Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-14
Mr.. cRuNsY's SPEECH
ON
MR. WlssTsR's REsoLUTIoNs:
(eogeLUDED

Remarks have fallen from gentlemen
which merit reply. An honorable meH-
Der from New-York (Mr. Oakley has
told you, sir, that we have charged upon
the opposition all the calamities and dis
asters of the war. am one of the &C.
cusers, but do not raise the accusation
against those who voled against thc var
upon this floor, nor against any WHO ex-
press their opinions against II elsewhere
/ know there are many in the opposition
who are governed by honest motiVes'
who oppose the war from an booes' con
vic,ion, and whose opposition IS confined
within reasonable and constitutional
bounds. Whom then do | accuse 1
accuse him, sir, who processes himself
to be the friend of this country and en-
Joys its protection, vet proves himself by
MS actions 10 be the friend OF It's enemy
i accuse him who sets himself 10 work
systematically 10 weakcn the arm ct his
government BY destroying It's credit and
dsmping the al dor ofu. cltizens-i ac'
cuse him who has used bis exer;ions to
defea, the loan and 20 prevent the young
men Of the country from going forth to
fight their cosntry's battiss-l accuse
him who Announces with Joy the disas'
tiers Of our arms, and sickens INTO me-
lanchoIy when he hears IT our success
such men | cannot consider TRENDS to
this paiion
Sir speak in plain language, because
am speaking the language OF truth IN
the cause of my country. | ask, how
is this war 10 be carried on and how are
we TO gain an advantage over the enemy!
Money has Justly been called The S'ne7y
of scar without money men cannot be
raised, and without men battles cannot
be gained--yct battles must be fought
and gained before teoce, safe, hon'ra.
DIE, and durable, Can be obtained Tor this
nation. Is not that man then subscribing
the interest Of the enemy, who 10 the ex.
tent Of his power keeps money from
our Golfers and men from our armies
And what sir, is the greatest CRIME
known to our constitution and laws! II
a citizen goes over TO the enemy and
arms in his behalf, he is guilty OF tres
sen. The overt act is coHsumn'atcd, &
the wickedncss of his heart IS demon
s;r.ted. Should the same citizen remain
amongst US, and employ himself IL aid
ing the enemy by paraIslng the Material
energies, is not the turpi'ude OF his con
duct and his moral guilt equally great !
Does he not serve the enerr as ehec'u-
ally Nay more. suppose he shall sue
coed in preventing ter men from join
lug the army, b.s he ret 'en'@red inc e.
nemy much more service tn"n i he lad
actually Joined the r.ags cf the enemy,
and raised the sword in his favor 10
nv mind, il is impossible 20 dIa" line
of distinction bctw cen adding 10 the
strength OF the enemy ahd taking rom
the strength Of hrs own cpuntry In
both cases Ae is working the ruin OF his
country, so iar as that result depends Oh
his eXertions--sbd the only difference
TO himself IS, thai 10 one Case he ,otteits
hi. life for his crime in the Other he
lives an object of public execration ard
loaded with the adherence OF all good
men,
While upon the subject Of the war s.
the conduct of opposition, suffer ne,
Mr.. Speaker, to devote another moment
to the almost incomprebeDslble part
which they are seen to act They call
themselves The friends efteaee, yet what
step do they take to procure 1t for their
country? Now that the war RACES up
ON the frontiers, peace Can only be OBJ
tanned BY expelling the enemy from cur
borders, or by negotiating With him.
which method does the opposition pre-.
fer? 1t cannot be the former, because
they Withhold from the government. so
far as they can do so, all the means OF
efTectine it. Is it the latter! Then
why not come out with Candid decla.
ration in favor of the Russian mediation
-shv not rejoice that an extraordlna-
nv mission is dispatched to St, Peters
burgh? And yet upon this subject an
impenetrable silence has been preserved,
no sentence of appreciation has escaped
theirlips from them we, have not heard
the Empero, of Russia appl:uded Tor
his friendly disposition manifested to-
wards this country, by interPosing his
Offices between the two nations. Sir, IN
eternal cry Of peace, peace, peace Is
kept up. while at the same time, ooJec-
ton after objection, difficulty after Diff
Gully. obstacle after obstacle. is thrown
il The way of the government. In every
attempt made to bring the war TO spec
dy termination Every attempt to ne
gociate is treated with rldicuie, and G.
very means of carrying OF the war sue
eessfuliy is Wilhheld so far as they Can
effect it and these are the friends OF
peace Can gentlemen believe that the
American people are to be deceived AID
~ -, oe.fessianc n.b;rh