The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-21

seems to be produced here by proposito
to Cal. into the service If the u. s., thirty
ave Thousand men. This Co for repei,;n,
tne aggrcssions OF the same c.. b. we encoun
tered III iT75 s. l776; * for the same cause
Yes, Sin tits as much Il question of inscpen
denccn 9.y as it was then. 1t was the, 4
question, whether O.. b. should impose. a t;,>
OF thrce pence per pound OH tea, Mnen in OH,
colonial state? tits no7v question, whc
thcr q. b. shall regulate by force che who,,
OF our commerce, in contempt and violation
Oh the law OF nations, when we affect to be If,
an independent state? If, sir, cur fathers
MAD condescended to Calculate the costs OF a
Tax OF three pence on a pound of tea, COM
pared with the costs OF the war for achiev
ing our independence, as some of their son.
are now doing with respect to the value of orr
commerce sn6miffed to the regulations of G
b., we should not now have il i'm orr bower, 70
degrade their memories, by the profiicate a
abandonment of the independence achieved.
for us by the profusion Of their blood & trea
sure. And what sir, became of the 46, S91
men raised to oppose O.. Britain in 1776 p
we Snov they were often compelled to Az
before superior British forces, and bv the
waste OF the war and short enHsfments, were.
reduced il 17s3:to 13,479. Yet we seem now
to be willing to fall into the same fatal error
Aud for what9 And from what cause /!
FROM grourdless and visionary fears of tn.
possible influence OF Irregular troops upon OF,
liberties BIT, sir, these fears come too late
hey snouldhave come upon us long ago
1t is too late to say, we are more afraid q,
the means ofannoyance, than the enemy 70
be annoyed. We ought to have submitteo
long ago. We have now taken the ground
of resistance, and cannot .recede He no.
ped that the considerations urged the other
day upon this subject, were sufficient to de
monstrate the fallacyi of these alarms, and
their unfortunate tendency in:relation to the
public welfare in the present state of our al
fairs. Upon thesd views of the whole sub.
Ject, he trusted that the senate would con
cur with the committee in opinion that tn
number OF mel recommended, is not too
great for the purposes of the government :;
nor beyond the convenient abilities of the
u. S.
Mr. G. said, he would now proceed to the
point of this discussion-the de
crepid state pr the treasury Department.
Mr.. G. said, he did not think this the true
standard for estimating the national resour-
ces, nor energies; nor for estimating the
means necessary for repelling .aggressions
upon our natDnal rights nor is it the zone
recommended in the presidents, 'iespon sole
message. But the. honorable pInoser'' had
saA, 1t demanded and fought to. receive our
trst attention. He complained too, that
MIR. G. had sad theobjects at stake were too
great for Counting the costs. Mr.. g. said,
this was not precisely the view he had before
of tbs part of the subject The
opmion he EXPRESSED was, that there would
De an economy IN furnishing means sufficient
to effect yourbJects /; that the costs could
not be deeme excessive, which would en-
sure success but if you dealt out your
means SO spaingly as to fail of your obiect,
1t would theH become prodigal waste and
PROPULSION of eonomy. To this opinion he
still adhered and he thought that never
was an oceasin, where the remark would
apply with nire force and propriety, than
at present. he gentlemen who express
so much concern tor the treasury depart
ment tell us, bat the gentleman at the head
OF that department possesses the most SPLEEN
did financial 1lents, &c. Mr.. G. said, he
hoped he did and he was not disposed 20
detract aughtrom this impression but he
could not heb remarking, that he should
feel more copdence in that gentleman's IL
nanclal repuqtion, if it were founded more
on facts, andess on rumor and anticipation
The HONORABLE Secretary's financial reputa-
ton was madto his hands bv others.
lie has hadittle or no share in it. He has
annually giveius the most lucid views of the
amount and Thnner of revenue received at
the treasury, lhich was provided by others,
and the manrir i'll which 1t has been dis
Dursed tor thPurposes of the government
But this is nediificult task, and is no evil
dence Of finatial skill which he under
stood to consii in the faculty of getting the
most money mo the treasury, with the least
Inconvenience the Contributors. He was
dISDOSe6- 70 la,r &c 81
inactivity on tk part of this honourable Sc
cretary; becaSe the government had never
called upon nit for greater exertions, and
perhaps had ntoccaslon to have made such
a call, until itout years ago. But, sir,
what does TIM gentlemen tell us, upon
whose splendid financial talents we ali rciy
That the natioi:l resources are equal to ali
the national e35encics. In his last rnp~-.
he Gays, lii Sub1auCe, there can be no doubt
Of the ability All the wil q The nation TO
furnish ali The necessary supplies. If, then,
reliance can be laced III his splendid tinan-
cldi talents onr give them scope for acti-
on (; apply themto the national ability ana
will let them erform the simple task OF
pointing to the tue nsodus oheronM and
what reason hav we 20 despair Of tine re-
public What csson nave we TO doubt of
the abundance f the treasury supplies !!
Until now, the hOourablc Secretary hes Rad
no scope for the &c demonstration of his Spicn-
did financial taieits. OF all the revenues
receivable at thetreasury, he knew OF but
one fund for whid we are indebted to- the
suggestion of thatgentleman. That's what
is called the Mediterranean Fund and that
is annually presented to us i'll a very awk-
ard and crooked brm. Bat against this may
be placed the repeal Of the salt tax one Of