Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-01-25

I have low, sir, closed my remarks on the
question of title, and will proceed to consider
| very briefly the only remaining question
| that of ezpediency.
1t would be well for gentlemen to consider
| whether this measure is not q departure from
the Just and pacific policy heretofore PROBES
Sod on the part of the U. States. ST., our
policy has been to avoid war. To this poll
cy we have sacrificed many OF our national
rights, and property to a vast amount-Pock-
eted in6ignities and su cred the nations
character to sink. We were particularly
squeamish in relation to st. Domingo a colo
ny of France when in a state OF rebellion.
We at that time carried on and had done for
a long time before an important commerce
with that island, when suddenly we were
called Upon by the French minister in the
name ofhis master, in a style not the most
d~ecorous and humble, to relinquish that
commerce. And what did you do, sir ?
Compare the two cases. Here is a Spanish
colony In a state of rebellion And what do
you do? Refuse to them provisions and sup
plies, as in the case of st. Domingo ? No,
sir. Do we merely aid and assist the reyo-
lutionists ? No, sir but we are about to in
wade the colony, and take it to ourselves.
Sir, your conduct would have been consis-
tent, il, instead of passing a non-intercourse
with St- Domingo, you had detached a
squadron for the conquest of that island.
France at that time had insulted and injured
US more than Spain has done and France
then was equally as incapable Of afiording
protection to that island as Spain NOW is TO
her colony Of West Florida.
Sir-What has been your conduct hereto
fore towards Spain ? When she denied to
you the right OF navigating the Mississippi,
which may be considered one of the natural
rights of this country-a right too consecrat-
ed by treaty did you 60 to war; When
she denied to you tAe right ofdeposit at New
Orleans, in v~iolssion of a recent treaty, did
you 60 to war When she subjected you to
a duty of tribute, as some would cali it, on
the Mobile did you go to war? Nay, sir,
when she committed spoliations on your COM
merce, and suffered them to be committed
within her jurisdiction by another power,
did you go to war; No, sir. And why?
Spain wGs then the ally of France. What
has Spain recently done TO provoke this act
OF aggression upon her territory ? Vhat
9eao oHsnce has she given to the U. States 2
Is it her determination to resist the usurpa,
ton of Franco, or is it, that she has lately
sent a minister to express her friendly dispo-
sitlon, to treat with you for both the Fiori-
das, and pay what sac owes us for spolia-
tons
Do you calculate that France will conquer
Spain? This in my humble opinion, she
Will not do. France is MOI now coniending
with an armed ~soldiery, but s6e fights an
armed people !; a people struggling for their
liberty, their religion, and their laws, and
resolved not to survive them. With such a
cause and such a resolution, neither France
nor the combined powers OF the earth can
subdue them. Mr.. President, what are to be
the consequences of this measure, a measure
adopted at a time particularly calculated
to excite the resentment OF Spain and
her allies /; at a time when that people
is pressed on all sides by their enemy, when
their strength is PROSTATE, when they bleed
at every pore and are almost in the act of
faintingP What, l say, sir, are we to ex-
pect but their Indignation and retaliation ?
Let it not be forgotten, that the lea ~taiioais
is the modern rule, and that the day Of retri-
button may come. Spain has a fleet, and
being the ally of England, can send them to
sea. FOUR East India merchants may pay
for Florida. Your vessels in the ports of
Spain and in the ports of her colonies may
be seized and coniscated, and with more
cause than the late seizures and confiscations
of Europe. Sir, | consider this bill all i'm
portant and pregnant with awful consequent
ces. Let it therefore be well considered be-
fore it passes.
In point of time, j think we are p~articu-
iarly unfortunate. Recoliect the important
crisis of this country in relation to tie belli-
gerents of Europe.-France, it is said, has
revoked her edicts, and now it remains for
Great Britain to say whether she will repeal
hers. Let it be remembered, that Great
Britain is now the ally of Spain, and, for
aught we know, may have guaranteed her
colonies. Would it not at least have been
prudent, as waS done on atorqmer occasion