The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-10

icipfochtion of bciiettS, WHICH IS the cement
of allegiance.-But, sir, when the power OF
the government is eXertei merely TO check
the ordinary industry of the c~uniinunirys
when the people feel the power of their SO
vernmcnt IN being blockaded III port 10y it,
instead Of being protected against biockad.
by an enemy, what must be their ieeiing
Patriotism is too precious "A iceiingto make
many experiments upon it-kctiIy, biz, !
should not wish to know, III relation TO ma
nv OF nv fellew- citizens. what would be the
extreme point TO which their patriotism
could be stretched: There appears To be
reason to apprehend, t,.a; the reinS. OF go
vernmenr are already failing in the hands of
government. / should therefore wish my
countrymeh to be no longer expnsed to be-
ing alineated from their government, and
that tire government should NOT be piacedi il.
a situation to have its acts set ut dciiancV.
Mr.. ] rom observed, that he C. u,d not
see the pruprietyl or eXFedicncy OF fixing ON
a day beyond he adjournment OF tae present
Congress, Oh which this Change of mcasures
should take place. What would be the ef
feet of its Ii could be considered in no other
point OF view than a. 4 declaration "a war,
to be binding OH the ncXt Congress. The
mere declaration could - be considered as
adding coercion to Our measures for what
ever honor foreign nations might possess (and
he believed they possessed little indeed of
that) they certainly did possess courage, and
were not tn be Frightened into an aCcommo
dation with us by such a threat. Bat the
measure was not obligatory and binding On
the next congress-, even admitting that il
should be composed Of the Identical iidivi-
duals who compose the present congress
here was no authority in the constitution
BY which we could bind them, unless indeed
this declaration iavolved a matter of contract
IA MI To Ia. c,,,a HD ,,.t .-,,.t 49,
sidered IN SOME sort a matter of Contract; q
political contract of a singular quality a
Contract between this great government and
an unruly faction in New England, which
threatened opposition TO the laws, aud was
breasing ont into rebellion. Yes, sir, said
Fir. ltoup, you Gene out with Il solemn
measure, and tell them if thew will fSrbear
TO rebel till the first dav of June next. yoA
VIII agree to issue letters of marque. 1t is
an invasion even of the powers OF the next
congress. surprising it 70 be composed of the
same mes us constitute the present congress,
70 bind them 20 declare war, not under the
Circumstances then existing, but under those
tiiat existed at the time you were pleased To
enter into this declaration. But not enlv will
TINS measure not be obligatory, but il is ve-
ny possible, that the mex Congress may be
as different in its composition from the pre-
sent as the present congress- is from the
iunto Of Spain, or the British parliament. In
every point of view therefore, Mr.. Troup
SAID, he conceived it a futile proposition
Mr. Minor was opposed to pcstponins
the repeal of the embargo till the first day OF
June; for which he assigned the same rca-
sons which he gave before for proposing tie
4th day of March. If it was so extremely
oppressive as to excite discontent and re-
~ociIion, its extremely unfavorable effects to
ourselves would DC a sufficient reason for its
repeat. Mr. al. said, that although he would
nX a day Tor the repeal of the mbargo he
could not carry his %civiiity tothc beiligerents
SO lar as TO give them notice on what d ~
we would Commence war against them
Wers we insHch a situation that we could
INSTANTLY bid defiance to Great Britain -
when war Comes, said he, it will be prcDcr
10 consider whe'herit be polite, proper and
icccssary ! 1t it DC polite and the nation
cannot Continue out of it without a sacrifice
OF It's tionor, then let us have it, and not take
ii IN this manner, declaring TO the bellige-
rents, that 1t they do not come forward Oh a
certain day We will commence hostiiities A.
Salnst them. The next congress viii he beg
ter able to decide what will be proper ON
the first day of June than we can now do:
and II we are nos instantly to 80 to war, it will
be decorous, wise and right i'll us to let the
question rest ill the next Congress come
mere IN the end OF May, and leave Inc rcspon-
sibility 18th them.
Br. ID. r. H"Tliapt, said, if ever a
mans mind was embarrassed OH n topic on
which he had to lcgisiate, he confessed that
ms was. He saw a measure and d system
winch he thought susceptible of the clear
eAt delnonstrltion 10 DC more WGriihc than
war Itself, a system which preserved this
nation III peace and happiness, about to be
abandoned, and for the causes which had
been assigned When the late intelligence
had reached him from ;le north east, he said
it bad borne a character most distrcssfuI to
every nian whoNaIucd the integrity OF the GO
~Nefnment. 1t appeared TO him to be Of such
d character as MOI to leave d doubt rs TO
what course should be pursued. There
could he but two Courses. either TO extend
the strong arm of the government, or To a.
bandon the law. Under that impression
(said Mr.. W. chusing not to enforce the law
with The bayonet, i thought it proper to &C
knowledge to the House that | was ready to
abandon tho embargo. ] did talk about in
sirgcncy and rebellion too, sir and the Ie.
proof which | received from the gentleman
from hcniucky (Mr. Rowan was correct ;
%thattlie best way to drive people into reJcI-
lion is to accuse ,!eni of it Perhaps, sir. !
nave to apoiogise to ue gqntlemdn from Vir-
gina (Mr. NiClolas) FOR calling VIZ this sab-
Ject, when tho resolution WAS proposed by
him, az he was Dst disposcf to call il up