Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-18
House or REPRESENTATIVES.
FafDAy, December 80.
DEBATE
On ase Resolution far raising Fifty 3ho'-
sand Voh1nteefs.
[coNTINuED.]
FarDAy, December so.
[coNTINvED.

Mr.. EPPES said there was no man VINO
regrestedamore than himself that at PERIOD
when the safety, henor and independence O
this country were assaulted by external dan
ger; when, under the pressure OF laes-
sure resorted to under circumstances Oh tne
naost urgent necessity, the citizens OF this
country had manifested feeling calculated
to excite sensations here and eiseWhere-
that such period should be seized BY gen
tlemen not to exert their talents II steering
the national bark through the bi..o'as by
which il was surrounded, but III endeayor-
ing to thwart every measure proposed. ne
!, gentleman from II. York (sald Mr. - has
fold rs that he will sound the tocsha q a.
larln to the people. And what IS the p.o-
Jet Of the gentleman himself Why, ''e
has told YOU on a former day, openly GO
nestlv and fairly, that he IS Tor war W.T.
France he is wiling to poc'et ali the inj]a-
riss which we have received fron q. bTi-
tain, and to SO to war with France. In van 'ai'
would the gentleman sound the tocs!n oi a,
larn1, if this is his project. Tie people o.
the T.. S. would no: SO with him. It's not
the sentiment Of any portion OF cur olJizens,
except of the old torres of cur revolution.
He would not be followed by the American
people in taking to his bosom nation Which
has murdered your citizens, anu making
war upon a nation which has pi!laged your
commerce. cannot reconcile the project
, with nv ideas Of moral principle. He would
not be followed by the {ederalists-l Cannot
believe that those who walked IN procession
after the BODY OF the murdered Pierce, could
stamp on themselves the character ct base
hypocrisy, By taxing to their bosom the M
ton which committed the outrage, while the
blood of Pierce ansl host OF other injuris
more degrading, remain yet unatoncd tor.
All our injuries remain unredressed; not
the smallest apology has been made, bat the
feelings OF the countr}, cot only disre garded
but is,sulted BY new acts Of violence aad in
Justice. The gentleman's project to save
the honor Of the nation is submission to
England ana war with France. pro-
noeace with confidence it is not the senti-
ment Of the American people; the gentle
man from N. York has taken occasion to
introduce the name OK Washington. He
never would have been wiling to put chains
on his countrymen, to consent to z shackled
commerce--,o allow foreign nations TO say
to his country, this far you shall go and no
farther. This is not the spirit of Washing
ton. Ills not the spirit which prodaced the
revolution; opposition to tyrants and a man
ly assertion Of our rights at every hazard,
gave us our rank as an independent nation.
The same spirit still pervades our country,
and | trust will ever remain. It never,
however, has been tac policy Of this 60
vernment to rush rashiy into war. The
history of our country under former sdmi-
nistrations, demonstrates this fact anli an
der the administration of Washington, as
well DIS under every other, we have borne
with patience degrading insult and injury.
As to the great regard Of former admins
tra.ions for the personal rights of the citi-
zen, on Which the gentleman has dwelt, /
shall not SO into that part Of the subject
In laying an embargo, even in the time Of
Washington, short resolution was passed
in which the power was vested and the exc
cution left to the executive. This was t.lo't
at that time very constitutional and proper,
no doubt, by the fcderalists. We, howe
yer, can frame no constitutional law on this
subject, although they could very constitu-
tionalIy adopt the old maxim, so | will it,
and enforce their system. While, howe
yer, am not disposed to excite unpleasant
sensations, by bringing into view acts of
former administrations, I believe that a
statement OF the course pursued under gen.
Washington and Mr.. Adams, as to foreign
nations, will shew that it has never been our
policy to plunge rash!y into war. I beg
leave to read on this subject an extract from
speech delivered in 1908.