Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-23
co.. g r ES S.
HOUSE or REPRESENTA- YES.
DEBATE
O., raising. EmbDrso, and althor'sanss' LEI
tiers Of Mafque and Pepflsa1.
TcoNTINUED.]i

new experiment; that they had declined the
fayorite one, which was promised to be SO
very efectual, the efficiency OF which 1t had
at one time been considered stupid Tor any
man to doubt that they were about to lay
that by--and for once, he said, IT seemed
as IS he was likely to be in the majortsy.-
& He was happy to compliment the wisdom OF
the house on the. occasion. He was, how
ever. unfortunately one of those whose con
dence in the authors of experiments IN this
country had not been at allincreased by the
issue OF that experiment which had been
thirteen months in coming to in issue. lie
said he must therefore De permitted to doubt
of any proposed experiment. In respect to
the present proposition, sir, said he, feel
myself, as it were, walking in the dark
with blind guide, Therefore | must ex-
ercise the humble privilege of Judging for
rayself, Of endeavoring to feel out Tor my
self my own way, to the great conclusion.
/ have, however, made one rejection, OH
what have heard on this subjeCt-that on
This occasion we are. not overwhelmed with
. profusion of promises Of any good effect
10 be derived from the measure proposed.
1t appears to me, and | take it as happy
omen, that no gentleman has ventured to
say that war would obtain the Objects for
which alone war oughtto be waged. re-
collect, sir, that you were told, when the
EMBARGO was laid, that it would have the
best effect. There were many who bcliey
ed; majority of this house believed tt
And for myself, when looked at the sour
ces whence this encouragement, this pro-
phecv proceeded, was myself almost ir-
clined 10 doubt whether it would not work
well. But now no one appears to believe
that the proposed measure will bring Us to
anv issue whatever, to any termination OF
the lsisuesses of the country; and yet, be
cause it is spirited, brave and manly, we are
TO plunge the nation into war, and sacri-
fee III that the embargo has LETT us. No
one tells YOU that such a course would be
productive Of any advantage. cannot go
into measure, sir, from which even the
friends Of it do not hope any good. | do
not Nke fighting merely for the sake OF
fpht:ng, when there is no object IN view.
It's exhausting the nation when it is grow
ing to be powerful. will engage in no
Quixotic expeditions. I viii go to hghtn
wind-mills. will, as was said BY gen
tlenan from Kentucky (Mr.. Lyon who
says many very sensible things in this house,
sir, let the nation grow. The nation has
rot arrived to that state OF manhood IN
which it can claim superiority. Ii the policy
of the present day be pursued, it will be a
ricketty infant; it may be spunky spiteful
ckild, Tut will have no strength, and will
never command respect. / therefore say
again With the gentleman from Kentucky,
let the nation grow let that be the policy
of the government, and we shall be respect
able for that policy. Every thing which
derogatcs from our strength, tends to rem
der us unimportant as a nation.
tits with sensations of the deepest regret
that have heard gentlemen on this floor
make use so frequently of the term rebel
lion, and apply it to PortiorAof the country
in which, venture to say, no spirit of re-
bellion exists. IF a consciousness OF their
rights, and, among those rights, of the right
ofpmsuing their own happiness, be rebel
lion, you have rebellion enoughin that coun-
try sir. Have we come to this already, that
when people are ground into dust, when
all their fair prospect of prosperity is blast
ed, when they have no hope, even for exist
ence. when the comforts oflife are even tax
en- away from them, when they experience
nothing but sufering-when such people,
convinced Gas | think all reasonable people
must be convinced) that this is to produce.
no good purpose, rise up say that they
sannot consent to be maryred thus, that 1t