raising few regiments, there would not
have been one OF them BY this time on the
Mississippi. We might have got, rs here
tofore, regiment of officers, but there
would have been no regiments of men. .,
We have been further told of the policy
of taking manly attitude against Spain.
We had resolution offered to us, which
IN my opinion amounted to declaration
OF war-not merely for defending the coun-
try on the frontier, but for earring on war
against Spain. What was the situation of
the country when this resolution WAS sub
mitted; Defenceless Indccd-We might
have acted here, but Spain would have
acted there. If the persons alluded to by
the gentleman from Virginia are now in a
combination with Spain, might they not have
also been in combination then, and had
we assumed hostile attitude might they
mot have acted with more effect than they
Jean now There is not 4 doubt in my
mind, that rs soon rs it is proper, informs-
ton Will be laid before US without calling
for it. If such. resolution be carried 10
the President he will deem himself bound
to communicate the whole information in
whatever terms it may be couched 4 have
no apprehension and feel no dread of any
torce that can he brought against us in the
| Western country. Our force there will be
able to cope with any chat shall be embodi-
| ed against the u. S. and the moment the
man at their head shall declare himself hos
tile to the union, the very forces which he
has raised will turn their bayonets against
thim; they will desert him. If this is all
| the ground that can be assigned, think it
hest not to carry this resolution immedia te-
lily 10 the President In a few DAYS we shall
probably receive another western mail, and
II the information then received shall not
De satisfactory, or serious danger appears
10 exist, we may call for that information
which is not now necessary.
Mr.. ]. CLAY said this was the first
time that he had ever heard it stated that
newspaper information was proper for
Legislative action For this reason we are
II wait, it seems, until we get two or three
more newspapers from the western cOun-
try. He would ask if there everwcre ideas
90 strange submitted to a legislative body !?
He said, he knew that it was very fashi-
enable for the ma ority to express a full
confidence in the executive magistrate
but he would ask whether this was a cor
rect doctrine? The constitution vested
the important power of declaring war in the
two branches of the legislature When.
therefore, the peace and safety OF the coun-
fury were placed in the hands of the
two Houses, did it contemplate that in the
exercise of these powers they should de
pend on Newspaper information The gen
tleman says, if he had passed law for raj
SIG additional troops at the last session, We
should not have got the troops by this time
Mr. c. said this was the first time he had G.
verheard delay assigned as sufficient rea-
son for emitting to doany thing. The gentle
man says we have every reason 70 believe
that Spain cntertains no hostile intentions
a,.flc \. Il, s..
: source Conformation, the newspapers, and
+ we have every reason to believe, that from
the year 1888, that government has been
in conspiracy against the peace and uni
= ty of the u. s. We know with wha. de-
termination the minister of Spain, in 1888,
endeavored TO make cur ministers accede
TO more limited boundary of the u. S.
than that established by treaty. Spain has
never lost sight of this object, and some
times by fair and sometimes by foul means
has continued to pursue it.
}. What is the object of this resolution
, We find that great alarm exists, partcu-
: larly on the Atlantic board. We find gen
tlemen from the westward either ignorant
= or pretending to be ignorant ofthc existence
of any thing alarming. Under these cir
, Cumstances the House are without official
] information. We are told that because we
= nave NOlllNtllIN III lilC NNtCuLlNCs we OuEiil
. to rely on his giving us information as soon
= as it is proper. Mr.. G. said ne would sub.
NIT whether this comported with the dig.
nifty of representative, and whether II
D was proper for him to depend OH newspa.
D per information.
e Mr.. Aston said that all he had observed
o in relation to newspaper information was in
: ireply to what had been said On this point by
Y Igentlemen on the other side.
Mr.. CLAY resumed his remarks but
! after uttering few words, declared him.
. self too unwell to proceed, and sat down
d From the severe cold with which he
= was apparently oppressed, we with great
C difficulty collected his remarks, which ar,
u probably but imperfectlv givenl
T. Mn. BURWELL said, on attending Il
u the resolution, he thought it one that was
s highly eXpedient to be adopted at this time
= He viewed it as a cali upon the executive
G for true and precise information Of acts aut
n measures on which the peace Of the union
!. perhaps, depended II was perfectly i'm.
u material 70 him whether Spain, England
e or France should be implicated in the in.
10 formation given whether the whole or
e part Of these nat. ons were combined in tho
y project ii was sufficient for him that tht
! peace If the country was threatened, thai
e TIC minds of our citizens were alarmed, anC
? that this was the only branch of the 90
IT vCTnmeut competent 20 preserve the peace