The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-30

OF Massachuse tts-Indeed. of all New Eng
s'ahu-'ook Tor the sources of their politi-
Cal duties no where else than in those foun
tains, from which spring their moral duties.
According to their estimate of human life &
It's obligations, both political & moral duties
emanate from the nature of things, and from
the essential and eternal relations which
subsist among them. True it is. that
state OF war gives the right to seize and
appropriate the property and territories of
AN enemy True it is, that the colonies of a
foreign power are viewed, according to the
law OF nations, in the light of its property
put IN estimating the propriety of carrying
uesolation into the peaceful abodes of their
neighbors, the people OF New England will
not limi. their contemplation to the mere
circumstance OF abstract right, nor ask what
lawyers and Jurisprudists have written or
saio, as II this was conclusive upon the sub
JeCt. nat people are much addicted to
think for themselves, and in canvassinp the
propriety OF such an invasion, they will con-
sider the actual condition of those colonies.
their natural relations to us, and the effec.
winch their conquest and ruin will have. not
only upon the people of those colonies. but
upon themselves, and their own liberties and
constitution. Above all, what know will
seem strange to some of those who hear me.
they will not forget to apply to a case &C.
CURING between nations, as far as is pract;-
cable, that heaven-descended rule which
the great author and founder of their rel;
gion mas given them for the regulation of
their Conduct towards each other. They
VIII Consider it the duty of these United
States to act towards those colonies. as thev
would wish those colonies to act. in ex.
chahSe OF circumstances, towards these u.
States.
The actual condition of those colonies. &
tue reia'ioh III which they stood to the u. S.
arteceoene TO the declaration of war, were
OF TINS nature. Those colonies had no con-
neXion with the questions in dispute between
us ana their parent state. They had done
us no injury. They meditated none to us
between the inhabitants of those colonies &
the cltizens OF the U. States the most friend
" and mutually useful intercourse subsisted
The borderers on this, and those ON the q.
ther side OF the St. Lawrence, and of the
boundary line, scarcely realized that. thew
W, were subjects of different governments
lney lnterchanged expressions and acts of
CNiiity. mermarriages took place among
mem, ne canadian sometimes settled in
ene ". o1ates sometimes our citizens e.
migrated to Canada. After the declarati-
an or war. had they any disposition to as
san us We have the reverse expressly
IN evidence. They desired nothing SO much
as 10 keep perfect the then subsistinp rela
lions OF amlty- Would the conquest of those
colonies shake the policy of the British ca.
oinet NO man has shewn it. Unqualified
assertions, it is true, have been made, but
totally unsupported by any evidence, or e.
ven tha pretence of argument.
on the contrary, nothing was more obvi-
Gus than that an invasian of Canada must
strengthen the ministry of Great Britain
oy the excitement and sympathy which
would be occasioned in the people of that
country IN consequence of the sufferines of
the innocent inhabitants of those colonies. ON
account ct dispute iii which they had no
concern, and of which they had scarcely
knowledge. AL this was antieipated-aIl
TINS was frequently urged to this House at
the iast and preceding sessions, as the ne
cessary effect of such measure. The
event has justified those predictions. The
l,te elections in Or: B. have terminated in
the complete triumph of the friends of the
British ministry. In effectine this chance
the conduct of the United States in relation
to canada has had undenably a mighty
influence. by the disgust and indignation
ieit oy the British people at step so ap-
parently wanton and cruel.
AS there was no direct advantage to be
hoped from the conquest Of Canada. so also
there was none incidental. Plumber there
was hone-at least, none which would paw
the cost OF the conquest. Glory there was
none. Gould seven millions of people oh.
tain glory by preCipitatng themselves
upon hall million aud trampling them into
the dust: giant obtain glory by crush
ing a pigmy That giant must have a
plgmy's spirit who could reap. or hone
glory from such an achievement
surely people. with whom we were con-
neCted oy SO many natural and adventurous
ties, had some claims upon our humanity
surely 1t our duty required that they and
theirs should be sacrificed to our interests
OF our passions, some regret mingled in the
execution OF the purpose. We postponed
the decree OF ruin until the last moment.
we hesitated we delayed until longer de
lay was dangerous. Alas sir, there was
nothing OF this kind or character in the
rnnhnct ~ .te cabinet. ne war mad nor
yet been declared, when general Hull had
MS instructions to put in train the work of
destruction. There was an eagerpess for
the blood OF the Canadians-a headlono
precipitation for their ruin, which indicated
any thing else rather than feelings of huma
nity' OF visltiDgs of nature, on account of
thelr Condition. Our armies were on their
march Tor their frontier, while vet peace
existed between this country and the ma.
rent slate and the invasion was obstinatejv
pursued after knowledge that the chief
ground oil controversy was settled, by the
abandonment of the British orders in conn
Gil, and after nothing remained but a stale
ground OF dispute, which, however impor-
tant III itself, was of a nature which no man