The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-30

Smith, Stanford, Whitehill, Wilhams-23.
The question was next put upon agreeing
to the report of the committee 70 strike out
the second section of the bill, which CON-
tempiated the building of new friga,es
when Mr.. d. K. Williams spoke at length
against the bill, and was replied by Mr..
CheVes. The House adjourned without ia
king the question.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- IvES-
DEBATE
On the third reading Of the bill for raising
an additional military force Of Is ooe
Men.
FRIpAY, January 8.
Mr.. SFEFFEY.--1G,. Sheaker-It was
not my intention to have disturbed the tran
guilty with which this measure has hither-
to progressed through the House but COLI
sidering the Geep interest which this coun-
try has at stake, and which is so intim ateiy
connected with the present question, have
thought it my duty to state the reasons
which influence my vote. feel the greater
|solicitude to do so because, as will have Jcen
perceived in the several stages of the. bill
under consideration, differ essentially with
a great majority OF the representative OF
the people of the United States. They sup
pose that this course is indispensable to
maintain the rights and honor of the country.
and that the means which they are about
70 provide by this bill, are calculated to at
tain tile ends in view; while conceive their
projects pregnant with every mischiet--with.
the ruin of our liberties. In the expression
Of this opinion, let me not be understood as
disposed in any degree to impeach the puri-
ty of their motives. / have no doubt that-es-
very member acts under the high sense of
duty which he owes to his country, &c whit h.
the occasion is particularly calculated to
inspire. While / make this sincere and UNI
sophisticated declaration, hope corre-'
spondent indufgence & liberality will be ex-
tended to me.
/ had hoped if it was seriously intended
to change the state Of this nation, & to BAR
ter the blessings of peace, which we have
enjoyed for so many years, for the evils and
calamitics of war, that the question would
have been propounded to us in direct and
Iunequivocal shspe-that we should have
been called upon to determine whether the
injuries of which We justly complain, are -
he redressed by the employment of the ply
sicai force OF the country. IF such had been
the explicit determination of n majority
mach as deprecate the evils which must
inevitably attend state of war, l should
have cordially united with them in calling
forth our energies and providing the means
calculated to determine it speedily and sue
ccssfully. / should have done so under the
guidance of the same motives which actuate
me in the opposition which make to the
bill on your table. Viewing war as attended
with every evil which ambition, corruption,
and the indulgence of the malignant passions
can give birth to- should have inclined
to lend my efforts to terminate it's existence
as soon as an honorable peace could be Sc
cured--that the body polite might not be
wholly corrupted by protracting the disease,
but restored 10 its beautiful state with as lit
tie delay as possible. 1t has, however,
pleased those who direct the affairs Of this
nation in this House, to pursue a different
course. lnstea OF Designating the object
for the attainment OF which the force provided
by the bill under consideration is to be en-
ploycd--so far as il respects any declaration
of this House, that At is still unascertained
SO that We are reduced 90 the necessity OK
opposing the grant Of the means, because
we are opposed TO the object 20 which they
are probably TO be applied. Through this
bill, we must perceive the ulteror iDtsntioR
of the majority which rs avowed is nothing
more or less than an offensive war agoins,
G.B?itain
On question Of so much moment TO the
country. whose peace and happinessis SO q
rectly involved, had expected that full
systematic and statesuar-ljke deveioFe>
ment would have been made by some frieiH.
of this mcasure--,2ot only Of the cause -
complaint which We have against Y. Brira'n.