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

lous people the importance OF the,nnssien
with which he was charged, and tie zeal
ard ability with which he discharged its
duties On whose Testimony are we to take
the account of the mighty deeds perforneds
The ffdcc is pointed oat we have the
zshe'e and the zvhea but that all-impor-
tant fact, spith schom, is studiously kept out
OF view. He has had it in his power to do
great inischicf TO the United States. This
IS ms story. In proportion to the mischief
which he was able to infic., ought his SER
vices to have been appreciated by the Bri-
fish government, they entertaining the views
which these papers ascr:be to them. As
they, for reasons best known To themselves,
suppose from that infatuation which some
times attends the movements of governments,
have refused to give him adequate recon-
pense, he turns his attention to us. :, In pro-
portion as his services were valuable to those
to whom they were rendered, precisely in
the same ratio must be the value of the dis
closure made to us.
Without g.ing further, Mr.. r. said he was
decidedly Of opinion Chat the message should
be referred to the Committee of Foreign
Relations, with power to send for persons,
papers, effects & records !; that every thing
Which could be sifted out Of this transac-
ton be laid without reserve before the peo-
pie. Nothing short of this would satisfy
the public sentiment, nor did he think it
ought. o
Mr.. FISK said, that the remarks which
had been made by gentlemen irluced him
to ask the indulgence of the house to give some
information, and make Few observations,
relative to the subject now under consieera-
ton. This Mr.. Henry was an, Englishman,
but had long resided in this country SO
long that he had obtained captaincy in the
army raised in the year 1913; he was
man OF gentemanly department, and repu-
ted good moral character (: that he, (Mr.
Fisk) and his colleague (Mr. Strongly well
remembered when he passed through Bur
lington, in the Spring of 1909, and that his
object was at that time much suspected to
have been what he now states but as po-
litician, he was thought by the Republicans
to have been firm believer in the British
maxim, that the end sanctfies the means
and the federal party enjoyed the full
benefits Of his principles and labors, while
he lived in Vermont. Sir. gentlemen say
that he IS traitor, spy, and therefore
what he here relates is not entitled to Gre
dit. However dshonorable a transaction
like this may be deemed by cur government,
whose motives and conduct are directed *
squared by the principles of morality and
justice, yet believe it is not thought so We
ry disgraceful in the British government, as
to be beneath her first characters to under
take. Cir, was the mission to Copenhagen
to destroy that city, murder the innocent in
habitants, and rob the Danes OF their feet,
more honorable one than this? Certainly
not: and yet, sir, the famous Mr.. Jackson,
who went on that mission, was considered
worthy OF being a minister to this country,
where he was caressed and highly esteemed
by some and performed both missions
much to the satisfaction of his master.
Why, sir, can gentlemen seriously doubt
the truth of the facts stated by this Mr..
Henry, when they have it from the highest
authority, that the former British minister,
Mr. Erskinc, while here at this very time,
was i'll the same business this Henry was
sent to perform 1? In letter written by that
minister to his government, and published
by its order, he tells them, 81 have endea-
vored, by the most strict and tliligent enqui-
ries into the OiesvS and strength Of the fed
eral party, to ascertain to what extent they
would be willing and able 10 resist me
measures Of ihe Parry in hogver, and how
tar they could carry the opinions of this
Country along with them in their attempts
to remove the embargo, without recurring
to hostilitjes against both Great Britain and
France And again he tells them in his
letter OF the 18th Feb. 1909, when speaking
OF the divisions which then agitated this
S"si's' :, ..ii>i Vie opposition made to the
laws by the people Of the Eastern states,
7" he ultimate consequences of such differ
ences and ljealousies. arising between the
Eastern and Southern states, weuld ineyj-
.tsb.y tend 10 ! dissolution Of the Onion, 5pticH
mas deen.for come lime talk dot, and has of
late, as have heard, been seriouslu cor
feniflafed b. many u the leading people
IN the eastern division"
Now, sir, hen the British minister was or
mis- BUSINESS by order OF his government
rs 1t extraordinary or incredible that this
henfy should be sent on the same erraad
10y Governor Craig The occurrepces of
those times place the fact out of doubt. /
perfectly recollcct, that on my return home
from this place, i'll March, 1909, / was in
iormedot this Henry having Passed through
the Country, and it was them coniectured
that he was on the very business Which he
now states. But, say gentlemen, he libcis
and calumniatcs the governments. WIZ.
sir, he does not more so, than has often
been done on tl!is floor by gentlemen not
now present, or than has been done for years
by one description Of presses and neSspa-
pers in this country.
This division of the Union is not a new
subject. As early as the time the JAW trea-
~ agitated this country, saw two RIOS. in
the CentiDel, printed at Boston, holt.iug out
the idea OF a separation Of the states. l am
very FAR from believing il was ever the wish
Oh the great body of the federal party, or
that they would knowingly join the enemies
of ms country, to effect such purpose,
bat that there are some who call themselves
iederAiists, and who in principle and feei-
ing aTe Englishmen, that would do it, i have
4 ~ flcn.f