Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-03

Init we are privileged by the con'ti-
tuition. Task the gentleman from
South Carolina whence he derives
the power Of creating q privileged
order-and shall this assumption OF
mower be attempted IN favor OF the
military, Of all ether classes In
nv opinion, sir, the section to when
have had Difference is freishted with
most fatal consequences. Twill sup
nose a case. Suppose man had a
writ served upon him and he after
| wards enlists; that an escape war
rant is taken out against him, and a
contest ensues between the recruit
ing sergeant and the civil officer Tor
this man. and that the civil anthon-
| ty supports its officer by calling out
the force at its disposal-What would
be the upshot? What is it to lead to I!
| need not state the consequences:
These principles, sir, were urged
| thirteen years ago; they are urged
now in the same place and on the
same occasion. cannot consent, In
Difference to any gentlemen, however
great their zeal, 10 admit that l
merely urged them at that time from
party views, to put down one de-
scriplien of persons in order TO get
into their warm births. L cannot
consent to such an admission. and
therefore cannot give my support TO
any bill which contains such proVI-
sions. II,aye said this will b" an ex
post facto law It's so; il operates
not only after the riSi.t has accrued
to he creditor to s"e out ms Witt'
bat after il is in Il course of eNecu-
ton. Let me put another CASTE
Suppose that congress were to pass IA
law that every malefactor under the
sentence OF death, who enlisted in
the army. should not have the sem
tence Of the law executed on his no.
dy. Have you not as good right
to do that as to pass this law ! Would
you consent to see scuf'le at the
gallows between the civil authority
and the military for the body cftaat
wretch
l will put another case, sir. A
son, WHO'S the only support of a WI
lowed and aged mother, in some mo-
ment Of hiIarity. perhaps OF intoxi-
cation, led astray by the phaatcm
glory, enl;s,s in the army OF the u
nited States-I speak of one who is
minor. Although l know that
freemen of this country cannot be
property in the sense liz (which
slave is property, yet do allow that
the mother has q pro"ertyin tie time
Of that child that lie is under an
obligation from which no hum'n law
can absolve him--'.n o;,!i&alion I'M
posed upon him by tie maternal
throes that issue;! him INTO .,,"--hy
the n0urishmcnt iraN>u frees the pa
rents brcast--by the ci's2iyiIin;
hand which Fostered hits tiiro.'s,., i'm
becility and infancy. You have rot
right 10 take hinl--f hope thcn.
sir, that no question will be made of
your power.
Iput another case, said Mr.. r.
Although an apprentice and a minor
are not property in the sense i'll
which slave is property. there is a
class of men unlueki!y in certain
parts ofour country, in Philadelphia
for instance--E Ilean that class call
ell Redcmptioners, who were so;d
hut yesterday in the market Of that
city. Is the gentleman who repre-
sents that district Mr.. SeyberD viii
ling that they shall absolye them
selves from their contract by enlist
Ing in the army? II he is, am. A
Redemptioner. sold in Philadelphia.
for 2 term Of years, bought in the
market as fairly as any other COM
modify say fairly, because bought
with his own consent, and as he be-
lieves forhis own advantagc-sucli
person, il tempted to enlist, will un-
qnestionably prefer the payand emo
lument of a soldier in yonr army to
his present situation. With regard
to apprentices. | very much fear, sir.
that those who enlist Will for The
greater part he Of that description
for whom their masters have ad2er-
tised six cents reward and fGrewarn-
ed all persons from haiboring Them.
l remember. when a small boy. to
have seen series of prints !y Ho-
garth, called "The Progress OF IN
dustry and Idleness. The srada-
tons were not more regular than ma
tural. The one ends with wealth,
honnp. an eIigibIe matrimonial con