Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-05-21

10 oe iahionAeu, lG2t tHefe exists III this com
try an organised opposition to the CONSTITUTE,
authorities, whose influence is seen and fr,.
on this floor, and whenever an appeal is n,.9.
to the patriotism of the people, its effects or,
translused from one extremity Of the uni,ed
States to the other, for the purpose of deiea,.
Ing the measures, which are adopted to main.
tain the honor oil the nation, Yes, sir, eyerv
exertion has been made to weaken the arm
Of the government, by means the most dix.
graceful. The people have been admonished
to withhold their resources from us in an hour
of great public difficulty and danger. Sir, on
the eve of war with foreign power, it IS
surely no subject of oongratulation, to see
set OF men combining together to weaken
their own country and thereby indirectly give
an advantage TO the enemy. Sir, | venture
to predict, that if war is once begun, the diff.
1cultles which pow present themselves to this
proposed loan will vanish. The distinction
ofFederalists and Republicans will cease the
united energies Of the people will be brought
into action the enquiry will be, are you Tor
your country or agpinstit
The gentleman from Virginia said, that he
came ooavn 10 the house to day to advise US %
treat this petition respectfully. Sir, had the
gentleman not come dovn 10 the house, we
should not have treat ed this or any other pc
tition with disrespect. The petitioners ask
for that which cannot be granted we answer
them plainly and promptly. Is it not more
respectful to treat them thus, than to excite
hopes and expectations which it is not our in
tention to realize Sir, humbly conceive il
is To grant the prayer of this petition, and
thereby enable the petitioners to hazard their
them signal injury cannot believe, if
these petitioners seriously thought that war
was to commence in less than 90 days between
Great Britain and the United States, that they
would venture their property abroad in the
manner which seems to be wished for. They
have been induced, by total peryersion of
the real intention of the majority Of congress,
TO think that such an event was not in con-
temptation. 1t is time they should be unde-
ceived.
The gentleman from Virginia supposes that
with very few exceptions, the majority in
this house are anxious to get out efths scral.e
into which they have been preclpltated.
imagine that gentleman did not consult his
usual accuracy of expression, when he per-
United himself to employ this phraseology.-
Does the gentleman mean to say that the ma
ority would surrender the national rights, and
tanely submit to the wrongs and insults which
have been heaped upon US by Great Britain
II SO, hels In gross error, OF which hope
in few days to see him convinced. But II
he means that we are anxious TO be relieved
from our present embarrassmcnts by Just
and honorable peace, the sentiment cores
ponds with thu wishes of every friend to his
country. War is not desired by any ONE
Necessity, not choice, has induced US to re-
sort to this last appeal of nations. There Is
10 prospect of an adjustment oy amicable ne
gociation. Shall we then submit, OF so on
There is no difficulty in the decision and
trust, that every member of the majority VIII
do his duty without fear or trembling.
The gentleman from Virginia charges the
majority with not having courage enough 10
lay the taxes, and says We have turned cur
backs upon them. In this he is also p4istaken:
Ths resolutions reported by the committee OF
ways and means and adopted by the house, on
the subject of taxes, made them contingent
on state Of actual war. Whenever that point
is finally settled, the necessary taxes VIII DO
imposed for supporting the public credit and
1 did suppose that the intention OF the mouse
upon this subject could not be easily mlsun-
derstood In the event Of war, taxes VIII "0
indispensable and have no doubt the pS0-
pic will cheerfully submit to them we
have not, then, turned our backs upon ',''
taxes, as the gentleman may have lmagineu.
Permit me now, sir, to call the attehtlo" "
the house to The subject of our secret pro-
ceedings, while the bill laying an emoarso
was under discussion. The world was trr'.
shut out, none but select men, choice me" %
the people were in this hall, and, strange 70
tell, mutilated, unfair and false Represent
ton of our proceedings shortly appeared ~.
the public prints Sir, | would use strong.
terms did not know that the report mus
have been furnished by some member OF 'ni'
n