Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-12-27


the bill liking the ratio OF representation. I1e
said the committee on the part OF the house
had proposed that each BODY should give up
its fayorlte number $4,000 & $4,000 and
substitute some other They had accordingly
proposed 10000, which was peremptorily re
iected by the managers OF the senate. They
had then proposed $1,000, which was in like
manner rejected: $4,000 and $4,000 shared
the same fate. The managers of the senate
had given no reasons for their refusal to agree
to any Of these propositions, but absolutely
insisted on having their own ratio (35,OO0) or
none.
The house resumed the consideration of the
unfinished business.
Mr. johnson proceeded IN the remarks
which he yesterday commenced. lie contend
ed that Congress were now called upon to de-
eide on Submission or War. lie was III favor
of conquering Canada; and was surprised that
the inhabitants OF that country should be held
in so little estimation now, although they had
been solemnly invited by the revolutionary
Congress to join US in that struggle.-lt was
not true that war with Great Britain must
naturally lead to an alliance with France we
were not bound to fight moment longer than
we should obtain redress of grievances
Where, he asked, was all that senslbility
which was manifested in 1906, on account o.
the colonial tradeo And was it that trade we
were contending for now +? No; it was for the
whole of our neutral rights, for our most Inn
portant privileges And yet it was said we
were rash, in wishing to resist sggressions
which, if submitted to by us, would be tanta
mount to absolute degradation. We had beer
slow to anger but he hoped when that anger
was once reused it would be like a mighty
whirlwind lie was surprised that the gen
tleman from Va. (Mr. Randolph in dwelling
on the wrongs of France, should have entirely
overlooked the stripes inflicted upon the forty
thousand Americans enslaved on board British
vessels. Scarcely any man could reflect upon
the cruelties heaped upon thatraspectable por
ton of our citizens without sorrow and indig
nation lie alluded particularly to the case Of
Robert Howell Qately published who, he
said, had been compelled to fight against his
country, in spite of all his remonstrances.-
MIR. J. repeated his belief that the late attack
of the Indians was excited by the promises,
gold and whiskey of the British North West
ern Company. Under such circumstances,
were we to sit here coolly debating whether
we should ayenge the wrongs of our fallen
countrymen?
1Nr Wright insisted that the present was
not question of Peace or Warybut question
Of War OF Submission The American people
were unwilling tosubmit any longer to the in
justice of Great-Brtain; 1t was we'll known
that the late elections had been contest be-
tween Submission and Non Submission men
he therefore called upon the house to obey the
dictates of the nation The interruption of
our trade was alone sufficient cause of war
but even if that were not, the impressment of
our seamen was amply sufficient. He believ-
ed that Great Britain now held 5000 native
Americans enslaved in her floating hels-
These men were much entitled to protection
on board of one of our vessels, as if they were
Non the soil, according to the law of nations.
lie could see no possible distinction of injury
between urging the Indians to make war upon
our frontiers, and impressing our citizens on
the high seas, The only apparent difference
was, that we had got familiarized to the lat
ter He said he had no doubt whatever that
the late hostility of the Indians was the effect
of British infuence.-The pacific policy of the
American people formed an honorable trait
in their character they knew the horrors of
war but they knew also that war was not the
greatest of evils. In case of such an event,
MIR w. declared that the Federaists, in his
opinion, would be found among the foremost
in the ranks. After the affair of the Chesa
peake, he had witnessed, while governor of
Maryland, Federalists and Republicans con
tending who should come forward first. He
repealed the epithet of mercenaries, as applied
to any army that might be raised He like
wise made some remarks in reply to the charge
of an" acquitted felon" brought by Mr.. Ran
dolph against Gen. Wilkinson He said that
the general had entered into the revolutionary
army at an early period, and had been honor
ed by Congress at that time with the brevet
commission of brigadier general, while yet
youth, which commission he had afterwards
resigned because it had produced some dis
satisfaction in the army lie believed that
II al q: %Lo