The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-28

u Few remarks upon the intention on the
American cabinet thus unequivocaliy avow-
ed. i am mtluted to this from the know
ledge. which have, THAI this design is not
deemed to be serious b. some men OF both
political parties; as well within this House
as out OF it, know that some of the friends
at the present administration do consider
the proposition AS a mere fcint, made for
the purpose of putting good face Upon
things, and of strengthening the hope
ut successful negotiation, by excl
ting the apprehensions 81 the British ca
biret. for the fate of their colonies. know,
also, that some of those, who are opposed
IN political sentiments to the men. who are
now at the head of affairs, laugh at these
schemes OF invasion and deem them hard
~ worth their controversy, on account of
their opinion of the imbecility Of the Ame-
rican cabinet, and the embarrassment of
its resources.
l am anxious that no doubt should exist,
upon this subject, either in the House. or
~ the nation. Whoever considers the OBJ
liect at this bill, to- be any other than that,
which has been avowed. is mistasen.--
Whoever believes this bill, to be man OF
peace, or any thing else, than an instru-
ment of vigorous aud long protracted war.
is grievously deceived. And whoever acts
under such means or such deception, will
have to lament one of the grossest, tand
perhaps one of the most critical errors of
his political life.
/ warn, therefore, my political opponents,
those honest men, of whom | know there
are some. who. paying only general at
tention To the Course of public affairs, sub
NIT the guidance of their opinions to the
men, who stand at the helm, not to vote
for this bin, under any belief that it's OBJ
| lect is to aid negotiation for peace. Let
such gentlemen recur to their past eXpe-
rience. OH similar occasions. They will
( md that it has been always the case,
whenever any obnoxious measure is abont to
be past, that its passage Us assisted by the
aid OF some such collateral suggestions -
| NJ sooner do the cabinet perceive that any
potion, which they intend to administer,
is loathed by considerable part of the
majority, and that their approximations are
alive lest it should have a scowering eff
feet upon their popularity, than certain
! under-opcrators are set to work, whose
business 1t is to amuse the minds, and be-
guile the attention, OF the patient while
Fhe dose is swallowing. The language al
ways IS" Trust the Cabinet DOCTORS
The medicine will not operate as YOU
imagine, but quite another way" After
this manner the fears of men are allayed,
and the purposes of the administration are
4 SSCSllOuS, very Qllierenl
from the true motives. Thus the embargo
which has since been unequvocallv &C
knowledged to have been intended to CO.
cree Great Britain, was adopted, as the
Executive asserted, " to save our essential
resources. so also, when the present
war was declared against Great Britain,
members OF the House were known to
state, that they voted for it, under the sug
gestion that it would not be war of ten
days, that it was known that Mr.. Foster
had Instructions to make dehntive ar
Engagements, in his pocket and that the
| United States had only to advance to
the point Of war, and the whole business
would be settled. And now, an army,
which in point of numbers, Cromwell nigh,
envy, greater than that with which Cesar
passed the RubiCon, is to be helped thro
n reluctant Congress, under the suggestion
OF its being only a parade force to make
negotiation successful that it is the Incl
pieDt state of project, for grand pacif-
| cation.
warn also my political friends. These
gentlemen are apt to place great reliance
on their own intelligence and sagacity.-
Some OF these will tell you, that the invasi-
on of Canada is impossible. They ask
where are the .men-where is the money
to be obtained! And they talk very wise
iy concerning cOmnon sense and common
| prudence, and will show, with much learn
| ing, how this attempt is an offence against
| both the one and the other; but, sir, it has
been my lot, to be an observer of the cha
racter and conduct OF the men now in pow
err, tor these eight years past. And state
without hesitation, that no scheme ever
will be rejected by thcm, merely on &C
count OF its running counter to the ordinary
dictates ct common sense and common pru-
dence. On the contrary, on that very &C
Count, believe it more likely to be both
suggested and adopted by them. And
what may appear paradox, for that very
reason, the chance is rather increased that
it will be successful.
i could illustrate this position twenty
ways. shall content myself with remark
| ing only upon two instances, and those re-
cent; the present war, and the late invasi-
on Of Canada. When war asainst Great
! Britain was proposed at the last session.
there were thousands in these u. States.
and confess 10 you, was myself among
the number, who believed not one word OF
the mater. put my trust in the old fashi-
4 oned notions OF common sense, and common
| prudence. That a people, which had
been more than 20 years at peace, should
enter upon hostilites, against people
which had been 20 years at war that a
! nation, whose army and navy were little
| more tuan ncmIHaI, suOuIU engage IN war
I with nation possessing one Of the best ap-
pointed armies and the most powerful ma
! rine on the globe that a country, TO which
neutrality had been q perpetual harvest
should throw that great blessing away for
n controversy in WHICH nothing was 10 be
| gained, and every thing valuable put IN