Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-12-16

she injtcs ~, II woula be fJily to prc.cal.
Were 1t even n our power to build Il navy
which should be able to cope with hers, ma
man who has any rcgavd tor the Happiness
| oi I've people OF tnis country, would venture
! 10 advisc such measure. ~ the fame and
glory which the British navy has acqai?ed NJ
sea, have been dearly paid for in the suffer
| liIgs aid misery Of th.tt Heated people az
homo-sufcrings occascacd in a great mea-
sure ~ the cXDcnCe ct that stupcnGpis cs-
taosishment. Sat without such anavy the L.
,tates Gould make serious impression upon
Great Britain, even at SEA. We could have,
within six months after declaration of war
hundreds ut friT'afcers in every part Of the
ocean We could harrass, if not destroy, the
vast and profitable commerce which Sac is
Constantly CARRYING OH to every pa"t ct this
| continest We could destroy her fisheries
| to the north; we could dcprcdatc upon her
commerce TO the WeSt-India islands which
| Is passing by Our doors VIC could ANNOY her
trade along the coast of South America VIC
Could even carry the war 10 her own shores
| M Europe. But, Mr.. p said, there was ano.
] thcr point where we cuu,d attack her and
where she would feel cur power still more.
| sensiblv. We could deprive her of her eys,
tensive provinces lying along our borders ts
the north. These provinces we've not only
immensely valuable IN Themselves, 5ut almost
| indispensable To tic existence of q. Britain.
Cut OIL as She is now III great measure from
the north OF Edrcpe. He had been CREDIBLE
| informed that the exports from Quebec alone
| amounted, during the last year, to near six
millions ct dollars, and m' st Of these too in
articles the first necrssiV-in ship timber
! and in provisions for the support of hcr llects
ana armies. BY carrying On such war
as ne had described, at the public expence.
on laud, and by individual enterprise at sea,
we should be able III short time 10 remunc-
rate ourselves teniold for all the sroiiaticps
she had Committed on our commerce.
IL was with view to make preparations
tor such war, that The committee had Of
tered the resolutions On the table. Whether
me means recommended were adequate 10
the object, or whether they were best adapt-
cd to the end, it would be for the House.
when they came to discuss them separately
TO determ ne. For himself, Mr.. p. said, ami
ne presumed such were the feelings of all the
members of the committee, he should have
no objections to any notifications of them
which might be agreeable to the Houte. so
that the great object was Still retained. II
,hese resolutions, or any other similar to
them in object should pass; it was then the
Intention Of the committee, as socn as the
forces contemplated to be raised should be
IN any t"lcr;ibe safe Of preparation, to re-
purposes for which they shall have been rajs4'
ed, unless O., Britain shall, in the mean time.
nave done us justice. In short, it was the
determination of the committee to recon-.
mend open and decided war--a war as visor-
GUS and effective as the resources Of the coun-
try and the relative situation Ct ourselves
and our enemy would enable us to prose-
cute.
The committee, Mr. p. said, have not re-
commended this course OF measures without
fuil sense of the high responsibility which
1hsy nave taken upon themselves. They arc
aware that war, even in its best and faircst
form, is I'm evil deeply to be deprecated
Out 1t IS sometimes, and en- few occasions per
maps more than ON this, necessary evil.
For myself, confess have approached the
subject not only with difTiience, but with
awe: But will never shrink from nv duty
oecauselt is arduous or unpleasant; andI can
most relgiouSly declare that never acted
uncer stronger or clearer convictions of du-
" than do now in recommending these pre-
parItcry measures or than shall ultimate
in recommending war, in case g. Britain
shall not have rescinded her orders in coun-
Gil, and made sumo satisfactory ARRANGEMENTS
IN respect to the impreSsment OF our seamen. .
II there should te any gentlemen in the
House who were not satisfied that We oneht
TO so To war for our maritime rights, Mr. p.
earnestly entreated that they would not vote
tor the resolutions. Do not, said he, let us
raise armies, unless We intend to employ
them. If We DO not mean to support the
rights and honor of the Country, let US nor
drain it of its resources
Mr.. r. said he was aware that there were
many gentlemen in the House who were dis
| satisfied that the committee had not gone
further and recommended an imme date de-
claration of war, OF the aJoOtitu of Some
measure which would have instantly preci-
| plated US into it. But he confessed such was
not his opinion. He had no idea Of plungine
ourselves headloDg into a war with power
iul nation, or even respectable province,
when we had not three regiments Of men TO
| spare Tor that service. He hoped that we
should not be Influenced by the howlngs Of
| newspapers, nor by fear that the spirit Of
the Twelfth Congress would be questioned
to abandon the planest dictates OF common
sense and common discretion. He was SEN
sible that there were many good men out of
| Congress as well as many of his best friends
IN u, whose appeHtes were prepared for
7vGr feaSt. He was not surprised at it, for
he knew the provocatves had been suffici-
emily great. But he hoped they would not
insist OH calling in guests. at least. until the
table should have beCn spread. When this
was done, he pledged himself in behalf of the
committeeof Foreign Relations, that the GEN.
tiemen should not be disappointed Of tie en-
tertanment Tor want OF bidding: aud he be-
hcved lie might also pledge himself for mary
OF the members Of the committee, that they
/ would not be among the last TO partake per-
sonaliy not only in the pleasures ifany there
should be, but in all the dangers ofthe revcl-
ny
Mr.. said that this was the time and oc-