The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-24
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE or REpRG8EA1nx1yEs,

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,
DEBATE on raising tic Embcrso,ana author
f@i7s- Letters II jaerque end Refrisai-
Continued.
fKIDAI, Jan. 20.
Mr. Dana said, he ros~ at this time pin
cipaliy 20 protest in the name OF the people
OF the state Of Connection. against the sup
position that it could be necessary fer them,
Tor Armament to vinoicate their charactcra A.
gainst any insinuati0n Of the editor Of a news
paper, printed az the seat of PC, ernr1ent,
however the editor might suppose it 10 be
gratifying 20 those whom he wished 10 please.
When gentlemen talk of New England (said
VIZ. Dana) and OF 2necticut, as Comprised
III 1t, i would observe one thing that the
people OF Connecticut rave con6Jcd the ma
nasement of their affairs here. To their re-
representatives. in Congress; that thef are not
IN the habi: OF petiioning this house. If
they wish laws repealed, they do not address
memorials 20 you on this Subject; but ii vCu
believe, because they do not, tina tl.ey ap-
prove the laws, you are totally ignorant of
tie country. Whatever may be imagined a.
oout that states being managed in a peculiar
way, you Know but very little about that
peop.c, ifyou imagine that they are not ac-
N"'.N~G - , S(hNiA'iNtltS VI ilptIAN, II NCu INA
Elne that the sentiment of liberty is not Que
of the most incxtingu:shabie, on that their
attachment TO republican principles is NOT OF
the strongest cast. Their love of liberty is
characterized b. Il high and sacred regard 10
order. The liberty which they wish is a rati-
onat liberty. one in which wisdom and ius-
tee reign supreme. which secures to every
man his right and protects every man against
aggression. As 10 the idea of a rebellion in
the northern portion of the union. | say that no
such thing exists. Ihave heardit spoken of
as II there did. tisstrange tlat gentlemen
can hesitatc one moment f, they believe that
rebellion exists. If it does. let mo- one d..
pass over before you array your batalions
and order them forward. IL you Will not DO
this, you are bound noe to consider any agi-
tttion as rebellion. II il he rebellion Won do
not do Your duty, il you do mot suppress it.
You arc compelled 10 decide whether you
will ~denominatc it rebellion or d.ssatisfacti-
on. iii be rebellion, crush it. If It be on
ly an expression of dissatisfaction AZ vonr
measured, respect it. Gentlemen speak ve-
tiy freely ot that country they cannot touch
il too lightly, especially when they speak of
the bayonet as applied TO Il.
Sir, Gentlemen mnst beware how they
tonch on ihis topic, especially when 1t is
viewed as arraying one great portion of the
~ to"h'HN ''N'C especially Wl1l YOU
load with terms of opprobri,n,. a large Dor-
ton OF the union, when il is represented AS
being the hot bed of faction, as the nursery
OF tpryism, as the residence OF "Britjsh a
gents and persons corrupted with British
gold" When gentlemen talk ON this sub
Jcct, let them r~ccollect one thing. The in
habitants Of that part IF the country are not
ignorant of their own strength and no
threat of vengeance viii make them obey
Won iN- n >t-,n T. =; % r,z.f r-
that only which controls them. OF one thing
sir, gentlemen cannot be ignorant, neither
are we. The physical strength Of the DIFF
Isrcnt portions oF tie union. is not according
T. the ratio OF representation on the floor Of
this House. When therefore. gentlemen.
talk OF engaging the authority OF the gov.
eminent, let them appeal 70 sentiments
more worthy, more honorable; when we
tax OF our acts, let ". .-c.liecr rhar .now-
e' superior :" ourselves has set limi,s 10
our authority, and SAID, that ''tlus far shall
You So and no farther" M. Eppcs asked
10 whom the gentleman particularly refer
red in the observations which he uiade.7-
MIR. Dana said, ne did not recolIcct partjcu.
larry but he was remarking or the generaf
current observations, which had been made
IN the House for two OF three months past
lie could only say, tliat though he felt the
observations at the tine, he had NO narti-
cularly notedby whom they were MADE, and
they had left only q general impression -.
And there IS ore ether thing (said he) which
! have felt very strongly--tbe habit or tx
ample q! denOunc;ng, o. covering with terms
OF opProbrinm a portion of the people OF the
United States, who may not approve all the
measures Of the government. ] have felt
these things, because they are grossly mis-
Construed as an encouragement To that fe-
~rocious yell o. deTunciatiCn. 10 that savage
w9r-wEooP &c Vengeance which is exci'ed
out ~ tr.S I.ouae IN certain portions IT tic
union. y IS Of the utngs. 7cmcrt that that
spirit should be rerrcsssd IN various parts
OF the countrt. ii ~ the moment OF peril
instead ii a~rrafi3g Oh ihig floor the petty
passions Of party we we're to combine to
suppress il, we should more consult tbeinte-
rc5t Of oHr country.
4 committee appointca to consider ou,.
forc'sn relations, has presented US three al
pafiVes-Srbmission-embargO or Il war
With =. Britain & wi'h France. Thcy CON
cc1Vc 1t Go be necessary 70 take one of ,L;.ee.
For myself, sir, 1 usciare that I do not wish
8" AXE eithcr. rs to war with Great Bri.
tain snd Frauce. should wish to dele,
that tIl / could understand how il was to .,.
made. As 10 plisgoing to war with two l.,-
lions at war w:th each other, 7 should like
IRIS; TO make .tme enquiry OH tie sub,ecs.
wish 20 know Ii any gentleman OF military
talents has drawn up any sy stem Of fighting