The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-08
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Saturday. Nav. 81
DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL,
(coNcLpuEp.)

NCDrC
MIR. WILLIAMS said he stood reproved.
but not corrected. by the gentleman just sat
down. WAS charged, SIR, said Mr.. ". with
advocating an atrocinus principle, ant,
throw bach The aspersionon him who made
It'll am much mistaken in the character
OF the gentleman from Virginia. if he would
not have done the same with as much
Jury least as / could. stand ;hen
reproved, sir. but lot corrected. have
advocated, the .provi ion Ut wis bill most
objected to for three reasons that it is
sanctioned by the usage of other couutri es
amt OF cur own that it is founded on the
same principle which runs through all our
laws, that the service of the citizen is due
to the nation which protects him and in
the government Of which he participates :;
and that it is particularly called for by the
eXigencies ct the, times. These reasons
have not been met. Until they are rebuff
ted, must support it. On this OCCASION,
at least, it cannot be alledged that argu
ments addressed by members on the other
side OF the House have no effect on this
Tor the argument has been used in reply
to those which haze been advanced in its
favor - .f
With respect to 9: dragnonihg" Massa-
chusetts, sir, feel no mere disposition to
it than that gentleman. believe he would
shrink with as much instructive adherence
from measures openly advocated III that
country, as would. Her leaders dare not
tell the people that they refuse to grant
their physical force to support the Country's
dependence-to save it from British do
mination. The gentleman from Massachu-
sets did not say so. They writhe under
the lash, but dare not defend their conduct.
There Is no point OF contact between her
and the union-God forbid there should
be but il there should be / would be one
that would teach her to know her duty. Is
the opposition Of Virginia in the days of ter
ror, to be compared to that OF the present
rulers OF Massachusetts The opposition of
the one was constitutional that Of tho others
Is not Yes, sir, do hope that the autho-
rity of the union & OF that state may never
come in Contact, that we may not be I'M
der the necessity OF putting down the dcs-
perate nea sures of that state. Sir, when
we are insulted, when we are 40 dragon
ed" for entleavoriug to put our country in
the armor the times Call for; when an at
tempt is made to deprive us of the means
vi defence Tor one, will not refrain from
expressing my sentiments of such conduct
and OF the remedy for it.
MIR. BIGELow rose, he said, not to en-
ter into this discussion, but to express his
regret that. any remarks had been intrudu
ccd into debate ivrclativeto the subject, &
particularly in relation TO the conduct OF
Massachusetts,. He was sorry to hear the
gentleman from South Carolina say that
the Representatives from that state with
ed under the lash, but dare not defend the
conduct of their Executive. When the
snbIcct should come properly before the
fiouse, the gentleman would find them not
10th TO enter into debate and to defend the
conduct OF the authorities Of the state in
the case alluded TO. He had risen, he said,
for no other purpose but to give this init
NATION. tr
Mr.. Johnson sad. the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Randolphj had made it his
duty to trouble the House with few re-
marks. MIR. J. said the House would rccoI-
iect that at the last session he advanced the
position, and indeed had stated that there
was satisfactory evidence to prove, that the
Indian tribes hostile to the United States
had been stimulated by British gold or Bri-
fish influence, o: the local authorities in
canada acting under tie sanction of the
British government, to take up arms against
the people OF this country, and TO murder un-
armed and defenCeless individuals on our
frontiers. The House will reCollect that
this TACT was either denied or considered
problematical by the gentleman from Vir-
gWa /; VINO at the same time gave d
pledge, that could lie believe that such was
the fact, ne would not only vote for a de-
claration Of var against Great Britain but
he would march himself with him (Mr. J.)
to tahada, to take possession of that coun-
try that On the present occasion the same
tact was denied, & the same pledge renew
ed, q message from the President of 1910,
mad been read To prove the friendly disposi-
tons OF the Indians Is to deny the fact of their
hostility. Ar J. said, he asked the gentleman
whether he denied the hostility Of many
tribes OF Indians TO- the u. States Would
he deny the fact that the savages were
emp ed by Gen. brock at Detroit and ut
Qutcnso@n !Wouid he deny that the sava
Ses were now in the employ Cf Great britain
I.n Canada, clothed, fed and paid Would
he deny what was admitted by official COM
munlcaticUS from British officers, and VIII at
was seen by our countrymen in arms
WouiI he deny that Alter the surrender 81
Detroit Fort Wayne was attacked and in
vested by the same tribe Of Indians that is
no~ IN British pay * British influence, &C that
200 British regulars * Canadians together
with abOu, 600 savages had traversed will
Gerncss OF $50 miles from Maiden until they
reached within 80 miles of Fort Wayne
with cannon to aid the attack upon tina;
place but who were fortunately driven
away and compelled to retreat by the left
wing ct the North West army Would
he deny that the Indians fought against
us, and ny tie side Of British regulars pcai
! Brownstown where they were defeated by
the valor cf tie troops Would he deny that
the same tribe Of savages had fallen upon
our frontier after the Surrender OF Hull, com
? q .sH.