Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-11
SPEECH
OF THE

OF THE.
HON. HERMANUS BLEECKER,
Delivered in the II, Of Rrtresen! sives,
January 7.
ON THE VIEW ARMY BILL.
Mr.. CuA,RMAK-I have a few very
desultory, and fear, very unlmport9nt
observations to make or the subject now
before the committee. They will be
few, not because the subject does not
abound with various fruitful and inte-
resting topics but because an lndisro'
sition of some days has united nae tor
any considerable effort of memory.
was opposed to the war when it Was
declared, because I was confidently per-
suaded that the evils of which we COM
planned, were OF 4 nature not to be re-
medied BY war thought TOO, sir, that
by entering into war, we were plung'ng
ourselves into evils MILTON fold great
er than those from which we sought to
be relieved Il was opposed TO the wa"
because thought, that Notwithstanding
all the DEGREES and orders of the hriil-
gerents affecting our neutral r'gh's we
might enjoy commerce more .rx'en'
slys and profr.b II n We could have
in i. tine OF European peace: The "a'
liz Europe was IN fact, blessing TO this
country. ] was opposed TO the war, be-
Cause knew that The Whole OF one oi
the great political parties in the northern
ana eastern, he n ost commercial sec
tim OF the country, which was most in,
tcrested in the avowed objects Of the
war, openly condemned 1t; and be
lieved that great portion OF The other
patty was secretly opposed 10 it. This
objection was to NY mind perfectly con
elusive. If there had been no other
reason against the war, this was enough.
What, sir, Sc to war when that part OF
the country, which has most of its
wealth, strength and resources. is decid
edly opposed to it go to war for COM
mercial and maritime rights, when the
people of that part Of the country which
is principally interested in its commerce
and navigation, openly execrate war !!
1t seemed to me, that it became le-
gislators who we're disposed to exercise
a palernal regard over the interests of
the nation, 10 give up their own opinions,
their prejudices and partiali'ies, rather
than 60 to war with apeople thus divid-
ed. And permit me to say, sir, without
any disparsgement to the members of
this house, that thousands and tens Of
thousands Of the Inhabitants OF that part
of the country of which l have been
spe king, are as competent to under
sand the true interests ard honor ct the
nati"n, as gentlemen who happen 10 bc
members OF congress.
vas opposed to the war, because !
thought it might expose our happ! form
of government; our excellent political
Institutions 10 dangerous trial was
afraid, sir, :bat the war might produce
pressure upon the government. which
it wo, Id 10, be able to sustain. was
opposed TO the war, &, tAis was the BIT
te, drought, because it brought us intc
concert and cooperation with the g'ea'
destroyer. the grand enemy of freedom
ard humanity throughout the world
/ vas opposed to the war, because be
lieved that the state Of things in Europe.
out of which our difficulties arose,
state of things which the United States
had ne power to control was in Its nature
transeient. Rather than plunge ouI.
selves into the vortex Of European poli
Tics, rather than encounter the evils an
dangers Of war, thought it wouid be