Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-21

feel ana trembie Cor gSe reSu' Notwitli-
standing NY anxiety that it in one
way, / am not conscious how it wnl bal
though hope in God it Will be as / wish it.
The people OF the u. States have been a
unused, betrayed, deceived into belief that
YOU dare not act with decision. The pas
sage of tile resolution will have one good eff
fcct-to stop our merchants in their mad
career Ii is premonition to them; in adj
dition to the embargo, OF the course about to
be taken When we assume determined
attitude there is no man who would wish To
tn be absent. his resolution is only decla-
ratnrv of what is the sense ofthe House.
wish To screen the administration and the
/ republicans in Congtess from the malicious
censure which would be thrown upon us if
/ we act decisivelY without previous notice. 1t
| would in such case be said it was 4 section
III course that some members have gone
hone and YOU have seized the opportunity
| Of their absence. Adopt this and we are
placed on fair ground 1t will also relieve
| the House irpsn the responsibility of the alb
sence of it, members, and places it where it
ought To- rest, o. the absentees, some OF whom
l know have g 'ne home ander the impressi-
! on that we snail not take decisive course.
/ tell the gentleman from Virginia, and |
tell the nation, that the pledge that on the
removal of The embargo we will so to war,
/ willredeem, if there be but bare quorum
present., for one, will act, whether the
absent3cs return or not--but / had rather
they should be present and, therefore, I
would warn them here.
Mr.. Wright said i, was fair that every
member should have notice. that his at
tendance was wished, and they would doubt
less generally return, as the honorable mo
vcr Of the resolution himself had done
he had obtained leave OF absence for the ses-
sion, but had returned as soon as he posi-
bly, could despatch the urgent concerns
which had called him home. Our affairs
had attained crisis in which every man
ought to be at his post. / hope they will
have notice, and that the opposition will not
be suffered to have it in their power to say,
we could not obtain declaration of war UNI
til a Certain portion of the members had
gone home. Can VIC be afraid OF telling
our enemy of ourintentions Have we not
levied $4,000 regulars, many volunteers,
&c &c. and could these indications be mis-
taken? No, sir: l hope that on the 4th
day of June, the day on which King George
the Third was born, we shall act. The
people are tired Of suspence. If we have
but bare quorum, the gentleman from Vir-
GINA 10 pTepdTSu I'D act Wncn the Executive
is ready and if he be not ready, would
strike before we are ready; because, like
new married couple going to house keeping,
believe we should prepare more necessa-
ries in one week, after we begin, than in
four weeks before.
Mr.. Rhea wished some more compulsory
mode adopted of recalling the absentees. If
sense OF their: own duty, the declarations
of their friends and the admonitions of their
constituents, had not been sufficient to induce
their return, he doubted the efficacy of this
notice. Every gentleman could write to his
friends, which would have the same effect
even this discussion would be ample notice.
ne was willing to require their attendance,
but did not care about requesting it.
Mr.. Roberts said, the call of the House
met his perfect appreciation but in its pre-
sent form, he should be constrained to vote
against it. He was rot afraid that it would
be considered a.pledge to act on a certain
day but that members near home, afterit
was passed, would take the opportunity Of
the interval to visit their homes and leave
the House without quorum. He, there
| fore, moved to amend the resolution So as
TO request The attendance Of the. members
FORTHWITH. ftft
This motion was agreed to. ayes ~.
After some objections by Mr.. Stanford to
the phraseology of the resolution
X was passed without division, there
not being more perhaps than FIVE dissenting
voices.