The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-20


whole" This. sir. is sound doctrine. IL
shorid have been enforced in 1903, uson
those vino advocated it in 1899.
Our divisions among ourselves, and cur
opposition to our own laws. are maguiHed to
our rivals and cur enemies. Twas triu,n
phantiy said. in England, that America
was III a state Of insurrcction. resisting nc
operation of their own laws. There was
too much trutl, in the assertion You suf
tered the harmless rattle box of opposition,
to assume the power of thunder. to cause
youf government to trcmble, and to break
mp yourgreae system of national measures
;he storm, is past. 1t should have been
braved. You ought to have made the c-,-
pertinent. and to have demonstrated ia the
world that your government has energy suf
iicient to make its laws respected. Nine
seen-twentieths OF the people ,yeuld have
supported you. But such was the apparent
condition Of the ship Of state swinging from
her mooriugs, that neighboring vessels haul
ed of TO gaze mt her distress
Hence the disavowaL Of Mr.. Ersk;ne's ar
rangement. His Instructors we're ca,cula.
Ted tor the meridian of the embargo. But.
before the intelligence of his arrangement,
reached his government, they were inform.
ed that we had receded from the patriotic
stand. which had induced them to approach
L
deratIons admonisl us of the necessity of u
Mon and energy among ourselves: and I
had hoped they would have produced sn II
nsnimons vote upon the resolution before IL.
But gentlemen have apprsed u, of their on
position. And. sir. j will beg the indu,-
gcnce OF the committee, while briefly cxa
rilhe somc of the arguments gent,emen have
offered 70 justify tho vote they inrend to rive
against this resolution.
The gentleman from Rhode Island fafr.
Potter) has told us that he wss not friendjx
10 approoatory resolutions and has referred
tbs committee to the disposition this House
made OF a resolution approving the Pr.si
cents Conduct last spring That resolution
was very different from thi,g That cor,
tenpiat-l the expression OF the apurobatiop
OF this House, at the Presidents di.chare.-
ing With frankness and profpptitude, a duty
goih'ed OUT 10 MN, by m express law
10 wees OF that sort. shall always be op-
poscq bnt Inc resolution now before usis
designed to expires. The opinion Of CONGRESS.
upon the cooduct Of fo, reign minister in
this cDuntiy both as it relates to the govern
Incnt and the people whom we represent
II we believe thathc has insul,ea the nation
snail We pass his conduct over in silence
especially, when the history or If s COM
municsted TO this House BY the Executive
with his message No, si:, / think the
welfare OF the nation requires, that Con
sress should express an opinion upo, tbi,
subject. But, sir, did not expect to hear
.ooJection; to this mode Of proceeding com.
iron that side of the Hoa:e This course
Yves not opposed by the gentlemen in the
opposition "iien they were in the majority
4 Deg leave to call their attention TO the
journals OF this second session OF the sth
S,lnUrerS RI
81 tao House TO the President. in these
words. Our adherence came, he too
strongly expressed of the intrgues of foreign
agents to sllenatc the affections of the Indi
ans, ana TO ronse them TO acts rf hostility a
Ga'hst the United States. No means in oup
power should DC omitted of providing for the
suppression OF such cruel practice. and for
the adequate punishment II their attraction.
authors. hi: authority answers that part
OF tie gentlcnan's objection. He teIls u.
mat addresses have rained one President
SIR differ from the gentleman upon th;,
point, one Pres;dcns.was, il i, true, abandon
Ell oy his ptrty but il was because ne nre-
ierred negotiation to'~ar. then the favorite
measure Ut his political friends, OF the gen
tetac" VINO then declared, that TO treat wa.
diegracsiul 20 this naticn but whonow src,o
TO prefer Submission 10 war. Then they
were willing to meet the caamities of war.
now they tell us war would ruin the coun
cry. But the gentleman has told MS, that
the opposition III tEis Country is eaiy eues
ton between - the outs and ins.'
Sir, there needs no Ghost come from tho
Srafe to tell MS that" especially after what
ELI from q gentleman on that side of die
House IN debate last opring. Put however
this may be the object with aome jealous
partizans. it ia not the question with the
people, their wish is TO have the government
we'll administe rcd. Ard, sir, let us for
mnmeht change tie 'csnc. Suppos. The ou.s
mad been in, for several wears past. what
would have been their administration II,
the genticman's declaration he correct. aud
/ am not disposed 20 question the truth Of II
they inuSt have pursued the same measures,
which have been adopted /; for theit only OH.
lection IS, th.t they were lot the authors OF
those measures. And | understand the ar.
gnmeuts OF Oh" gentlemen in the opposition
now go 20 appreciate The Coarse tho govern.
mens has pul.WCd tor some Years past, They
would not go 10 war, 1T least since 1901. II
~ CALAMITY, CT which they cannot think.
but WIN horror. They WOULD not submit,
they declare, and as they would no, have
been aole, by treating, to have made the
belhgerentS respect tic laws Of nations and
the rights Of neu,rais, they wc,Id have a
dop'ed rs the only remaining policy. that
which the administrator mas pursued. -
That opposition should be .uade . the adj
minIstratlan Of our govetnmsut, ought not N
surprise ~ more tnan il should, 10 hear Of
ship's enccrGtcrjEg adverse winds ma
VlSAting thc ocean but there are Certainly
times aul measures, which ought 10 com
mard UNION and energy. Ana We arc told
by tie gentlemen that var VIII uni5e u.s. But