Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-20

wrong that we should unfurl the republican
banners against the imperial standard, and
much more such language. What humilia-
ton do we find here! The mind Of every
member of the American community should
sicken at the recital. What terms of ac-
commodation would this course have pros
duced? Twill not condescend to conjecture
them.
But now, sir, Of the particular course re-.
commended by the mover OF this resolution
(Nlr. Randolph What was his policy =
At one particular period he recommended
giving aid to the Spanish patriots against
Bonaparte, and fighting Great Britain by
taking the Canadas. But when the gentle
man matured his system and reduced it to
writing, he was for arming the merchant
vessels. This was war with our hands tied,
the most Intellectual war. Will any gentle
man deny that this would have produced
war of the most disastrous kind if G.. Brl-
tain had not yielded? And still that gentle
man claims part of the credit in keeping this
nation out OF war. The republicans did not
want war, they preferred the embargo. But
they preferred war to submission, when
they discovered that the embargo could not
be continued, owing to the clamor and IN
famous conduct of those who violated 1t.
! shall always think war blessing compar-
ed with submission to be taxed by a foreign
government. 1t was that manly stand, 1t
was that warlike attitude which produced
the happy result which all are willing to APP.
probate. When the British ministry sent
their acceptance to our propositions, did
they know of the partial repeal? They did
not. They had before them the report OF the
committee, which declared that we would
not submit to foreign outrage. They had
before them the proposition from the secre-
tary of war for raising $4,000 volunteers.
They had before them the speeches made
upon the extra meeting OF Congress, which
declared our objects to be justice or war.
have not only voted my own sentiments
but the sentiments of my native state upon
the measures which have produced so much
good to this nation. But these measures
have been pronounced bymany in this house
as ruinous and destructive, and by those too
who are now anxious to appreciate the result
of those measures.
Sir, am happy to find this day OF re-
formation, wish to see it continue. w hen
| voted to make an appropriation 1or Tue
purchase of supplies after the attack on tue
Chesapeake I was wrong; when voted Tor
the embargo was wrong; when voted
tor 5000 regulars to defend Orleans and our
frontier, settlements against hostile saVases'
and when British armed vessels hoyefed on
our coasts in hostile array, [ was wrong;
when | voted to give power to the Presi-
dent to suspend the embargo, II Great nfl-
tain would rescind her orders III council,
was wrong. The first session ended and
second commenced, and the same Wora
continually assailed my ear. When voted
to enforce the embargo | Twas wrong !; when
Iyoted for letters of marque and reprlsal, -
was wrong; and what was most extraordl-
nary with those who denounced these mea-
sures, every measure was the very worst
measure. And now, sir, we are rejoicing
in the happy change produced by these We
ry measures, and rejoicing too, when we
had reason to expect, from the predictions
of gentlemen, that before this period ano-
therYolney might have seated himself upon
the ruins Of this splendid building, and
mourned the downfall Of the Great Repub-
lie We were told in the same stile that
the republican administration had departed
from wing principles; but no time could be
agreed upon by gentlemen on which this de
parture from good principles took place.
Some gentlemen declared that republicans
quit the true faith in 1866, others that 1t
was 1so7-S. But the greatest number dat
ed this departure from the time Mr.. Jeffer-
son was indicted into Office. have reflect
ed on this subject, and this is my conclu-
rTsI.2 AZ, \ l,o,.