The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-03-04

whole Western section OF the Union. What,
Mr.. President, would any one Of the old States
say, at thus being thrown out Of the protec-
ton Of the Union ! Nay, what would be the
impulse Of the nation, were the President
capable of declaring, that in the event of a
war, with an enemy, no natter whom, he
would leave either Philadelphia, New-York or
Boston, without offering any defence, to be
taken possession of by the army of the ene-
my, ard loave it TO the citizens Of the State,
whose town should be thus occupied, to re.
take it themselves Sir, the indignation Of
these people, and of the nation, would rise 10
such height, tha; whatever respect, esteem
or veneraiioa they might have had for him,
all would be instantly swept from their bo-
sons, and hc would be hurled from their con-
idence forever Bui, said Mr.. A. the we'll
earned fame of our late illus,rious chief, is
his shield and his bucklcr, as we'll upon this,
as il has been Upon many other occasions
and an cucida,ion of facts will test the cor
rectness of the assertion made by the honour
able member from Virginia. IT, Mr.. Prcsi-
dent, there was any one part OF he United
States dcarer 10 the late President than any
other, in national point of view, Mr.. A.
said, he should naturally suppose It was Ncy
Orleans Ii was, as il were, his OWE begot-
ten child he had nursed il In It's infancy, and
had almost reared il to manhood Sir, he
could never forsake il much less could he
voluntarily surrender il, TO be sacked and
piundcred, AS il most certainly would be, Wy
a mercenary foe. will now, Mr.. President,
examine some facts, said Mr. A. which have
u strong bearing upon the assertion made by
the honourablc member from Virginia. Ii
would be recollscted by every honcurabe
member upon this hoor, that some few years
ago, when il was understood that Gen Pre-
vost, with body oi troops, had sailed from
Halifax, with intent, as il was expected, tor
the mouth Of the Mississippi, the then Presi-
dent, appreheDded the movement might pos
sibiy be, 10 possess Orleans. What was the
conduct of the President upon that occasion
Did he leave il deiencelcss for the enemy TO
take No, sir; he Immediately gave orders
for all the troops that could be collected with.
in almost any reasonable distance, 10 march
immediately for the protection OF the place
and those :haf were near the sea-board were
instantly transported by water and every cx-
ertion was made to throw sufficient force
into Orleans and its vicinity, to Afford II the
most ample protection. This, sir, happened
shortly before the President went ou, of oRice;
and no other occasion pre- scn,ed itself If c.
vincing his good disposition towards that por-
ton of the union, until he was succeeded by
the presen, Chief Magistrate, who ha. ,lsp
been measurably implicated in the same
charge, by the honourable member but o!
this he has only expressed his belief I; he has
not, however, told us upon what that belief
is founded Inasmuch then, Mr.. President,
as the charge exists only in the belief Of the
honourable member, il is fair TO presume pu-
ri,y of intention Oh the part of the Executive,
until the contrary shai appear and this, Mr.
A. said, he felt ely confident never
would appear. The uniform tenor OF the
Presidents moral and political rec,itudc,
were ample vouchers for the correctness of
hi, motives, and the purity of his intentions.
Mr.. A said, so far as have had an oppor
tunity of Judging Of the disposition Of the
present Chief Magistrate, III relation to the
protectio of Orleans, we had not the smallest
reason To doubt the purity OF his intentions
and I've had entire confidence, should an occa-
sion present, that the President would faith
fully, ably and impartialiy discharge the du-
ties he owed to'evcry part OF the Union.
Mr.. A. said the observations OF the hon
Durable member, respecting the Secretary Of
the Treasury, the financial department., and
The administration as connected with 1t, rec
quircd and should receive an answer. Mr..
A. said, he considered himself peculiarly
bound to suppor, the Secretary, as be had
beeu the innocent cause, by Introducing him
into the debate, in the course Of the observa-
lions he bad made, in support of his motion,
and thorcby bringing upon him the anlmad.
versions, which the honout able member had
taken occasion TO make His attack upon the
Secretary is of singular kind he does no,
impcoch single official act of that office, but
throws cut vague insinualions in SO untansi-
bic shape, as almost TO defy On enquiry into
,ner truth. The official acts Of publick Of
6cer are always free subjects Of investigation
and discussion but, does Ii comport with
the dignity Of member of this body, to as
perse wiihou, proof, not his acts, but his sup