The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-11-15

uau ho' opportunity 10 discover the ineffi-
cheney OF has scheme or what is more pro-
bable 1t was the production of more faciIe
pen, as well as the conception of less xe
nelous heart, than he holds or possesses.
and that ms pretended party friends, who
no dooot ieei mortified at the respect in
"hlcn he is held by the majority, on this
occasion made him the burden bearer. If
they succeeded in inveiglns the majority
INTO 1ooish act OF elimination of the exc
cuiive, and the exposure of unbccomine.
weakness 1t was well. Ifthey did not they
used man for the wounding of whose
feelings they felt no compunction. Had
the enemy's cannon shook the capitol the
resolution was wholly inadmissibIe both
as being useless and containing sentiments
the house could not hold or adopt The
resolution itself and the proposed object
oil the mover were al variance. His ral-
liant spirit painted 10 NEE, his country's enc
mics IN arms, and hence he had overlooked
the real drift OF the resolution, which was
10 commit the house into aud act OF extreme
'nlustice as 1t respected the executive and
oi loiiy as 1t concerned themselves. Nv
tnls measure the house of representatives
OF the United States of America wherein
moment OF ap2rehended danger to Quit
'heif pubic duties to go in search of milf
tary adventures. 1t has been said more
courage is required to meet death from
the hand OF the executioner or the assassin
than lii the field nf blood g midst war and
slaughter and the clash of arms" IF tba
ooject han been TO perform a public duty
at every personal hazard, and il had been
oeheved that the enemy were advancing.
owe might have supposed the highest cou.
rage could have been tried in initiating the
senators at ancient Rome who fell in their
! seats beneath the swords OF the GauIs.
10 return to our mar, alive. The maio.
rity received the fire from the masked hat.
lery, wan the most provoking coolness.
Col. i'oup remarked tina, 10 his knowldue
ana he Is chairman Of The military COM
'nittee) there was force in the district
sufhclent TO make formidable defence.
| hat he could rely with some confidence on
the maritime force, in connection with fort
Warburton, and that he did not see the ius.
| tihoation for such alarm even if the ensmv
were Certainly approaching, which was
tact however, in his mind not vet estah.
| iished. But, said Mr. 4. there are c,hrr
considerations that go to shew there is no
necesslty tor SO much alarm. The execn.
tive must have better information than anv
member vi this house. If, i'm his opinion
the deliberations of congress were likely
to be interrupted by an incursion of the
2'emy, the duty of giving timely informa-
Ton OF ito congress would not have been
neglected. This he thong bit under presen,
circumstances, the house was bonnd ,o
presume. IT, however, there wac an,,
fause OF distrust as TO executive VIGILANCE
ana hdeiit!, Why not adopt the regular
course OF all enquiry by committee
Some OF the majority who, followed colooeI
}. wsr' Tor rejecting the resolution, as nor
only useless but highly improper others
were wiling there should be an cnouirv-
lie mover explained he did no, mean 20
say me district was without defence en-
tirely' but that 1T had scarce any, and that
the resolution carried any improper re.
nection on the executive, il was NOT his
intention IL should aud he was willing To
modify 1t, SO as only to provide for the pub
nc security. Messts Hanson. Grospenor.
Pearson, and ;he celel fa.ed William Ste.
pheps Smith, Of Miranda expedition-me-
! mory, urged the adoption Of the resoln.
tlon, in all tie trepidatiou OF the most
alarming approximations. One Of the ora
ors exclaimed, in all the ardor Of Sem.
pronious, Can we sit here in cold debate
while the waf is laundering on our cor,
fines :" Mr.. Pearson said he was vcrv "a,
and should not have come down 20 ,ho
nonse but from wish that sometime,
'hou'd be done to rcpei the enemy. His
Nurpr'ze mad been extreme TN fbdine the
mouse cody deiiberalibg on the Legislative
business OF the nation, at a moment when
every man ought to be girding on his ar.
NOR 70 defend the capitol. Hanson had
sfI u