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

mark on the subject before them--he
should have been content nith giving a ST.
lent vote, had not the range of debate led
into full view Of the conduct of tho admi-
nistration in relation TO the war, Intend
ing to vote for all except the last of those
resolutions, 1t became his duty to assign
his reasons; as they were directly opposite
10 those of other gentlemen who had advo-
Gated them. Some gentlemen, said he,
have for the, FIRST time during this admins
tration, become the supporters of the cha
racter OF the nation although not insensi,
bic to the cause of this discussion, and the
effect 1t is intended TO have, yet am pleas
ed to discover that such is the ground they
are driven to take 10 obtain their object.
On former occasions those who STYLED
themselves friends to peace" contcnded
that our government waged war from pre-
objection to France and we were enter
tanned with their eloquence displayed il,
comparing the nature and extent of injuries,
from each beliigerent, France and ENGLAND.
The ruler of the FIRST was denounced as
Usurper, Despot, and Tyrant and the
other triumphantly represented as defend
ing our holy religion, as fighting the cause
of humanity and the world Whether
ground that has afforded so much food for
defamation hitherto, has been silently
abandoned because it has ceased to have
any effect upon the nation, and recoils I'D.
on those who resort to it or because that
magnaDimous government, finding it ne
cessary in so great and good cause to en-
gage her barbarous allies Cd our exposed
frontiers indiscriminately to murder, disre.
garding age or Sex, and had placed the
trophies OF savage warfare, human scalp,
over the mace of their Legislative council
at York, representing that an authorized
system of rapine and murder was interwo.
ven with the genius Of their government ::
whether this occasioned the change, I leave
others to decide.
Twill consider this subject in the form in
which II has been presented, and first as TO
the avowed object of the resolutions. We
learn from the gentleman from N. H. (Mr.
Wcbster) and the gentleman from N. Y.
Mr.. Grosvenor) that they are intended to
support the honor of our couBtry. Who
can object to II /? But how? By proving
TO the world that In a correspondence be .
tween Mr. Barlow, our minister to France.
and the duke OF Rassano in May 1912. the
French minister OF foreign relations was
guilty OF asserting lalscbood /; and that
the decree of the government of France,
bearing date on 28th of April 1871 / =, repeal.
ing the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, never
was communicated to our government IN
til 1t was communicated through Mr. Bar
low. Let it be admitted that the decree
of the 28th of April 1911, never was COM
municated to our government previous to
the mission of Mr.. Barlow. The gentle
men say so, and at once acquit our govern
ment of ali charge of dupiicity or conceal
ment. But they also contend that, had the
decree of the 18th April 1911, as the duke
of Bassano stated 10 Mir. Barlow, been COM
municated to our government at the time
it bears date, and by our government been
made known to England, she would have
repealed her orders in council and We
have had TO war with her. TO make good
a position of that kind, those who assume
1t must have knowledge of the temper
OF the British government beyond what
they have ever communicated to the pub
lie; and, so fer as the assertion may de.
pend on that sort of calculation, should
hold 1t wholly incontrovertible But if the
diplomatic correspondence and public acts
OF the British government are evidence
against them, is proven to demonstra-
ton they would not have repealed their or.
ders In council upon the production of the
decree of the 18th April 1911.
The prince regents manifesto of the
2lst of April 1912, after complaining of
the injustice of France, in respect to neu-
trails, and excusing the course adopted by
Great Britain under the plea of necessity
and as retaliatory of the DEGREES of Ber-
lin and Milan, proceeds to require repeal
Of those DEGREES as condition precedent
to the rescission of the orders in council
not modification of them so as not to aft