The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-05
PROM THE NATIONAL rNrELL1cENcrR.

Speech Of Mr.. Ehtes deHpered on Friday
last IN ne House Of Representatives.
Mr. Ehhes said there was no ma. who
regretted more than himself that At peri
cd when the safety, honor, and indepen-
dence of this country were assailed by ex-
tein;.l danger; when under the pressure
OF measure resorted to under circum-
YtanCes of The most urgent necessity, the
,tizens OF this country had manifested n
cling calculated to excite sensations here
md ,sewhere--that such a period should
DC srized h--e en,lrmSn, not to exert their
taitnts IN steering the national bari through
the biIiovs by which it WAS surrounded,
but In eEdeavoring to thwart every mea-
re proposed. The gentleman from n.
York (said Mr.. f has told us that he will
sound the. tocsin of alarm to the people. And
VIII ( IS the project OF the gentleman HIM
seit' Why, he has told you on former
daf. openly, honesty and fairly that he is
fora war with France; he is willing to poe
kes all the juries which We have rccei, ed
from Great Britain, and togo to war with
France. In vain would the gentleman sound
t1etocsin o. alarm, if thisis hisproiect. The
people of the United States would not so
W IN him. tits not the sentiment Of any portion
ot our citizens except ofthc old tories of our
revolution. He would not be followed by the
American people in taking to his bosom a
nation which has murdered Your citizens, &
making war upon nation which has pi'-
tagged your commerce. i Cannot reconcile
the project. with my ideas of moral prine;-
PIE. He woRld not be followed by the fe
deraiisrs. cannot beiieve tina, those who
walked in procession after the bod, of the
murdered Pierce, -coud stamp on them
selves the character OF base ny pocricy, by
taking to iheir bosom the nation which com
united the outrage, while the blooa OF
Fierce and host of other injuries more de
grading remain vet una oneG for All our
injuries remain unredressed : not the small
lesl apology has been made. bun the feelings
o. the country net Only disregarded, but in
suited by new acts Of violence ana injustice
Inc gentleman project 10 save the il,unur of
tie nation is submission 20 England & war
with France. lpronounCewIth confidence II
is not the sentiment Of the American people.
The gentleman from n York has taken oc-
ca>ion tointroduce the name of Washington
he sentiments which that gentleman has
expressed were never those of Washington
Tie never would have been wiling 10 put
ohGlns on his countrynen, to Consent to a
shaCk!ed commerce to allow foreign na
ITEMS to say TO bis country, this far you shall
g. and no farther. This is not the spiri, OF
w ashington. 1t is not the spirit which
produced our revoiutidn-opposition to ty-
rants and a manly assertion of our rights at
every hazard gave us our rank as an indie
PEI dent nation The same spirit still per.
vades cur country, and l trust will ever re-
nJlin 1t never, however, has been the po-
hey OF this government to rush Tashly into
war. The history of our country under for-
mer ADMINISTRATIONS demonstrates this fact,
& under The administration of Washington a.
well asunder every ether, we have borne
with patience Degrading insult and injury.
AS to the great regard of former adninistra-
tons for the personal rights OF the citizen,
on which the gentleman has dweit, j shall
not so into that part of the subject. In lay
lilg an embargo, even in the time of Wash |
ing on, Short resolution was passed IN
which the power as vested and the execu-
tion left to the Executive. This was thought
at that time very constitutional and proper
n doubt, by. the fedcralsts. We however
can frame no constitutional law on this sub
Ject, although they could very constituti,i-
ally adopt the old maxim. SO / will it, and
enforce their system. While, however, |
am not disposed to excite unpleasant sensa |
items, by bringing into view acts OF forNcr
believe that statement
OF The course pursued under Gen. Washing |
ton and Mr.. Adams, as TO foreign nations, !
will shew that it never has been our policy !
20 plunge rashly into war. beg leave t.
read on this subject an extract from speech |
delivered in 1903
=" Our differences with Great Bri- |
tain we're cocvai with the trea'y of peace.
I he detention of the western posts was a
direct violation OF that treaty it diverted a |
considerable portion Of the fur trade from |
the United States, and disabled us from brid- |
ling the hostile Indians, which was a source |
ot immense injury. This evil Continued for
twelve years, under every circumstance of |
aggravation and insult British soldiers is
sued from those forts into parts of our ter
ritory, where re exercised jurisdiction, &
seized the persons of dcserters without the |
aid or sanction of the authorities Of the coun- |
try. and these possessions served as asylums /
for the savagcs who were in hostile array a
gainst us---aud as store-houses and maya |
zines to supply them with arms, ammuni- |
ion, and provisions. 1'he scat or govern
mcnt of-upper Canada was also held for n |
time at Niagara, in the state of N YORK, |
I'm indignity Of the most MAJ ked character |
many thousands Of negroes we're also car
RED off in violation Of The treaty, and very |
serious injury was thereby Inflicted on the |
agricultural pursuits of our southern citi-
zeHs."
4" lis well known that we were engaged
~ bloody and expensive war with several
1f the Indian tribys-that two of our armies
BAD been routed by them a.d that VIC were
finally compelled to make great efforts to
urn the tide OF victory These Indians were !