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

tell that gentleman, that there is no hard
tship in his case. 1t is not every affirmative
hat ought to be proved. Were | to affirm the
House is now in session, would it be rea-
sonable to ask for proofs He who would
deny itstruth, on him would be the proof of
SO extraordinary a negative. How then
could the gentleman. after his admissions,
with the facts before him and the nation,
complain The causes are such as to war
rant, OF rather make it Indispensable in any
nation not absolutely dependent to defend it's
rights by force. Let him then shew the rea-
sons why we ought not so to defend our
selves. On him then is the burthcn of proof.
This ne has attempted; he has cndeavored
TO support his negative. Before ! proceed to
answer the gentleman particularly, let me
Cal! the attention of the House to one circum-
stance /; that is, that almost the whole of his
arguments consisted of accommodation of G.
Wis always incident to war, however just
and necessary and that, if they have any
,orce, Ii is calculated TO produce unqualified
snomisN0n to every species of insult and in
Jury. l"oihot feel myself bound to answer
arguments @, the above description; and if /
should touch OH them. it will be only incl
'~:cniaiiy, ahd not for the purpose of serious
ret .saticn. The first argument of the gen
t eman which l shall notice, is the unpre-
ared state of the country. Whatever weight
N'' Nit % hdNC, III al question: Oh
immediate war, it surely has little in that Of
reraration III it. If our country is unpre-
AIRED, let us remedy the evil as soon as pos
sioie. Let the gentleman submit his plan /;
and IT a reasonable one, / doubt not it will
be supported by the House. But, sir, let us
admit, the fact and the whole force of the ar
Sument; l ask whose is the faulte Who
mas necn q member tor many years past, and
has seen the defenceless state of his country
/ GxTDn NOE, t,a,a4 So. 4 go.
out a single endeavor' to remedy so serious
an evill Let him not say e" have acted in
a minority" 1t is ne less the duty of the
minority than a majority to endeavor to
serve our country. For that purpose we
are sent here; and not for that of oppo-
sition. We are next told of the expences
of the war; and that the people will not
pay taxes. Why not? Is it a want of ca
pacity! What, with 1000, 900 tons of ship
ping a trade of near loo, 0OO,o DOC dollars !;
manufactures of 10000, 900 dollars, and "a
griculture OF thrice that amount, shall we
be told the country wants capacity to raise
and support 10000 or Ii, 900 additional re-
gulars! No; it has the ability, that is adj
mitted but will it not have the disposition /?
Is not the course a just and necessary one ?
Shall we then utter this libel on the nation ?
Where will proof be found of a fact so dis
graceful? 1t is said in the history of the
country IL OF Is years ago.
The case is not parallel. The ability of
the country is greatly increased since. The
object of that tax was unpopular. But on
this, as well as my memory and almost in
fant observation at that time serve me, the
objection was not to the tax, or it's amount,
but the mode of collection. The eye of the
nation was frightened by the number of Of
hces its love of liberty shocked with the
multiplicity of regulations. We, in the vile
spirit elimination, copied from the most op-
pressive part of European laws on that sub
Ject, and imposed on a young and ~virtuous
nation all the severe provisions made neces-
sary by corruption and long growing Chi
cane. lftaXes should become necessary
do not hesitate to say the people will bay
cheerfully. 1t is for their government and
their cause, and would be their interest and
duty to pay. But 1t may be, and believe
was SAID, that the nation will not paw taxes,
because the rights violated are not worth
defending or thatthe defence will cost more
than the profit Sir, l here enter my So
Tenn protest against this low, and calcu-
lating avarice" entering this hall of legislati-
on. It's only ftfor shops and counting hous-
es, and ought not to disgrace the seat of So
verelgnty by its squalid and vile appear
ance. Whenever it touches sovereign pow
err the nation is ruined. 1t is too short sight
ed to defend itself. 1t is an unpromising
spirit, always already to yield a part to save
the balance. II is too timid to have in itself
the laws OF self-preservation. 1t is never
safe but under the shield OF honor. Sir, /
only know OF one principle to make a natl
on, great, to produce in this country not the
form but the real spirit of union, and that is,
20 protect every citizen in the awful pursuit
or his business. He will then feel that he is
backed by the government, that its arm is
his arms, and will rejoice in its increased
strength and prosperity. Protection and
patriotism are, reciprocal. This is the road
that all great nations nave trod. Sir, / am
not verscd i'll this calculating policy and
will not therefore pretend to estimate in dol
lars and cents the value of national indepen-
dcnce, or national affection. i cannot dare
to measure in shillings and pence the misery,
the stripes and the slavery of our impressed
seamen nor even to value our shipping,
commercial and agricultural losses under the
Orders in Council and the British system of
blockade. hope Iha,e not condemned any
prudent estimate of the means of a country
before it enters on q war-This is wisdom,
the other folly. Sir, the gentleman from Vir-
ginia has not failed to touch Oh the calami-
ty of war I; that fruitful source of declama-
ton by which pity becomes the advocate of
cowardice /; but / know not what we have to
do with that subject. IF the gentleman de-
sires to rcpress the gallant ardor of our
countrymen by such topics let me inform
him that true courage regards only the
cause, that it is Just and necessary and