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

: SMALL ana not, perhaps very important
description Of persons in this House,
Mr. Il. wished the American peoDIe t,,
| khow what new cause of war had accrued
| since the accession of the present President
| 90 the Chair-s'nce the return of Mr. Mon
! roe from his mission to London. And he
wished then to know upon what principIe
TINS nation, which has hitherto been preserve
ca III peace-this nation, who, with all the
NeAations and losses she has experienced. is
still the freest and happiest nation on earth
on what principles she shall be torn from her.
last moorngs of peace, and launched into
me tempestnous sea of European politics.
into sea of blood.
MT. K. knew he asked in vain. No an.
swer could be given. Such conduct. i'm his
OPINION, was In the highest degree wunton.
and was enough to call down upon us the
CHRISTENING hand OF Him who rules the Uni
verse. we have It in our power to remain
tree and at peace. Our firesitles are safe
our ports and harbors may be defended
but We have imbibed portion of that spir;t
which lost the Angels their seat in Heaven.
we are about TO throw aside our peaceful
state and mingle in the dreadful conflict of
European ambition and disorder His heart
was SICK within him at the sight. 1t died at
| the very idea.
1t is not in our power, said Mr.. r. to dive
INTO 1utuTity but we can judge of the past.
NO man who hears me will say that we have
any cause OF war now, that we had not e.ipht
teen months ago. And, let me ask exerv
planter and farmer i'll this country, and be.
heVe might add every manufac turer too
"hether durii'S the last year, in the Course
N winch we have been able to sell our bread
stun at vast profit, it would have been
octter Tor us to have been engaged i'm war
man 10 have remained in peace To have
been cut OIL from this market for ON. nro
luce, and to have had in it's s,ead war. with
All ITS retinue, or land taxes, excuses. salt
tax, stamp tax, &c. &c.
were you TO ask any yeoman of common
sense In this country such a question. he
would laugh at you. Whether durirJr the
past year, he would chuse to lave had his
sons hghtms battles on the plains OF. Abra-
nam, Iii which he had no interest. with bis
produce rotting in his barn, or let the wear
pass away as 1t has done in peace, atiordinr
al. an excellent price for grain of every kindf
ms SAD he, is an unanswered and unan-
swerabie argument.
ii our treasury be empty said Mr. p :.
Is owing to our own acts. Repeal your non,
Importation act. 10 away yonr whole 70.
stilctiVe system. Put the two countries. in
point OF TACT, upon The same footing, and. nv
lie upon 1T, you will find no difficulty in ar.
ranging all your present differences And
rather than do this. Will this House plunge
the nation INTO foreign war, contSary to the
wishes
OF many OF those who, are within the hear;ne,
OF my voice, who may be pushed into a vote.
"hlch they wish, ii possible, to avoid, Is this
a state or things which will authorize Con.
gress TO put the nation into state of WARP
II war were absolutely necessary. there
would be no necessity for individuals to act
under such excitements--so that one half
"ou r enter INTO 1t reluctantly, and the other
haif would be ashamed of ente, inc into thc
measure-iike some hapless individual. pre-
c'Pita'ed INTO single combat against his own
VIII under the lash Of the press, and the busy
talk OF the cofiee-house saunterers Of the dav.
but' sa!d MI X. has it been taken into con-
sheraton, that these two great belligercnts
VINO Tor twenty years have been disturnino-
the repose OF mankind, during which period
we nave had the wisdom and the yirtue nm
DER men acknowledged on all hands 70 r.
grea'-uhder Mr.. Jl6trson, the idol of one
description OF people--under Mr.. Ada,ns.
the tloi OF an opposite description--and an
uer zen. washington, the idol of all. to steer
Gear Oh any connection with them-mav
make peace Aud if we are now take leave
OF our peaceful course, under what auspices
are we ABOUT to do SO Who are the States
men 10 plan' OF the Military Chief to exec
cute but, as he had said, these belliqerents
may make peace, and peace is always made
al the eXpence OF weaker power. Nav not
GREAT Britain and France, after perhaDs we
snail nave taken possession of Canada. find
IL 10 their advantage to make peace, and in
that case we may be compelled to surreu-
der Canada to England or Louisiana to
france OF to enter into any other condition.
no matter how much it may affect orr infer.
est, 1t 1T produce what these powers always
Keep In view, their own aggrandisement.
Are we going to war on the faith ef the
duration OF the life of the present Emperor
of France Are we prepared to rest orr
whole hopes on the existence of that man
Or what is worse, to attach ourselves to his
cause and number ourselves among those he
calls his allies and for what
! MIR. X. said it was six OF seven wears. since
TINS question was first incidentally touched
/ upon in this House, on "a motion of mem
/ Der from Pennsylvania, since translated to
the other branch of the Legislature. He had
lately looked into the opinions which he had
entertained and expressed OH that occasion.
and lie found them precisely TO agree with
ms present sentiments and it was satisfac-
tory to himself to find this agreement but
/ he regretted also to discover that the fore
holdings Of that day had been unhappilv re-.
alsed III respect 20 onr government
Mr.. Il. said it was not his intention vybrn
he came to the House this morning. To have
spoken on this subject. He came to enter
his protest against the system ,yb;rt, ;s -