Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-23

question by this course of conduct
May 1t not produce an Injurious influ
lence on all The subject certainl,
presents fair grounds for difference
OF opinion amongst individuals an.
even amongst republicans, wi,hou
{searching for the causes of this diff
terence in corrupt motives. VIII,
then, upon this particular occasion
lsheuld the free exercise of opinion be
hunted down by a spirit of intolerance
or denunciatiop +? 1t was this spiril
which, more than any other cause,
blasted the hopes of the republican
principle in France; and if INDUCED
IN to excess, will destroy II in any other
country upon earth. In the due ad
mlnistration of republican govern
ment, truth and right alone ought to
be sought after, and they can only be
found by leaving the mind to free in.
investigation by guaranteeing to all
Its faculties the most perfect exemp-
ton from all terror and alarm. he
state not to say, that IN my Judgment,
this spirit, if INDUCED in, will become
more dangerous to the due administra.
ton OF this government more dele
FERROUS to its proceedings, than the
adoption Of any one single measure,
however unwise or impolitic, even
than the renewal of the charter of the
Bank OF the United States for twenty
years, which now seems to be the
cause. or the pretext for exciting and
stimulating this unfortunate spirit. I
am ready to admit too, that [ have
never seen this spirit displayed with
more positive assertion and bold de-
nuncIatton upon any question than
upon he present. This circumstance
induced the gentleman from Georgia
Mr.. Crawford to indulge himsell in
severe and most sensitive. invectives
upon this topic ; and, IN my Judge
ment, not without cause. But il
would have afforded me great plea
sure if the gentleman could have pre-
vailed on hi ms If 10 have We've d these
proceedings . liz the calm light g.
mild philosophy" md rot to have
presented TO the Senatr an example
IN himself, in appearance at least, of
the passions and prejudices be SO
Justly rePrehended in theirs. / think
| do not mistake myself, Mr.. Presi-
dent, when | profess to enjoy the most
entire exemption iiomthis banefulspirl
OF intolerance, when 1 profess TO feel
the greatest respect for the gentlemen
who differ from me on this occasion.
and for their motives, WHOM | profess
to extend all possible indulgence and
iorbearsnce towards the opinions OF
those gentlemen, and feel at the same
time conscious, that | shall stand IN
need OF the same literally myself,
from both sides OF the question. In
decd, sir, l would not deign TO accept
victory in argument, founded solely
upon the ascriPion of improper mo.
tives TO my antagonist. 1t is my In.
tention to give the arguments of the
gentlemen on the other side of the
question the most impartial and at
tentive consideration. | know the
gentlemen are personally entitled TO it
and their observations merit it.
The honorable gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. awlord) who repor-
ted this bill, as the chairman Of the
committee, to whom The subject was
generally referred, excited no. little
surprise IN nv mind by the PREDATORY
remarks which fell from him in sup
port OF it. The gentleman prefaced
his arguments by observing, that it
had lattcrly become the fashion TO
eulopise the constitution Of the Uni.
ted States and that whenever he
heard lavish encomiums applied to it,
he could not help experimenting mis-
chief" l acknowledge [ could not
comprehend the bearing of this re-
mark upon the question under discus.
sion. |, sir, have long been in the
habit OF generating the Constitution
and have often EXPIRE ssed my admi-
ration at the wisdom OF provisions
and | really had hoped, that might
have been INDUCED IN these sentiments
and Prepossessions, and even the ex-
.presslon of them upon proper occasi
ons without exciting in the mind
OF any gentleman approximations of
mischief-nor can divine what spe-
cies OF mischief the gentleman APP
prehends from that cause.
M; President, when we look over the
whole world known to- us-when we
particularly cast our e, es over that part
OF n, with which we nave the most in