The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-06-12

dedicate to- you the fell
lowing fragment. That it appears in its
present mntilated shape is to be ascribed to
the successful usurpation which has reduc-
ed the Freedom'of speech i'll one Branch of
the American Congress to an empty name
1t is now established for fhe first time, and
IN fhe ferson of your Representatives, that
the House may, and will refuse to hear q
member III his place, or even to receive a
motion from him upon the most moment0us
subject that can be presented for legisla-
tive decision. "A similar motion was brought
forward by the republican minority in the
year 1899, before these modern inventions
for sitting freedom of debate had been dis
covered. 1t was discussed as matter of
right, until it was abandoned by the mover in
consequence of additional information 1.-THE
correspondence Of our Envoy at Paris laid
before Congress By the President Tn "the
reign OF terror" the fathers of the Sedition
Law had not the hardihood to prescribe lib
erty OF speech, much less the right of free
debate on the floor of Congress- This In
vasion OF the public liberties was reserved
tor self-styled republicans, who hold your
understandings in such contempt as to flat
| ter themselves that you will overlook their
every outrage upon the great first princi-
| pies of free government, in consideration Of
their professions of tender regard for the
privileges OF the people. 1t is for you to de-
| eide whether they have untiervalued ybuv
intelligence and spirit, or whether they have
! formed just estimate of your character.
You do not require to be It'd that the vio-
lation. of the rights of him whom YOU have
deputed to represent you is an invasion of
the rights OF every man among YOU, of eve
ry individual in society.-If this abuse be
suffered to pass unredreSsed-and the PEG
PIE alone are competent to apply the rem
edy--we must bid adieu to free form of
government, forever
iaving learned from various sources that
a declaration OF war would be attempted OIL
Monday next, 'svith Closed doors, deemed
1T my duty to endeavor, BY any exercise Il
my constitutional functions, to arrest this
heaviest of all possible calamities, and i.
vert it from our happy country / accord
Iingiy made the effort of which now give you
the result. and of the Success of which you
VIII have already been informed before
these pages can reach you. l pretend only
TO give you the substance OF my unhnished
argument. The. 81 wing words-the Ian
guage OF the heart-have passed away with
the occasion that called them forth. They
are no longer under my control. MY de
sign is simply to submit to you the views
which have induced me to consider war
with England. under existing circumstances
as COMFORTING neither with the interest nor
the honor OF the American people, but as
an IDoLATRouS SACRIFICE Of both, on
me altar OF French rapacity, perfdy and
fambtion. 80.
France has for years past offered us terms
OF underlined commercial arrangement, as
the price OF a war with England, which hi
therto we have not wanted frmness and
virtue to reject: That price is now TO be
tpald. We are tired or holding out----and
following the example of the nations of con
tInental Europe; entangled in the articles,
or awed by the power of the destroyer of
mankind we are prepared to become in
strumentai to his projects of universal domi-
mon. Before these pages meet your eve.
the last Republic of the earth will have en-
listed under the banners of the tyrant and
become party to his cause The blood of
American freemen must flow to cement mis-
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-
tugai, to establish his Empire over the oce-
an and over the land that gave our forefa-
theirs birth to forge our own chains -
AND yet, my friends, we are told, as we were
toldin the days of the mad ambition Of Mr..
Adams, that the finger Of Heaven hoints
TO qVar." Yes, the finger of Heaven dues
point to war. 1t points to war, as it points
to the mansions OF eternal misery and tor
ture as to flaming beacon warning us of
| 'iitt FOitSH WHICH we may not approach but
WITH certain destruction. 1t points to desc
lated Europe and warns us Of the chastise-
mept CT those nations who have offended q :
gaInst the justice and almost beyond the
mercy OF Heaven. 1t announces, the wrath
20 come npon those who ungrateful for the
sounty OF providence, not satisfied with
/ peace, liberty, security. plenty at home,
/ ny, as 1t were, into the face of the most hign
and tempt his forbearance.
! To you, tn Ills hface, can speak with
freedom and it becomes me to do so {: nor
shall be deferred by the cavils and the
sneers OF those who hold as " fooiishness"
all that sayours not Of worldly wisdom, from
! eXpressing fully and freely those sentiments
which 1t has pleased Cod, in his mercy to
engraye upon my heart.
! these are no ordinary times. The state
OF the world is uneXampled. The war Of
the present day is rot like that of our rcvo-
luton, or any which preceded it. at least i'm
modern times. 1t is war against the lib
ferty and happiness of mankind. 1t is war
OF which the whole human race are the vic
tins, to crafty tire pride and lust of power of
single individual. / beseech YOU, put It TO
your own bosoms, how far it becomes you as
irceH1en, as christians, TO give your aid and
sanction to this impious * bloody warfare a
9anst your brethren of the human family -
10 such among you, If any such there be,
VINO are insensible to motives not more dig
nhed and manly than they are intrinsical-
~ Wise, would make different appeal
-
THio n,of;o,t ,uoe J,o.,,, :, :. L.y:a.zJ