Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-10-04
!12 1-2 Gents 81 .eie.1

yrited States, settler in. 4 new country. a
confidential and intimate nient of Mr. BUR-.
engaged his two sons for an mohibinus cxpe-
dltlon OF settlement or war. without putting q
single question tn ascertain how these ,cI,,i.s
OF contrariety should be recon .iied together:
without one single enquiry, which could had
to colorado pretence ofTight, for the warli-e
part OF the plan--preparations for war Lew
ing OF troops Was Senator of the u States
to wait for the Presidents reclamation to learn
the uniawtulness, or the danger ofthe liberties
or this country, of such enterprises, undertaken
without public authority! Was he We, to learn
thst the power OF making war, and of raising
soldiers, has been deemed by the people of This
nation, ofsuch magnitude aud danger hat they,
would not entrust them to the Executive au.bo-
rity but have expressly and cauti ouslv reser-
we'd them exclusively to the representatives Of
the nation assembled in Congress And until
the declaration of war, by Congress, he surely
Knew that every preparation of expeditions to
invade the territories OF ncighboring sovc-
reign, was even in the ircip;ent stare of Begin
ninS and setting on foot, in direct violation of
the laws of the lana The pre,ence chat it was
% be pursued only in case war should take
place, did not make it at all more lawful but
made 1t, 1t any thing, more dangerous Sup
pose, sir, that war had been deciared-was IL
Tor Aaron Burr to say, who should head the
-orPs OF volunteers, or who shoild be th~ frst
tanning the opinion that 10, and then did OF
Mr.. Burr, should have cons lcred it rs on4
~ IN greatest mist 'rttines which coaid have
n-ialien the u STATS, even if they we're at
war, 10 have had such a man as him al In head
IL Their arm'es-nor can consider II but IS
hshY unbecoming in = member Of tie N.;ion.
Al Legislature 70 have given him countenance
IN TINS project Ut forcing himself upon the gov
c'n'h"at OF ne WIoa, as The general OF an army
iDr the INVASION Of Mexico. Il was e.ncouraoc.
ing and aiding violation of the constitution m
IT'S vital principles Ii was setting an e xampIe
NOR to be dreaded by tue people Of this union
thar The n3,. formidable foreign war and Of
ala tins M ni-n himself is the ,f.accus,nsr
witness. Al. The other witnes ,es are btt ~,
coaii' nation and aggravation IF these decisive
acts. ne OF them indicat. circums ances
~ very strong suspicious, that Mr.. Smiths par
uci pat on was much earlier and much dceper.
} leFi strIAinSy demonstrate that he was act
ing under Consciousness of unlawful engage
nents and all concur III producing upon NV
'n'n,, the coaHiction that this resolution ourht
10 pass.
Mr. President, have discharged painfn,
'ohgation. No discussion has ever devolved
pom M, as a member OF this body, in winch I
ave taken part with more relLctance. thai in
'h'S-Cntil these transactions occurred, there
vas perhaps no, another mem 5er oftde Sen.
ate IN ~nDse integrity l more confded; and
'"' ~ ui.S, mere IS none whom l should more
| readily take by he hand as a friend and a bro
her trust, sir, that feel a; ought, for Ii
personal SITUATION, on tIis occasi IN as well as
| Tor the interests and the feelings CT his family
/ am seas ole, and have never lost sight Of what
! Is que from ne % BIN as members of this as
'emoly. But acre IS also a d t. 10 The charac-
ter an! reputation Of this body-a ,iutv to the
state, whose representation on tiis floor has
been "a Part entrusted 20 him and duty TO
the whole nation, whose public servants we
axe In thu discharge of these duties, have
| ieit myself compelled to submit these o5serva-
clud.. wa
2T CHESS Speech seiH be commenced in our next