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


sand men-this number vi, De quite COM
potent TO all the objects suggested by the
non. member, and II had not been contcm-
plated, that he had heard, to remove any
ot these troops from the south or west-cCn-
sequently the situation OF those parts OF tin,
unon, can have no relation to the number OF
men 10 be raised, by The bill under conside-
ration. These troops are understood to be
exclusively for the northern section-and
w;;h that express vicw they are to be raj
sed. MIR. a. SAID, before he Quilted the
subject Of the southern and western frontier,
ne felt Himself constrained TO take notice OF
some very extraordinary language, used by
the hon. memberin relation tothe intenti-
ons of the late and present Presidents, res
pecting the city Of Orleans, in the event OF
a war with England. Il was extremely
painful to doubt the correctness of any gen
tieman's statement; but tins was of so very
extraordinary character, that in duty to
the section of country he represented, and
from the respect due 10 those distinguished
characters, MIR. a. sad he considered nr-
self bound to take notice, III a partic uiar
manner ofthc assertions made by the hon.
member from Virginia. Mr. A. said, the
words had very much surprised him, when
ne heard them uttered; and he had imme-
diately written them down. The hon. mem
Der has said, that he did knogv, that in the
event of a-war it was the intesHo7a of the late
president, to let the English take Orleans
'oithout ohfiosition, and leave it to the svcsf-
e,n Heohie to retake it themSciz,es and he
ana 5eheOe that it was the intention OF the
present administration to act i'll the same
way.ElMr. Giles attempted to explain I;
but Mr.. a. insisted that the words as he
mad taken them down were correct for
which he appealed to the house. M q
desisted from making any further attempt
at explanation, and Mr.. A. proceeded. =
1T, Sir, said Mr.. A. ] could believe the late
President of the United States capable OF
such an act; capable of so deliberate an III
iringcment OF the letter and spirit of the
constitution, and all the moral and POLITICAL
obligations by which he was bound to H.
country and to his duty, | should not hesi-
tate to say, that all his well earned fame
1ught to be tor ever merged IN such an n
tr clouS, contemplated act--But said MIR
A. Knowing, as do, the motives & view
by which the late President had been uni
farnly actuated with respect to the whole
western country, have very solid reason to
believe he never contemplated, nor was he
capable of committing so daring an outrage
on the rights & interests of the whole West
ern section of the Union. What, Mr.. Pre-
silent, w uld any one of the old States say,
at thus being thrown out of the protection of
the union may, what woald be the Impulse
OF the nation, were the President capable Of
declaring, that in the event of a war with an
enemy, no matter whom, he would leave
either Philadelphia, Ne%-York or Boston,
without Offering any defence, TO be taken
possession OF by the army of the enemy, and
ieaHe 1t to the citizens of The state, whose
town should be thus occupied to retake il
themselves? Sir, the Indignation OF these
people and of the nation, would rise TO such
height, that whatever respect, esteem or
veneration, they might have mac. for him
all would be instantly swept from their be-
SONS, and he would be hurled from their
confidence forever. But, SAID M, A. the
well earned fame of cur late illustrious
Chief Is his shield and his buckler, as well
upon tins, as 1t has been upon many other
occasions and an calculation of facts will
test the correctness IF the assertion made bv
the honorable member from Virginia Ii,
Mr. President, there was any one part of
the United States dcarcr to the late presi-
dent than any other, in national point OF
view, MI. n. said, he should naturally sup.
pose 1t was New Orieans-it was as it were
MS own begotten child I've had nurAcd it in
its infancy, and had almost cared il to man
hood. Sir, he could never f,rsake it much
less could he voluntarily Surrender il, to be
sacked and plundercd, as il most certainly
would be, by mcrcenary tuc.--I Will now
~ 'SoENiSht, examine some. ECLS, Sd,Q
Mr. A. which have a strong bearing upon
| he assertion made by the honorable mem
Der from Virginia. 1t would be recoi.e { ted
ny every honorable member upon this four
mat some few years ago, when 1t was un-
derstood that gen. Preset, with body Of
troops, had sailed from Halifax, with in
tent, as 1T was eXpec ed, for the mouth o.
the Mississippi, the then president appre-
headed the movement night possibly be, to
possess Orleans. What was the conduct Of
me president upon that c;asiCn? Did he
leave it deienccIess for The eneri,- to take :
80, Sir; he Immediately gave orders for
All the troops that could be collected within
almost any reasonable distance, TO march
Immediately for the protection of the place :;
and those that were near the sea-board
were instantly transported by water; ard
every excrtion was made 70 ;hrnw d sufsicI-
snt force into Orleans and its vicinity, 10 al.
iord 1t the most ample protection.
This, sir, happened shortly before the Pre-
sident went out Of Office and no O, her occa-
SION presented Itself CT evincing his good dis
position toward that portion of the Union.
urti he was succeeded by the present chief
magistrate, who has also been mcasura1lv
implicated in the SANE charge by the homo
rable plcmbeI but of this he has only ex =
pressed his belief he has not, However
told upon what that belief is fc,,nded. In
asmuch ,hcn, Mr.. President, rs this CHARGE
exists only in the belief os the honorable
member, it is fair t. presume purity Of iatcn-
49,. ~