The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-06-30

formed the conduct of France iu relation
to that matter, was as he had frequently
believed it to be, .nsincere base and abomi-
nable. He wished that every man in the
nation might see and detest it.
MIR. Shelley said the honorable member
from Kentucky might as well vote aeainsc
| the enquiry altogether, as substitute the,
motion which he had read. 1t was no doubt
well known to that gentleman, that reso-
luton In the very terms perhaps which he
had read, had been adopted at the last ses.
sion, the result of which we have seen.
The same answer might be expected to the
resolve read by the gentleman, if it wa,
adopted in preference to those now under
consideration.
Mr. M'Kee said he had 10 knowIedpe
OF the adoption at the last session of a re.
solution similar to that which he had NOV
ed. If such an one could be shown on
the Journals, he would withdraw his mo.
ton.
MIR. Shelley then quoted the journal OF
me ISL oil March last, containing aresolu-
| ton, moved by Mr.. Goldsboroueb. callino,
for an authenticated copy of the decree
purporung TO be a revocation of the de-
crecs of Berlin and Milan, and also for i'm.
formation as to the time and manner of itn
communication, &c.
believe it will be found, continued Mr.
D. that this motion, then adopted, substa-
TALLY embraces the requisition contained i'm
the motion OF the gentleman from Ken
lucky. That resolution required COPY of
| the decree in question, together with in.
formation OF the time and manner of its
! communication and also any correspon.
! denee OF facts related thereto ask the
gentleman whether he recollects the resulc
OF TINS enquiry. Did we get any informa-
| ton as TO the time and manner of DronuI->
| eating that decree We had communies,s
tea To us,.wfthout any explanation or deola.
| ration on the part of the executive. several
extracts of letters from Mr. Barlow n The.
secretary OF state, In one of which if ex-
pressiy said, that the duke of Bsssano did
stase that the repeating decree had been.
communicated to our government THROUGH
TWO channels, at as early date as Nav
1911. What follows Either the asser.
ZION ci the duke of Bassano is true or II il
not true. Whether it be or be not trn4. IL.
a matter highly important to this nation. 70,
the people, to their representatives. IN
whom is committed the administration and
superintendance of their affairs sot omit,
SO iar as the constitution has committed q
Legislative duty to this house, but, also. -.
Tar as IL is Its duty to see that the power.
conhded TO the other departments of tho.
government arc honestly and fairly execn,N
ed 1t the president in gil was possesses
OF this decree, as has been asserted nv IT,.
French minister, | hesitate not to nv
nounce' under the high responsibility oe
| my SITUATION, as member ofthe Grand In
quest OF tTe nation, that the conduct or th..
president deserves not only the scrnt:n,,
OUT Tue apprehension of the nation fo,.
such information would shew that the ma
ton has been involved in war vitbou, .i-
| least necessity. 1t is manifest, that ie ,h;e.
decree was known to our poyernmsrt;, =.
l8l J., and had been known To the noo,,in
| and used In the manner it oupbt n 49,
been, the orders IN council, the great cause.
OF the war, would have been done away
and, II they had, would any man saw tb,-
we should have been plunged into the dis
astrous and ruinous war i'm which I'VE ar.
| now engaged 1t is undeniable, ietbe o.
ders IN council had been repealed, that VIC,
should not have been engaged in the nre-
sent war. l conceive, that the resoln,;onx
ought to be specific, TO remain as ,bav 90,
Ii we want any information at all, II ;s ,has
designated III the words moved 70 =. 80.
| plunged by the gentleman from Sou,h g.
| rollna. 1t may turn out, and hone 4 will
that tie French assertion i'm this r,sn.ny
was, as French assertions generals .re
false, and to have been onlv AN ,;,ar,se
further to lnveigle us. l hone tba, VII
turn cut to be the case in Some decre.T
am confident such will prove TO he ,be fact
Atnoush DO not agree with the president
Oh !he u D. In his present policy, cbaritv
ana my own opinion of his personal cb,rac-