Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-03-16
Congress If the United States.
HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Aqondas, March 9.
DFRATE..
On the motion for printing The DISCLOSURES q
- H.. EIan.n--( snNrINIED.

.
Mr.. GHOLSON said, it was source Oh
qualification to him, that, SO far as the papers
by the President could be con-
sidered evidence at all, they were certainly
highly honorable testimony in favor OF the cas-
tern section of the Union. An emissafy OF
great talents had been employed by the bfi-
fish in nelarious scheme to dismemoer tlio
u. States, and to engender treason IN the We
~ bosom Of our country; and yet, (said Mf'.
c. y il does not seem that this spy has been a.
bic to connect with himself any citizen OF tis
u. States. IF he had held correspondence
with any persons of distinction, the presurnP-
ton is, their names would have been discles-
ed in the papers that have been read. MT "
was happy in cherishng the behet that the
Liberties of this country would always llha
sufficient guarantee against macAilatlollS "
this sort, In toe patriotism OF eperg L.o'!fon OF
the Union This communicates, IoE "AlcH
the House was Indebted to the PFesioeh'' was
(NIr G. said) highly interesting ana lfnpof-
tant in one point of view. 1t demonstrated as
matter of fact what had heretofore remained
only speculation ard conlecturc-that the BIZ
fish government has long meditated the sepe-
ration Of these states; and what Is more, that
they have actually attempted the execution OF
this wicked design, and have endeavored to
convert our own citizens into traitors {. he
would say no more.
Mr.. QUINCY said, ne was much obliged
to the gentleman last up tor the view which
he had taken OF the subject. 1t had struck
him previously with much force, ana ne
meant to have taken the floor to have express
sed it. If ever there had existed, In the bll"
fish government or any other government, an
idea that there was a parry III this country
who would associate with II to dissolve tins
Union, he thanked God that the PROJECT was
exposed. If it was true, as these papers stat
ed, that this man had been SO employed, he
thanked God that the mission had been detect
ed Administration, in bringing the subject
before the House, had done worthiiy, and the
subject ought to be enqured into. What
said Mr.. q. is the fact, admitting al that
this person has said to be true Why, that
an agent from the British government, under
circumstances peculiarly suspicious and suit
able to MS purpose, goes to thessPot winch ne
represents as the hotbed Of opposition, to sur
up disunion, and his papers do not contain an
intimation that he dared to mention such an /
dea as that of a dissolution OF the Union TO any
individual. Nc, sir; and dare to say that he
never did mention such thing to any diatiil-
guisbed individual. AS far as know the SEN
iiments of gentlemen in that quarter, they
hold this Union dear, and look upon such
connection as is supposed Ia these papers with
as much adherence as any man, however at
tached he lnay be to the administration OF tie
government. Whenever ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of the Union has been talked o., 1t has been
with awe and with fear that the prcsent
course of public measures would lead to such
an event: not with view to bring 1t about.
Sir, | know that other ideas have been spread
over the country for the purpose or serving
party views. But here, IN this temPie Oh
our liberties, let us reason with one another
according to the evidence before as. | re-
joice that the subject has been brought forward
and that an agent SO peculiarly adapted to the
business in which he was employed has rot
been able to furnish any evidence OF even the
connivance of any individual at his mission.
Mr. RHEA said, al the time he bad made
the motion for printing, he had not the least
idea that any opposition would be made to It.
He did not say whether these papers were true
or not true whether they attacked any peo-
nle or not. He hoped therefore the discussion
cf these points would cease, twas no reason
AGAINST the publication Of these documents
hat they had been disclosed by British agent.
T'rhe Speaker observed, that no objection had
been made by any gentleman to the printing.
All the transactions respecting Andre AID Ar
mold had been printed, SO far as the congress
could lay their hands Oh tileip-and why DOT
those If this man be q British spy or traitor
as he has been called, and what he states is not
true, one thing is admitted that the British
are capable Of employing persons otiniamos's
character, by fabricatons like these, to throw
an odinm on particular sections ofthe country.
SO that, Oh any view, this affair should be dis
closed, if it were only TO produce firm union