Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-19
SPEECH
SPEECH
OF THE
HON. JOSIAH QUINCY,

HON. JOSIAH QUINCY,
Delivered in The II. Of Representatives,,
January S, ..~.:
ON THE .NEIF .aRlIY ELL.
Mr.. SPEAKER,
fear that the state cfmy health
NAV prevent my doing justice to my
sentiments, concerning this bill.
will, however. make the attempt,
though should fail in it,:
The bill proposes. that twenty
thousand mea should be added 10 the
existing military establishments
This. at present, consists OF thirty
fiye thousand men. So chat the Ell
fee, Of this bill is to place al the dis
posai Of tie executive. an army OF
iftv.fyc thousand. Ii is not pre.ead-
ed. that this addition is wanted. eli
Their for defence. or for ;he relief OF
the IGdian frontier. On The contra
~, IL is expressly Acknowledged, that
the present establishment is sufficient
Ter both OF these objects. Bat the
purpose Nor which these twenty thou
sand men aye demanded. is The inca
SION of CGaaaa. This is unfqaivo-
cally avo~ed by the chairman OF
the committee of foreign relations.
(iIr. D. Il. Williams) The organ. as
is admitted, ofthe will and the wish
es Of the American cabinet.
The bill. therefore, brings neces-
sarily into deliberat;on the conquest
Of Canada. either as an object in it.
self desirable, or consequcniiaIly ad-
vantaseOWs. by lis effect III proauc-
Ing All early and honorable peace.
Before enter upon the discussion
ofthose topics, w!.ich naturally arise
frem this state Of the subject, Twill
ask your Indulgence for one moment,
while / make Il few remarks upon
this intention Of the American cabi-
net, TINS uaequivoeaiiy avowed.-
lam induced to this from the know
ledge, which have, that this design
is not dee med to be serious by some
men Of both political parties /; rs
well within This house, as out OF il.
know that some III the friends OF
the present administration DO coasi-
der the proposition as mere feiat,
made for the purpose Of putting
good face upon things, q OF strength
eninr the hope Of a successful! neSo-
1iatioa, by exciting the ap2rchen-
s;oas of the British ea5iaet. for The
fate or>.he;r colonies. know also,
that some Of those who opposed III
political sentiment 20 The men who
are now at tie head Of aff..irs, laugh
st these schemes Of invasion. and
deem them hardly worth coatrcver-
sy. on account of,heir opinion ofthe
Emeriean eai,iaet. and the emoa:-
ras.meDt Gifts resources.
ana anxious thatHo doubt should
exist. epon this subject, either in The
house, or in the nation. aoever
considers the object of this hill to he
any other than that which has been
avowcd. is mistaken. Whoever be-
Iicyes ,hisbiii 10 be means Ofpeace,
or any tning else than AZ instrument
Of vigorous and inns rroiraeted war;
is grievousi, deceived. And waoe,
Yer acts, under such mistake. OF
such deception. viii iiave to lament
one Of the grossest. and perhaps, one
OF t!.e most critical errors of Ills po-
E,icai Lille. warn, therefore. ~
political opponents thUse honest
mau, Of which know there are
some, who. paying onl. general at
,eatioa TO tho course Of gadiic affairs,
submit TO the guidance ct their ops
Mons 10 the ,.aen VINE stand at the
helm. not 10 syte Tor this hill. under
any belief ,Ast its object $50 and ne,
sctiation fay2fsacc. lea such gsa-
ti4men ;.ere" TO their past eXper:-
esec, a., similar occasions. pn..
;nili lis.a tha,i: has been always tie
ease, whenever ANY ohhcxious mta-
sure is about to he past. that its pas,
sage is assisted by some such COLA
teral suggestions. .o sooner do the
cabinet perceive that any potion
which they intend 10 administer. Is
10 ..aed by considerable part OF the
"a ;;,gity, and that their spprehen-