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

ltne bounty land to be lands IN canada ? He
might not hen feel SO much ~rcpugnance at
giving it,not to wretches who sell themselves
for slaves for a glass of gin, but to the clerks
in the offices, the departments, whose sala-
ry may be $500 or 1900 dollars ayear, who
spend five thousand, yet grow rich, and who
even now may be making out blank convey
ances of land. He would again beseech the
House, before they ran their heads against
this post, Canada, to count the cost. His
word for 1t, the planters of Va. would not be
taxed to support such a war.
Where are all the vaunting promises, held
out when republicans came into Office, of
speedily paying the national debt ? BY such
promises We came to power but are
now as strenuous ior war, taxes, loans, ar
mics, aud come for navies, as even were c.
yer the Essex Junto. What rcpublica.ism
Is this
Mr.. Randoiph,apologizcd fer the desalto-
~ manner OF his speaking /; regretted he
had been obliged totalk thus wildly, but no.
ped some meaning would be found in his
madness. On tie other resolutions, that re-
iative to volunteers, & that for arming or
merchantmen, he should perhaps trouble
the House again.
Oe6afe on the second resolution refoytcd 6y
the Committee efForefgn Relations.
Mr.. Calhoun-Mr. Speaker under
Istaod the opinion of the committee Of Fo-
reign Relations, differently frcm what the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. RandoIphl
has stated to be his impression. l certainly
understood that committee as recommend
ing the measures now before the House, as
a preparation for war; and such in fact was
its express resolve, agreed to, | believe, by
every member, except that gentleman. /
do not attribute airy wilful misstatcment to
him, but considerit the effect of inadycrt-
ency o. mistake. Indeed the report could
mean nothing but war or empty menace.
| hope no memberpf this House is in favour
OF the latter. A tullying menacing system
has every thing tc ondemn and nothing to
recommend tin expense il lis almost as con-
siderable as war-it excites contempt a.
broad, and destroys confidence here. Me-
naces are serious things, and, if we expected
any good from then, they ought to be resort
ed to with as modification and seriousness,
as war itself; and should, if not successful,
De invariably FOLLOWED by it. Ii was not the
gentleman from tennessee, (Mr. Grundy)
that made this a war question. The resolve
~contemplates an additional regular force a
measure confessedy improper but as a pre-
paration for war, but undoubtedly necessary
in that event. Sr, l am not insensible Of
the weighty Importance of this question, for
the first time submitted to this House, as a
redress of our. lo,g list of complaints against
one of the belliserents-but, according to
my mode of thinking on this subject, howe
yer serious tie question, whenever / am ON
its affirmative side, my conviction must be
strong and unalterable. War, in this coun-
TRY, ought never TO be resorted to but when
it is clearly justiiable and necessary SO
much so, as not to require the aid of logic
to convince our reason nor the ardor of elo-
quence to intiame our passions. There are
many reasons why this country should never
resort to war but for causes the most urgent
and necessary. 1t is sufficient tina under a
government like ours, none but such will
Justify it in the eye of the nation /; and were
l not satisfied that such is our present cause,
L certainly would be no advocate of the pro-
position now before the House.
Sir, l prove the war, should it ensue, JUS
tiiable, by the express admission of the
gentleman from Virginia and necessary by
facts undoubted, and universally admitted;
such as that gentleman did not pretend to
c%ontrovert. The extent, duration and cha
racter of the injuries received, the failure Of
those peaceful means heretofore resorted to
for the redress of our wrongs, is my proof
that it is necessary. Why should / mention
the impressment OF our lseamen depredati-
on of every branch of our commerce, inclu-
ding the direct export trade, continued for
years, and made underlaws, which profess
eddy undertake to regulate our trade with o.
Their nations-Negociation resorted to, time
after time, till it is become hopeless-the
restrictive system persisted in to avoid war,
and in the vain expectation of returning JUS
tice. The evil still grows, and in each sue
ceeding year swells in extent and pretension
beyond the preceding, The question even
IN the opinion and admission of our opponents
is reduced to this single point; which shall
we do, abandon or defend our own CONNER
cial and maritime rights and the personal IL
berries of our citizens employed in exerci-
sing them? These rights are essentially
attacked, and war is the only means of re-
dress. The gentleman from Virginia has
suggested none; unless we consider the
whole OF his speech as recommending patti
cnt and resigned submission as the best re-
nedy. Sir, which alternative this House
ought to embrace, it is not for me to saw. |
hope the decision is made already, bv a
higher authority than the voice of any man.
1t is not for the human tongue to instil the
sense of independence and honor. This is
the work of nature; a generous nature that
disdains tame submission to wrongs.
This part of the subject is SO imposing, as
to enforce silence even on the gentleman
from Virginia. He dared not to deny his
country's wrongs, or vindicate the conduct
of her enemy.
Only one point of that g~entleman's argu-
ment had any, the most remote relation to this
point. He would not say, we had not a good
cause OF war; but insisted, that it was our
duty to define that cause. If he means that