Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-04

CONGRESS ii
Housr OF REPRESENTATIVES 1
Saturday,, .November2l.
DEBATE
On the Bill concerning the fay 81 ron
commissioned officers, Se. a"d jor O.
=, other furtoses- $3.50
(coNcLUDRD.
Mr.. WILLIAMS said he stood re-
proved, but rot corrected, by the gentle
man lust sat down. was charged, slr,
said Mr.. R. with advocating an atrocious
prineipls, aud / throw back the asPer-,
sion ON him who made i'll am much
mistaken in the character of the gentle |
man from Virginia, if he would not have
done ths same with as much "fary" at
least a. | could. l stand then reproved,
sir, but not corrected. have advocated
the pro vision of this bill most objected
to, for three reasons; that 1t il salctlon'
ed by the usage of other countries and
of our own; that it is founded on the
same principle which runs through all
our laws, that the service of the citizen
is due to tho nation whish protects him
and in the government of which he par
ticipates; and that.it is palticularly'cali-
ed for by the exigencies OF the times -
These reasons have not been met Gnui
they are rebutted, must support IT,
On this occasion, at least, 1t cannot be
be s!lcdged that arguments addressed
by members on the other side Of the
house hare no effect on this: for nosar-
sument has been used in reply to those
which have been advanced IN It's favor.
With respect 10 dragooniRg" Mas
sachusetts, sir, feel no more disposition
to do it than that gentle aE | believe
he would shrink with as muel, instructive
adherence from measures openly advo-
Gated in that country, as would. Her
leaders dare not tell the people that they
refuse to grant their physical force to
support the country's inaependence-to
save it from British domination. The
gentleman from Massachusetts, did net
say so. They w-i,he under the lash, but
dare not defend their conduct. There
is no point of contact between her and
the union-God forbid there should be
but If there should be, would be sne
that woula teach her to know her duty.
Is the opposition of Virginia in the days
of terror, to be compared to that Of the
present rulers Of Massachusetts The
opposition Of the ono was constitutional
-,nst Of the orhsr 10 not Yes, sir, Do
hope that IN. authority of the union and
of that state snay never come In contact,
that we NAV not be under the necessity
of putting down The desperate measures
of that state. Sir, when We are insult
ed, when we are " dragooned" for en-
dSavoring to put our country ID the
aln,or the times call for; when an at
tempt is made TO deprive us of the
means of defence; | for one will not
refrain from expressing my sentiments
Of SUCH cenduc, aad OF the remedy for
it.
Mr.. BIGELOW rose, ne said, not to
enter iuIo ,hi. discussion, but to express
his regret that any remarks had been in
troduced into debate irrelatiye to the
subject, and particularly in relation to
tic contuct Of Massachusetts. He was
sorry 10 hsar the gentleman frem South
Carolina say that the Representative
from that state ~rithed under the lash,
out dare not ,ofsnd ths conduct OF their
Executive. When the subject should
come properly before the House, the
gentlemen would find them not 10th to
enter into debate and to deie,.d the con-
duct of the authorities 1t the state, in
the case alluded to. He had risen, b.
said, for 10 other purpose but to give
this>lntiMa,l2n.
MIR. JOHNSON said, the gentleman
FROM Vlrgn,i, (Mr Randolph had made
it his duty to trouble the House with
few remarks. Mr.. j. said, the House
would recolect that at the last session
he advanced the position, and indeed had
statsd that there was satisfactory evi
dence 10 prove, that the Indian tribes
hostile to the United STATES had been Sill
muiated by British gotd or British in
fiuenCo, or the local authorities in Cana
da, acting ender the sanction Of tie Bri-
tish government to take up arms against
the people of this country, and to mur-
der uuarmed and Getencsless inditidu-
ais OH our frontiers. The House will
recoliect that this fact was either dc,
MED or considered problema,ical by the
gentleman from Virginis; who at the
same time gave pledge, that could be
believe that such was the fact, he would
not only vote For a declaration Of war a
gaiast Crest Britain but he would
march himself with him (Mr. ]. to Ca
uada, to take possession of chat country;
that on the present occasion the same
factwas denied. and the same pledge re-
pew ed, < message from the President
of 1910, had been read to prove the
friendly dispositions of the Indians, and
TO deny the fact uf their hostility. Mr..