The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-28

subsistirg antilles, because the parent state,
S000miles distant, had Violated some ct our
commercial: rights: that we should march
inland. to defend our ships and seamen !:
that with raw troops. hastily collected. mi
serably appointed. and destitute of disci-
pine, we should invade country, defended
by veteran forces, at least equal. in point
of numbers, to the invading army ; that
bounty should be offered and proclamat tons
issued, inviting the subjects of foreign
power to treason and rebellion, under the
influences OF a quarter of the country, upon
which a retort of the same nature was so
obvious. so easy, and in it's consequences so
awful in every aspect, the design seemed
so fraught with danger and disgrace, TIA,
it appeared absolutely Simpossih'e, shat it
should be seriously entertained. Those
however, who reasoned after this manner
were, AS the event proved, mistaken. The
war was declared. Canada was invaded.
We were in haste to plunge into these
great difficulties and we have now reason.
as well as leisure enough, for regret and
repentance.
The great mistake Of all those, who rea-
soned concerning the war and the invasion
of Canada, and concluded that it was i'm
possible that either should be seriously in
tended, resulted from this, that they never
took into consideration the connection of both
those events, with the great election FOR
the Chief magistracy which was then pen
ding.
II never was sufficiently considered bv
them. that plunging into war with G.. Bril-
tain was among the conditions on which
support for the. Presidency was made de
pendent. They did not understand, that an
invasion or Canada was to be in truth only
mode OF carrying on AN electionecring
campaign. But since events have explain
q ~ - M. fI,a,.~ 4
IN seeing the connections between projects
and interests. 1t is now apparent to the
most mole-sighted how nation may be dis
graced, and yet cabinet attain it's desired
honorS. All is clear. Il Country NAV be
ruined, in making an administration happy
l said, Mr.. Speaker, that such strange
schemes, apparently irreconcilable to com.
mon sense and common prudence, we're
on that very account, more likely to be sue
cesstul. Sir, there is an audacity, which
sometimes stands men instead both of pe
Mus and strength. And most assuredly, he
is most likely to perform that, which no
man ever did before, and will never be like
ly to do again, who has the boldness to I'M
dertake that, which no man ever thought
OF attempting, in time past, and no man
Will ever think OF attempting in time future.
| would not, however. be understood as
intimatng, that this cabinet project of in.
vasion is impracticable, either as it respects
the collection of means and instruments, or
in the ultimate result. On the contrary.
sir, l deem both very feasible. Men NAV
be obtained. For if forty dollars bounty
cannot obtain them, an hundred dollars
bounty may, and the inteation is explicitly
! avowe6 not to suffer the attainment of the
desired army to be prevented by any vulgar
notions OF economy. Money may be obtained.
What, by means of the increased popular
ity, derived from the augmentation of the
navy. what. by opening subscription Offices
in the interior of the country, what, by
large premiums, the cupidity of the moned
| interest may be tempted beyond the point
OF patriotic resistance, and all the attained
means being diverted to the use of the army.
pecuniary resources may be obtained, am
| pie at least for the first year. And, sir let
| an army of thirty thousand men be collect
| ed, LEI them be put under the command of
| a popular leader, let them be Differed to
| suit his purposes. let them be flushed with
victories, and see the fascinating career of
| military glory opening upon them, and they
will not thereafter ever be deficient i'm re-
| sources. If they cannot obtain their paw by
your votes, they will collect it by their
own bayencts and they will not rightly OBJ
serve any air lines, or water lines ia rein
forcing their necessary levies nor be stay
led by abstract speculations concerning
right, or learned constitutional difficulties.
j desire therefore, that it may be dis
tinctly understood, both by this House and
this nation, that it is my unequivocal belief
| that the invasion of Canada. which is avow-
ed by the Cabinet to be its purpose, is in
tended by it that continuance of the war
and not peace is its project. Yes, sir, as
the French Emperor said concerning ships
and colonies. our cabinet, the friends of
the French Emperor may say, with respect
to Canada and Halifax" They ENTER
INTO THE SCOPE OF ITS POLICY"
! Mr. Quincy was here called to order by
Mr.. Hall OF Georgia, for intimatins that the
members of the Cabinet were friends to the
French Emperor.
Mr.. Quincey' said, that he understood
| that the relations of amity did subsist be-
tween this country and France, and that in
such state of things, he had right TO
speak of the American Cabinet as the
! friends OF France, in the same manner as
he had now right to call them the enemies
of c. Britain.
| the Sheater said, that the relations Of
amity certsinlv did subsiSt between this
country ard France, and that he din not
conceive the gentleman from Massachu-
sets te be out af order in his expressions
| That 1t was impossible to prevent gentlemen
rom expressing themselves so as To convey
an ;HuendO.1
Mr.. Quincy proceeded-Tf. Mr. Speaker.
! the gentleman from Georgia and his poiti
cal friends would take one thing into COLI
sderation, he and they will have no reasan
to- complain, IN case the cabinet be of that
immaculate nature he supposes. No ad-