Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-04-14
From tie Political Register.
SKETCH OF THE DEBATE

sed with the Importance OF the subject q
the solemnity Of the occasion. that he
could not be silent. Sir, said Mr.. IL. we
are now in conclaye; the eyes OF the sur
rounding world are not upon us.-We are
shut up here from the light of Heaven;
but the eyes Of God are upon us. lie
knows the spirit OF our minds. Shall we
deliberate upon this subject with the spi-
rit of sobriety and candor, or with that
spirit which has too often characterised
our discussions upon occasions like the
present. We ought to realise that we are
in the presence Of that God who knows
our thoughts and motives, and to whom
we must hereafter render an account Tor
the deeds done in the body. lie hoped
the spirit ofparty and every improper pas
sion would be exercised, that our hearts
might be as pure and clean as fall to the
lot of human nature.
He was confident in declaring that this
was not measure Of the executve-that
it was engendered by an extensive excite
ment upon the executive. Heagreed with
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Seybert) that it comes us liz a question:
able shape, or rather in an uRqneSti0NH0tc
shape-Whose ever measure il IS, the
people of the q. States will consider il as
subterfuge for war; as a retreat from
the battle. We some years ago resolved
that we must have scGr, embargo or SAB
misSion--We have not had war or submit
ted-we must therefore have embargo.
It appears to be limited to sixty days; at
the expiration OF that time, will any one
say we shall be prepared for war? Sir,
we are iii the situation OF q debtor who
promises to pay his note at the bank in
sixty days-we shall prolongthe time SIX
ty days, and sixty days after that, until
deferred hope makes the heart sick. lie
would tell the honorable speaker, that at
the end Of sixty days we shall not have
war, and the reason is, the executive dare
not plunge the nation into a war in our
unprepared state.
lie had too much reliance on his wisdom
and virtue to believe that he would be
guilty efsuch gross and unparalleled trea-
son. Mark my word, you will renew
your note. if end0rsers can be had, you
cannot take it up. The honorable speak
Ell is mistaken, when he says the message
is for war-It is the effect OF an excite
ment occasioned by ministerial, federal
and neutral papers, and is not the wish or
meaning Of the executive.
He would appeal to the sobriety and
reflection of the house, and ask, what new
cause OF war for the last twelve months?
What new cause Of embargo within that
period ?-The affair Of the Chesapeake is
settled-No new princip pies Of blockade
interpoIated into the laws ofnations. lie
should suppose every man Of candor and
sober reflection would ask why we did
not go TO war twelve months ago? Or
viii it be said we ought to make Up, by
our prOmptness now, for our sloWness
then? Orwill it be said, that ifthe wheat
for which we have received two dollars
Der bushel, had been rOtting in our barns
we should have been richer or happier.
What would the planter say, you was
to ask him which he would prefer, the
honorable, chiyalrous course advocated
by the speaker-With the consequences
which will attend it, the sheriff at his
back and the excise collector pressing
him? He would laugh in your face.
If an embargo twelve months ago,
would have been folly, and ruinous, he
would request any gentleman to say what
makes il wise now?
1t is not generally wise to dive into flu
turity but it is wise to profit by expert
ence, although it may be unpleasant.-He
felt much concerned to have the bill on
the table for one hour. No one can tell
the great injury to the mill owner or the
merchant by the mere mention of an en-