Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-15

~ w ~ 'NN.P'OSh SooS.
Bat,4sir, notwithstanding the Presi.
dent is iny=,ted with the power ssto
receive anbasV ado-s and other public
minister's" and as l think all other
Incl fent.a or consequential powers ap-
plicable to th- various agencies with
| such amb issaIors and other public mi
nisters; yet Congress is invested with
the power without limitation or quail
| hcation "to declare war" Now, slr,
It mast be obvious to every understand
ing, that these several powers are so
Intimately connecte aad may be SO
defendant upon each other that thc
exercise OF the power conceded Il tn
/ Presiden', NAV cousequentiatly iavolvc
| the necessity of the ex:rcise oF the
| power conceded 20 Cong-es As in tn
case now under consideration the re
fusal Of the Executive to receive any
further CON nulications from his Bri-
tannic Maicsty's minister, Mr.. lax
son, may ons-quenrially involve Us in
n war with Great Britain; or N other
words may serve as prelext TO Grsae
Britain to nuke war upon us, If she
should ceace .Ve.i * her int>res II do
so, which think not veryi ncrob sale.
Hence arises in my Judgment, the
proprety an urgency of an eXp.'cssi-
on If the Congressional opinion upon
this Ex, cutiv. act, aai declaration
of the CON 5ressional viii as to tae
course of cooduct Congress will plr-
sac aad-r ans Consequences which may
cow from, or possibly be attributed to
tnls Executive ac'.
conceiv sir, that the expr -ssioa,
Of his o2Elioa, and the pie lg= Of
solemn declaration, BY Congress, are
due to the people; because the people
have the de pest interest in the cha
racter Of their government; AMI in 20
part Of is attribI.es, have deepe,
interest, than in It's efficacy to resist
and rePel injuries aad insults from TO-
reign govern ncnts; the people also
are either the n,eIiate o. Immediate
electors oF Congress, and as such have
a right 20 expect aad demand, tn It
C0ngtess Will exc ute all their duties
and viii never shrink fro their con
stitrional r-sppnsiaitity in any case;
and Last OF al, in case OF 50 high and
solemn character, As the one under
considerI ION.
This course ofconluct is essentially
due To the E Executive. rha President
on hit to know whether, with the in
lispensible CO operation Of Congress,
ne otsnt to proceed with dignided
moderation and intelligence to assert
and maintain tn: riGhes, the honor and
the Interests OF the 4 nerican people,
or whether for the want If that coo.
pera.ion, he Shall with shame and
confusion OF face b. Compelled to re-
trace MS steps, AID lelvc To Congress
to abandon thes high attributes OF the
| marion, a I'd wigh their degradation, to
record thir country rain an disgrace.
No, sir, It IS notpos,i3ic that an A
mericau Congress does -xis., or can
ever exis chat would not spnrn fso n
themselves every vtstige OF an idea,
that they could DC brou.h. under any
circuns ances to perform So degrading
and djshonorable a rask
lis imperiously demanded by the
digoity and cindor Of Congress itself.
What, sir shall III exercise O. one of
the highest constitutional functions of
Congress BE- brought into que lion, aad
every Individual in the na,ion engaged
in expressing an opinion on it and
shall Congress alone sand aloof for
fear of iucurriog a responsibility i'm.
posed on them by tn. constitution?
Saail Congress stand by as idle spec.
tAtOrs, an1 sec a contest before the
peopla beiw en- the President and
foreign niniste~, and fecl no INT rest
aud take no share in sdch an unprsce-
dentcd seen especially when one of
their high-st constitutional functions
may be affected by it, No, sir! Con-
gress must speak &C ongrsss must act
Congress never can shri1k from its
constitutional responsibility--it is due
TO the dignity is demanded from
the candor Of Congress.
Above all, sir, il is important to the
United States rs milton, that the
Congressional viii, should b. proclaim
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