The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-07-12

was induced to believe this government
| wanted energyto commence and prosecute
| a war. Thus she was induced to conceive
the design, by her orders in council, of
sw eeping our commerce from the ocean
and enrichiRg her navy with the spoils.
Nor did she once think Of abandoninp.
that policy, until, when too late it was an
pretended war must be the result of the
state of things in America Gentlemen
may talk about French perfdy as the cause
Of this war. Let me assure them the can.
ker lies nearer home. The injuries and
injustice of Britain were the Immediate
cause. Yet 1 have no doubt those i'm our
own country, who induced belief that we
wanted unanimity and energy to right our
wrongs and support our sovereignty as ma.
ZION, are highly culpable.
Mr. S. said he could not see that pen,Ie:
men would gain NOS lose much by ADMITTING.
as is commended, that the duplicity OF France
in concealing the decree of the 28tb OF
April, 1911, repeating the Berlin and Nil
Ian DEGREES, had tendency to confirm
Great Britain in the course of Injustice she
was pursuing towards America. If such
an admission does not go to deny or palli-
ate her conduct, neither does it incujp,te
our government. 1t barely accounts far
the conduct OF Great Britain, and in a wav
that does no credit TO her Justice or sapaci.
ty. Great Britain is charged with plunder.
ing our commerce-and her apology is that
France deceived her, for she tho't France
did the same. Then, say the gentlemen.
had Great Britain known France had res.
pealed the Berlin and Milan dec,ees. shs
would have repealed her orders in council
and we should have had no war. To that
reply, had Great Britain never adon,ed a
system OF piracy and plumber of our pro-
perry, and Impressment of our citizens I'M.
OH the ocean, we should have had no way.
or, TO state the facts, if that party in our
own country who stiIe themselves m the
friends Of peace" had not induced Great
Britain TO believe we were too divided in
our councils to prosecute a war in defence
OF our rights, she would not have continued
her agressions on our commerce, and wa
should not have had a war. What do
such arguments prove nothing more or
less than that the injustice of Britain has
to:ced THIS war upon America. But il ia
lar from throwing even shade ofblame I'M.
on the conduct of our own government.
No one has, nor do believe any gentleman
VIII venture to assert that Great Britain
has not given US just cause of war, or thar
America has been precipitated rashIy or
inconslderateIy into this contest. On her
part II Is the result Of necessity it is a
contest IN defence OF her commerce and her
citizens, and involves her Independence a.
nation.
This brings me, sir, to the most int.
resting part ofthe debate. We are now a.
war with most potent and perfidions enc
my. Enlightened politicians of all aees
and countries agree, that the vigorous pro.
secuuon OF war; by calling into action
the resources and energies Of nation. is
the only certain means Of PROCURING an in
demnity for injuries and securitv for our
rights, in steady and honorable peace.
DO Tar as any geDtleman's arguments go to-
Caa,;r that course of policy, by disaf.
iecting the people CT this nation to their
government, andby their opposition to the
ways and means of carrying on this war. to
Paraiize the administration in their epdea.
vofs to bring it to prosperous and happy
termination, feel alarmed at the conse.
quence, and must entreat gentlemen to com.
sider what will be the tendency of sucb
doctrines. The gentleman from ". York.
Mr. shepherd, yesterday on this floor de.
nounced the present war as unjust, and said
ms conscience would not suffer him to
take part IN 1t f; that he should deem hims
self guilty OF murder if he did, For tha
hohor oil the gentleman, will not believe
that sentiment to have been matured bv re,
nection---l am necessitated to incujpata
ms hsaa, TO do justice to his hear. win
nc rehect but one moment, that although he
may oifter with the government on Me can.
SEES that produced this war; although he
may Deheve the enemy had a prescriptiye
rigbt to plumber our ships and impress our
Seamen yet this is a poyePJfl54eut of lawo