The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-06


MFR. Ehhes rose to withdraw that part of
the amendment declared out of order. lie
said he was placedin 4 disayreeablc situati.
ON. his propositions being met by questions
of order, instead of being met in manly &
open manner. He believed the bill as a
mended by the Senate to be a base surrender
OF the rights u the country, and had there
fore felt it his duty to do every thing in his
power to avert the disgrace which would
result from an agreement to it-and he
wished direct decision on his proposition.
MIR. l.. replied to various remarks Of Mr..
Livernorc. AS to the time which had been
spent In doing nothing, it was for those who
had amused the house with long speeches
from day to Hay to account for it, As to his
amendment being open war, he said it was
that species of war which a man would en-
counter, If his house was Infested BY banditti
and he was to buckle on his pistols and sword
aud sally forth 10 meet them. And was the
nation SO dastardly, that in such case they
would deem resistance ridiculous and Quix-
otics For his part Mr.. l.. said he was viii
ling to bring into action the whole resources
OF the nation He was willing that gentle
men might take all the canvas OF the Eas
tern country & make it into strait jackets for
>niadmen he could be as willing 10 take the
tar and feathers of the Southern country and
stick them on the back OF the wretch who
would meanly surrender the rights of his
country. 1t was not the spirit OF the Anne
rican people to submit to insult and oppres-
sion, and they would not brook such conduct
in their representatives. Mr., Eppes said
he had no disposition to delay the proceed.
ings Of the house, as alledged, He declined
the discussion of the non-importatitu, EN-.
barge and non intercourse laws at this time
He had expressed his opinions on them at
The time they were passed. He Lad neither
made speeches to the people in his district
respecting them or loaded the press with
speeches which he was said to have made
Such as his sentiments were, he had delivered
them here, the only place where he was in
the habit OF delivering them. He would not
examine the old rule Of SO; it had no rela-
tion to the question before the house. Nei-
Their would he examine the rejected treaty.
If any man could bear the weight OF that
treaty, twas the man who made it. He had
borne it; but when he attempted to convince
the people OF its propriety. when he wrote a
book in its FAVOR, Inc sunk under its pressure
a cry ct war was made against the PROPOSE
ton, and that had been the cry against e.
very measure proposed forty years back.
This was the only mode left to defend the
nations rights. Was it to be believed, that
they who had talked so much about energy,
about calling out the physical force Of the
country, would skulk from the only present
possible mode of resistance, viz: putting
guns on board our vessels. Were they "a
ware OF the attitude in which they would be
placed before the Country, if after all their
professions they should take this course /!
They would be like the gambler, who, asier
losing his hat and Coat, is turned naked
into the street. He hoped, tina, his prcpo
sition would not be smothcred, bat that all
men, OF whatsoever party, would protest z 4.
gainst driving the nation into a surrender of
ITS rights. Mr.. Eppes concluded his remarks
by moving TO refer his amendment, together
with the amendments of the Senate, to
select COMMITTEE, with view to pcorpo
rate his propositions with the Senate's a.
Dendment.
Mr.. LiUermore hoped this question was
not to be tried by the use of products of the
soGth-tar and feathers. He wished 10 have
no concern with them. It was reason and
argument which were to guide the decisi-
ems OF the House. Warm in and Geciamati-
on could have no further effcc, than to divert
the mind Tor moment. 1t might mislead
the unguarded, but could never convince
men OF understanding. The same might De
sad OF similes; though no person could uH
tIerstand the illusions, they might divert, but
got influence the intelligent. Arguments a
lone ought to be attended to. rs to long
speeches, he rather supposed the gentleman
had had his proportion. Mr.. l.. was wholly
opposed TO the reference to select commit
tee. Not single argument could be urged
an favor of it, or to delay the passage of the
bill, which had not been urged for years
past. The real question on the amendment
VIZ: would they authorize merchant YES
sells to commit the peace Of The country,
could lie as we'll decided now, as after re.
port OF Committce on il.
Mr.. Ross observed, that the cry of war
had been repeated so often against every
measure proposed ty the majority, that it
made no mole impression on the mind than
the boys cry o. the wolf did upon those who
had been So often alarmed unnecessarily.
The country was calling aloud for a spec
dy decision By the House, and it seemed to
be expected, that that decision would be i'm
favor of total repeal Of the non intercourse
lie did not conceive that this course would
he justified without the adoption of some
measure TO rcpel the aggressons and insults
3heaped upon the nation.
Much as the non Intercourse was now dc
fided. Mr.. Ross said, that the gentlemen
in opposition, had one and all last SIMMER
voted tor its Continuance as TO France He
would make no deduction from this circum-
stance, but leave it 10 the House to draw
Their own conclusions. He was pleased at
the introduction of the amendment Of the
gentleman from Virginia, and conceived,
that the adoption Ct it would tend to sup
port the democratic party Why were
gentlemen afraid OF war! lie was not Tor
Cuixotlcally going to war with both belliger-
ents, but was for selecting his man, singing