The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-24

prudence and lot by right. The stale i'm
p utat ION of Partially to France is better
Ca lCulatcd for the columns of a newspaper
tn an for the walls of this House. / ask, III
this particular, of the gentleman from Vir-
ginia, but for the same measure which he
claims for himself. That gentleman is at a
loss to account for, what he calls, our hatred
to England. He asks how can we hate the
country OF Locke, OF Newton, Hampden
and Chatham /; a country having the same
language and customs with ourselves, and
descending from a commons ancestry. Sir,
the laws of human affections are uniform.
II we have so much to attachu us to that coun-
try. powerful indeed must be the cause
winch has o~verpowercd it.
Yes, Sir, there is a cause strong enough.
Not that occult courtly affection which he
has supposed to be entertained for France 4;
but 1t is to be found in continued and un-
provoked insult and injury. A cause so
manifest that the gentleman from Virginia
had to exert much ingenuity to overlook it.
But, sir, here think the gentleman, in his
eager admiration of that country, has not
been sufficiently guarded i'll his argument!
HAS he reflected on the cause of that atlmi-
ration ? Has he examined the reasons of
our high regard for Chatham ? 1t is his
ardent patriotism the heroic Courage of his
mind that could not brook the least insult
or INJURY offered to his country, but thought
that her interest and honor ought to be vim
Dictated at every hazard and expense. 1
hope, when we are called on to admire,
we shall also be asked to initiate. I hope
the gentleman does not wish a monopoly of
those great virtues to remain to that nation.
!he balance of power has also been intro
ouced as an argument for submission. En-
Sland is SAID to be a barrier against the
military despotism of France. There IS,
Sir, one great error in our legislation. We
are ready enough to protect the interest of
other states I; $cit should seem from this ar
gument to watch over those of a foreign ma
ton, while We grossly neglect our own i'm
mediate concerns. This argument of the
balance 0 fpower is well calculated for the
British Parliament, but not at all fitted to
ehe American Congress. Tell them that
they have to contend with a mighty power,
and that ii they persist in insult and injury
TO the American people, they will compel
thcm to throw the whole weight of their
force into the scale of their enemy. Paint
the danger to them, and if they will desist
from injury, we, l answer for it. will not
disturb the balance. But it is absurd for
us to ak of the balance of power while
they by their conduct smile with contempt
at our SIMPLE good-natured policy. If, how
ever Ill the contest, it should be found that
they undertake us, which l hope and believe,
and that we can affect the balance Of pow
er, 1t will not be difficult for us to obtain
such terms as our rights demand. I, sir,
wlllnow conclude by adverting to an ar
gument OF the gentleman from Virginia
used IN debate on a preceding day. He
asked why not declare war immediately
Inc answer is obvious because we are
not yet prepared. But, says the gentleman,
such langu sc as is here held will provoke
Great Britain to commence hostilities. /
nave no such fears. She knows well that
such a course would unite all parties here (;
n thing which above all others she most
breads. Besides such has been our past
conduct, that she will still calculate on oar
patience and submission till war is actually
commenced. =
SENATE. Dec. 10.
The bill authorising the President of is
e. o.to raise Certain companies of spies II
rangers, tor the protection of the u. S. W.
read a second time.
This bill provides, "that the president
OF the U. s., whenever he shall lave salts
factory evidence of the actual or threatened
invasion OF any state or territory Of the u.
D, by any Indian tribe or tribes, be and he is
hereby authorised to raise, either by the ac-
ceptance of volunteers, or enlistment for one
year, unless sooner discharged, as many com
Pames as he may deem necessary, who shall
serve on foot, or be mounted, as the service
SFiiioia ."ay iSItiIcJ stall dCI on the
frontier as spies or rangers, be armed, e.
quipped & organized in such manner, and be
under such regulations & restrictions as the
nature of the service in his opinion NAV
make necessary" " Each Of the said com
PanIes of spies or rangers to consist of 1 capt.
one first, one second lieut.. one ensign, a SER
jeants, four corporals, & sixty privates."]
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, Dec. II.
Ma RHINE DEFENCE.
Mn. CheeVes, from the committee appoin
ted on that part of the Presidents message
which relates to the naval force of the ". S
and to the defence of our maritime frontier,
made the following report in part.
The Committee to whom was referred
so much of the Presidents message of the
5th OF Nov. 1911 as relates to the defence OF
our maritime frontier, REPoRT in part
that two communications from the Secretary
at War;, which accompany this report,
which were made in reply to queries
propoundcd by the coMMITrEE, con
tain the best information on the SUBJ