The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-05-19

PATRIOTISM ana Honor and galantry and zeal
will sink beneath the wave of public opinion
never to rise again, unless they rise under
some other name.
You cannot go to war with the people di-
vided on the subject and the elections in
| y. York and New England are decisive on
that head. This is different question, sir
from that of our Independence it is differ
emily brought on under different auspices
by different men, and far other councils
The war spirit is principally stimulated at
| this moment by those who have escaped
from the tyranny or justice Gas it may be
termed) OF the British government long Since
the war OF independence. Almost every
leading press iii the u. S. is conducted by
persons OF that description--the two leading
presses III the city of Philadelphia, one in
the city OF Baltimore, and might add ano-
Their in third city, If it deserved the name
OF leading press. This is the description
OF persons who in resentment of the wrongs
they have recently received from the Irish
and British governments are now goading MS
10 war-talkiDg about Amcriccn spirit-the
spirit OF orr revotrtio,, and of taring ard
iea'hernS the tories, as they have the
! Watchiess audacity to term the wings OF
the revolution. Let them beware--I have
tory IN my eve (Col Stuart) who will
not undergo the discipline oft tar and feathers
from these second founders of the republic
/
! We may talk of war as we please-but
what approximation have we made to it =
we are SO much the nearer to it that our
man reliance, our principal staff,-the loan
| 10 raise revenue to carry on the war, has
proved to be broken reed. We complain
OF the embargo, and gentlemen tell us of
| war. 1t is not OF war we complain, but of
embargo We contend indeed that war
cannot be waged under present auspices
ri,
! selves We see that it will be disastrous
and rninous but our present complaint is
hot OF 1t, but OF its precursor, its aUant cou-
| rter, the Embargo
one gentleman has said we have adopted
| every measure which the situation of the
! country requires in case we meant to go
TO war. We have not adopted two of the
| most important and Indispensable. We
nave not passed the bills for raising the
supplies. Mr.. Randolph said that he would
cahdldiy appriZe the gentleman from Ken
lucky that he should have voted against the
gentleman taxes because he was opposed
10 the war. But this was no apology for
the advocates OF war. The taxes ought to
have been laid Gf war was their intention
| IN time to Ineee the exPence in time for
tne proceeds to answer the public exigen-
cies since they could not be productive, uu-
I'll at least twelve months after they shall
nave been imposed. Instead of which a
ourlnen greater In amount and far more un.
equai IN Its operation had been laid on the
country III the shape of an Embargo, des-
troylhS our resources and diminishing the
already small receipt of the Treasury.
| mere is another measure, one advocated
moSt zeaiously by the gentleman from S.
carolina himself, and by his learned and a
miable colleague who usually Sits before him
tMr: Cheves, by the honorable Speaker Of
TINS House, and by most of those who have
IolSPiayeIi the greatest zeal for war. mean
| measures TOR maritime defence and offence
it Is perfectly obvious If we go to war wi h
a great maritime power, we must resort to
measures OF naval preparation. We are told
OF the Sound being sealed against us. (as it
rs by DANISH privateers under French or
ders) and how is the seal to be taken off ,
by calling out the militia or by adding two
addltlonal Secretaries to the Department of
war am no navy man, sir but | have
long ago declared and now repeat it. that
lh's hatlon Is destined to be one of the grea-
'eSt haVai powers on earth. Our progress
towards 1hlS stage III my opinion has been
materially retarded by the measures of our
own government, end / speak in reference
particularly to the measures OF Mr.. Adams.
VINO attempted to force the growth of our
Navy Prematurely' But if we SO to war
with maritime nation,it is absolutely ne
cessary we should have feet. Yes. sir ::
and after all i, done towards preparation for
war that is now proposed. we shall be lust as
tar from our object as if Great Britain had
not single subjectin North America.
h with respect to our trade; its present
state may be described in very few words.
England takes allour ships bound to France ,
france takes all our ships wheresoever
pound. The licensed trade between US and
france is prohibited or about to be inter-
dioted by the United States, and the mil.
censed trade is prohibited by France. And
Tor this trade. thus prohibited by France
and ourselves, We are to so to war. I shall
not attempt to urge any argument against
war indeed feel ashamed, after the mas
terry argument Of my colleague (Mr. Shelf
lley) now absent on leave, to say any thing
on the subject. But the business on hand Is
embargo, not war and upon proposition
%nlch is equivalent to a rejection of the me-
t.tion, unquestionably the whole subject of
embargo comes UP & is open for discussion.
With regard to the design of the majority
or TINS House from the commencement If
the session to the presenl time, it is uof nv
intention to say any thing, for this plain rca-
"on-that am acquainted with their de
signs only from their subsequent acts but I
nave no hesitation IN averrimg that if the ses-
slon was TO go over again, chose gentlemen
VINO nave, from yielding disposition or n
respect to the, opinions Of their violent
friends, been swept down the current. wn.ld
make an efficient and manly resistance-fo-
sec no one, unless j, be very IL w, some one