The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-03-20

mace 10 OlNi.ie tle country, and Il believe
France wCnld do The same tor, have II,
confidence in the morality OF either Ga,
affairs are in such a state, that with one We
must try What has been called the last re-
sort OF kings; have made up my mind
on the subject, and, whenever we arc rea-
dy to declare war, l shall vote for it.
MIR. JOHNSON said he did feel disposed,
nor was it a time to say much. 'Ehc ducu-
ments spoke for themselves. Nor did he
address the House to identify the federal
party with this British Conspiracy to dis
member the Union. Nor did he intend to
load the individual .-ho had made this com :
inunication to the President, with the OPP
'probrious epithets of Spy and Traitor; hut
to call the attention o. the House and Tie
gentleman OF Virginia, to the position which
had been taken by himself and others up
on the discussion of our foreign relations
respecting the British influence in st,mula-
ting the Sav;rgcs against our infant and iiIno-
cent settlements upon the frontiers Mr.
j. sand, when he had ascribed the hostility
OF the, Indians to British influence, the gen
tieman from Virginia would moe place any
confidence in such intimations, and he more
over stated that if such influence could be
proved he would himself Join heart and
hand in measures against G.. Britain, and
would even march himself to Canada, if ne
eessary, to. eXpel and destroy the British
authorities in that quarter. Mr. j. said he
wished to know whether the House had not
now record evidence of an attempt on the
part OF the British government to ALLEVIATE
the affections of the people from their own
government, to organise opposition to the
laws OF Congress, and to produce a dissol-
luton OF our happy government, a dismem-
oerment OF the Union, and the erection of
a monarchy upon its ruins, and whether
such case did call for equal unionl Mr..
j. asked, who would now assert that G. B.
was friendly disposed towards us, that she
was lighting our battles, OF the battles of
freedom that she stood between us and
universal domination that good men would
pray that our arms might not be success
ful against that government which had so
long trampled upon our rights ? that Great
Britain was acting upon the principle of re-
taliation towards France MIR. J. said, it
was now reduced to certainty that the
hostility OF u. Britain towards us in the con :
tinuance or her Orders in Council, in the i'm
pressnent OF our seamen, originated in a
determination to destroy the union of the
states, and from belief that a separation
could be effected in case of a war with G..
Britain. 1t was now evident, that the dis
avowal of Erskine's arrangement, and her
subsequent conduct towards the United
states, arose from the delusive hope that
the people of the New England states would
Join Great Britain in the Conflict. This com
muncation also accounts for the news we
are daily receiving Of The hostile intentions
OF the savages upon our borders Mir. ].
said, lie wanted 5000 copies to be printed,
that the people might Judge whether Con-
gress lad wantonly sported with their rights
or whether they had not been driven To the
brink OF war, by conduct on the part oi
Great Britain that would disgrace the most
abandoned, the most savage, and the most
plraticai nations on earth. Mr.. ]. said, he
hoped the House could no longer debate
what course to pursue, and that no addi-
tional arguments would be required to con-
vince them OF the propriety of breaking up
the rogues' harbor, and taking possession OF
the Canadas without which, the United
states never could enjoy in tras guilty those
rights which were transmitted to the citi-
zens of the United States by their ances,
tors.
Mr.. STANFORD suggested the pro
priety OF a reference OF the subject to a
committee of the whole on the state of the
unien.
Mr.. KEY made some remarks which
were not all dis tiHctly heard by tho rcpor-
ter. He wished that the publication could
have been accompanied with some refuteti-
on OF its contents, as it would go to alarm
thepeople with an idea of the existence q!
a spirit in one section Of this country which
he was sure did not'exist. IIe was not only
for committing the subject, but for following
it up with a full and prompt examination
Sure / am, said Mr.. Key. that the people OF
Europe have mistaken the American cha
racter. Whatever difference of opinion
may exist among ourselves, there can be
none as to the propriety of supporting the
integrity of the union. There can be ne
doubt that the people of this country, of all
descriptions, will rally around the CONSTITUTE
on. France had heretofore supposed She
possessed a party in this country but there
was not a man of sense in the country wht
believed it. Foreign nations would err il
this way. having no correct knowledge Of
the sentiments of the people. If we were
soon to be involved in war, il was proper
that no distrust should exist in one part o
the community against another and he
therefore regretted thas complete invest
cation could not &c had Before the paper!
were published.
Mr.. RANDOLPH wished to say one word
and only word, in addition to his pre- yiou
observations. He rose for the purpose O
suggesting to the House whether, If il wert
their intention to act with any thing like dis
patch or eincacy in this business, it was no
necessary Immediately to decide whethe
these papers should or should not be refer
red to a committee, ard that Commute,
Clothed with power to send for persons ant
papers. For IT was perfectly obvious, j
this day S session was spun out on the mer
question OF printing, 1t was giving the par
~, whom 1t would certainly be the 6bicc
OF the committee 10 examine, fair notice t