The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-16
= p i. +, C. II

DrGvered BY the Hon. Henry C20u, in the
House of Representatives. Of ~. United
States, on Friduy, the eighth day Of ia
nuary, 1918, on the Dill for raising an
additional Military force Of 14venfy
thousand Men for one year.
+ The House in committee fthe zyhoie, Mr..
Bio in she chair.]
(coNCLuDED.)
am sensible, MIR. Chairman that some
part of the debate, to which this bill has civ
en- rise, has been attended by circumstances
much to be regretted, not usual in this
House, and of which it is to be hoped there
will be no repetition. The gentleman from
Boston had so absolved himself from every
rule of decorun and propriety, had so out
ragged all decehcy, that / have found it inn
possible to suppress the feelings excited OH
the occasion. His colleague. whom had
the honor to follow (Mr. Wheaton, whate-
yer else he might not have proven, in his
very learned, ingenious and original expo
stion of the powers of this government-an
exposition in which he has aought, where
no body before him has looked, and no body
after him will examine, for grant of our
bowers, the preamble to the constitution
has clearly shown, to the satisfaction of all
who heard him, that the power is conferred
of defensive war. claim the benefit OF
similar principle, in behalf of my political
m.
] demand only the exercise of the right OF
repulsion. No one is more anxious than
am to preserve the dignity and the liberali-
" of debate--no member more responsible
for it's abuse. And If. on this OCCASION, it's
lust limits have been violated, let him, who
has been the unprovoked cause, appropri-
ate to himself exclusively the consequent
ees.
omitted yesterday, sir, when speaking
Of very delicate and painful subject, to
notice powerful engine which the conspi-
rators against the integrity of the Union en-
ploy to effect their nefarious pnrpose--I
mean Southern influence. The. true friend
20 his country, knowing that our constitu-
tion was the work of compromise, in which
interests apparently conflicting were at
tempted to be reconCiled, alma to cxtin-
guish or allay prejpdices., But this patrio-
tic exerton does not suit the views of those
who are urged eli by diatolcal ambition
They find it convenient to imagine, the ex-
isrence of certain improper Influences, and
20 propagate with their utmost industry, a
belief Of them. Hence the idea of Southern
breponderance-Virgin infuence-The
yokine of the respectable yeomanry of the
north, with the negro slaves, to the car of
Southern nabobs. If Virginia really che
rished a reprehensible ambition, and aimed
90 monopolize the chief magistracy of the
country, how was snch purpose to be
accomplished? Virginia, alone, cannot G.
lect a President, whose elevation depends
upon a plurality of electoral votes, and a
consequent concurrence OF many states
Would Vermont, disinterested PenDsylva-
MIA, the Caroiinas, independent Georgia,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, all
consent to become the tools OF an inordinate
ambition? But the present incumbent was
no {iir hefO
cessor had retired. How ? BY public SEN
timent--pubiIc sentiment which grew out
OF his known virtues, his ilustrious services,
and his distinguished abilities. Would the
gentleman crush this public sentiment---is
he prepared to admit that he would arrest
the progress OF opinions
The war was declared because Great
Britain arrogated t. herself the pretension
of regulating our foreign trade under tine
delusive name of retaliatory orders in coun-
ella pretension BY which she undertook
to proclaim 70 American enterprise,
''Thus far sh alt thou go, and no farther
orders which she refused to revoke after
sbe alledged cause of their enactment has
ceased because she persisted in the prac-
tice of impres:ag American scamen be.
cause she hid instigated the Indians to
A-onn1it hostiiittes against us; and because
kshe refuse indie mnIty for her past injuries
upon our commerce. i throw out OF the
question o her wrongs: The war III fact
was announced, on our part, to meet the
War wiiiDi, she vas -isH5, oI i,5T pait.--
So undeniable were the causes of the war -
DO powerfully did they address themselves
to the feelings of he whole 4 merican peo-
pie, that when the bill was pending before
this House, gentlemen in the opposition,
although provoked to debate, would NOT, or
could not, utter one syllable against it. IL
Is true they wrapped themselves up in sui
len silence, pretending that they did not
choose to debate such a question in secret
pessioU. Whist speaking at the proceed
ings on that occasion, beg TO be permitted
20 advert tn another fact that TRANSFERRED
an important fact. material for the nation
81 know, and which have often regretted
had not been spread upon our journals. My
honotabe colleague (AF. M'Kee) moved
in ommittee of the whole, to comprehend
France in the war; and when the que stOn
was taken upon the proposition, there APP
peared but ten votes in support of it, Of
whom seven belonged to this side of the
House. and three only to the other
II j. said that we were inveishled into the
war by the perfdy ol France, and that
had she furnished the document in time
which was first published IN England. in
Efay last, il would have been prevented
~iI cnu,ede 10 gentlemen every thing
tury ask ,d,uu, the injustice of France to-
wards tis c,untry. ! wish to Gnd that our
..oiuiy va, eqnal 70 our disposition to make