Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-12-27


of the report OF the committee of conference
relative to the bill fixing the ratio of represen-
tation but the house refused to take it up.
Mr. Randolph observed, that it was pretty
obvious, from the early hour at which the
house had adjourned for several days, that
there was no disposition to press decision on
the report of the committee of foreign reIa-
tons lie thought it would be better to lay
aside that subject for few days, and take up
some other business, than to adjourn so early
If they would not consent to do this to-day, he
gave notice that he should again call for the
consideration of the above report tomorrow.
The house resumed the consideration of the
unfinished business of yesterday resolution
for raising an additional force)
Mr.. Calhoun spoke in favor of the resolu-
ton. He observed that the gentleman from
Virginia MIR. Randolph was under great
mistake in asserting that the committee OF Fo-
reign Relations had not considered this reso-
luton as a war measure. 1t had been so con
sldered by every member of the committee,
with the exception of the gentleman himself;
and it was understood that such was the i'm
preston of the executive part Of the govern
ment. No man, he said, could vote for this
resolution, unless he was determined to 60 to
war al no distant day, if our wrongs were not
redressed by Great Britain. We had ample
cause to 60 to war. As to the objection, that
we were not prepared for such event, it
did not apply; because this was not propo-
sition for immediate war, but to prepare for it.
And if we are unprepared, whose fault, he
asked was it? 1t certainly was the fault OF
those who had the management OF public az
fairs for the last ten or fifteen years, minority
as well as majority.-He spurned the idea OF
calculating avarice any nation which acted
under its influence was unwise: honor was
the only principle by which great people
ought to be guided.-He contended that this
government was as much bound to protect
commercial rights as any other rights, com
merclal prosperity was part of the general
welfare and in fact the constitution was prin-
cipally framed with view to this object
With regard to the dangers to be apprehend-
ed from the blacks of the southern states, no
such alarms existed as had been represented
In the state he came from IS Carolina.) They
could not exist from the very nature of things
for slavery produced ignorance, which rem
dered men unfit for resistance. There was
no force in the argument, that to attack o.
Britain by land would be no retaliation for
her aggresslons by sea according TO this doc
trine, man who received blow on the
breast could not return it on the head A man
of honor paid no regard to the exact nature Of
AN injury. He deEied that the southern and
western members were influenced on the pre-
sent occasion by the paltry consideration of
raising the price of cotton and hemp.--As to
the charge of Partially towards France, he
rejected it with indignation: but if we were
insulted by two powers, did that deprive us of
the power of attacking either, without the inn
putation OF partiality? In the present case,
we had selected the antagonist which had
done US the most injury AS to the fears that
we should by attacking England, destroy the
balance of Europe, this, if true, was with
him an argument in favor of war, for if our
open hostility could shake the power of Eng
land, the war would soon be over. She might
deceive herself with the hope of divisions a
mongst ourselves; but he believed that
breach with her would unite every American
in defence of his country.
Mr.. Smile followed on the same side. He
compared the army now proposed to be rails
ed, with that under Adams administration,
which latter, ne said, under pretence Of at
lacking France, was intended to crush the
republican party. MIR. s. made some remarks
in reply to what had fallen from Mr. Ran
dolph, relative to the affair on the Sabine -
CAS SehIlehiah the oosefVeu) was at thaI uinc
willing to go to wax with both France and
Spain, to aVeuge riot on the frontiers-He
expressed the deepest regret that the term
" acquitted felon" should have been applied
on this floor to Gen. Wilkinson man who
was now undergoing trial for life and death
before Court Martial He believed that
when the whole trs,th should be known, such
charges would be viewed with adherence by
the American peope.-IIe disavowed enter
tanning any prejudices in favor of France at
present yet he asserted that England acted
with as much tyranny at sea as Bonaparte did
on land. He acknowledged that Bonaparte
had destroyed his thousands and tens of thou
sands: but he entrea cd the honsa Ia ,nnant