Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-11


l. ~ he ascribed to the successful Gsurpation
which has reduced the Freedom of speech IN
one branch of the American Congress to an
emntv name. it is now established for the
first tine, and in the Person cf your refresen-
tative, chat the House may, and VIII refuse
to hear member in his place, or even TO re-
cei,e a motion from him upon the most mo-
mentous subject that car be presentation le-
pislstive, decision.--A similar melton was
BROUGHT forward BY the republican minority
in the year 1898 before these modern lnyen-
tons for sitting freedom OF debate had been
discovered. 1t was discussed as matter OF
right until it was abandoned by the mover IN
consequence of additional Information the
correspondence of our ENJOYS at Paris laid
before Congress by the President. In "the
reign of terror the fathers of the Sedition
Law had not the hardihood to prescribe hoer-
~ Of speech, much less the right OF Tree de-
bate on the floor Of Congress. This invasion
of the public liberties was reserved Tor self
STYLED republicans, who hold your understand
ings in such contempt as to Hatter themselves
that YOU will overlook their every outrage
upon the great first principles otfree govern
ment, in consideration of their professions OF
tender regard. for the privileges the people
II is for ven to decide whether they have un-
dervalued your intelligence and spirit, or
whether they have formed a just estimate OF
YOUR character You do not require to be
told that the violation Of the rights OF him
whom you have dcputed TO represent you is
an Invasion Of the rights of every man among
you, of every individual in society-lf this a.
buse be suffered to pass UNDERESTIMATE the
y f/>o Nlty ppyH
ay--we must bid adeu to free form OF go
yernment, forever.
Having learned from various sources that
declaration Of war would be attempted on
Monday next, 7Uit1 closed doors, deemed 1t
my duty to endeavor, by any exercise OF my
constitutional functions, 10 arrest this heaviest
of all possible calamities, and avert 1t from
our happy country I accordingly made the
effort of which now give you the result, and
of the success of which you viii already have
BEEN informed before these pages can reach
YOU. i pretend only to give you the substance
Of my Aaninished Argument. the glowing
woYds--tlc language OF the heart-have pas
sed away with the occasion that called them
forth. TheYare no longer under my controul.
My design is. simply to submit to you the
views which haze induced me TO consider
war with England, under existing circumstan-
ces, as comportingpeither with the INTEREST
nor the HONOR OF the American people, but
as an 1DoLATRoUs sAtRIFIcE Qf both, on the
altar of French rapacityIper6dy and ambition.
France has for years past offered us terms
Of underlined commercial arrangement at the
price Of war with England, which hitherto
we have not wanted 6rmness AID virtue to re-
ject That price is now to be pad. We are
tired of holding out--and following the exam
pie of the nations of continental Europe; en-
tangled in the articles, or awed by the power
of The destroyer of mankind we are prepared
10 become instrumental to his projects If u
Universal dominion. Before these pages meet
your eye, the last republic of the earth win
have enlisted under the banners of the tyrant-
and become party to his cause. The blood
OF American freemep must flow to cement his
power, to aid in sitting the last struggles of
afflicted and prosecuted man; to deliver up
into his hands the patriots Of Spain and Por-
tugal, to establish his empire over the ocean
and over the land that gave our forefathers
birth to forge our own chains And yet,
my friends, we are told, as we were told In
the days Of the mad ambition of MIR. Adams,
THAT THE FINGER OF HEAVEN POINTS To
WAR" Yes, the Anger of Heaven does point
to war. II points to war, as it points to the
mansions OF eternal misery and torture as to
flaming beacon warning us of that vortex
which we may not approach but with certain
destruction. 1t points to desolated Europe
and warns us of the chastisement of those ma
tons who have offended against the Justice *
almost beyond the mercy of Heaven. 1t an
nounces, the wrath to come upon those who
ungrateful for the bounty OF providence, not
satisfied with peace, liberty, security, plenty
at home, ny, as it were, into the face of the
most high aad tempt his forbcarance.
To you, in this f!ace, can speak with free
dom and it becomes me to do so~ nor shall
be deferred by the cayils and the sneers o.
y.his motion Eyas dran,n, Il is 6elieved, By