The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-04
Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DEBATE ON THE NEW ARMY BILL
Mr.. Qu1NcY's SPEECH.
Congress.
W.T. W INNf , OFF &c H.
". f Concluded.

Twill now reply to those invitations to
'' union" which have been so obtrusively
urged upon us. If by this call to union is
meant an union in PROJECT for the invasion
of Canada or for the invasion of East Flori-
da, or tor the conquest at any foreign coun-
try whatever, either IS means of carry
ing on this war or for any other purpose,
answer distinctly; will unite with no man
nor any body OF man, for any such purposes.
think such protests criminal, in the high
est degree, aud ruinous to the prosperity of
these states. But if by this invitation is meant,
union, in preparation for defence, strictly
40 called union in fortifying our scaboard !;
union, in putting our cities into state Of
safety 1; union, in raising such a military
force as shall be sufficient. with the local
militia. in the hands of the constitutions
leaders, the executives of the states, tn
give rational degree of security, against
any invasion sufficient to defend orr from
tiers, sufficient to awe into silence the Indi
an tribes, within our territories union, in
creating such maritime force, as shall
comm and the seas, ON the American coasts,
and keep open the intercourse, at least be-
tween the states if this is meant, have
no hesitation union, on such principles, you
shall have from me, cordially, and faithful
]y.-Anc this. too, sir, without any refer
ence to the state of my opinion, in relation
u .
Because we'll understand such to be the
condition of man, in a social compact, that
he must partake of the fate of the society,
20 which he belongs, and must submit to-
the prvations and sacrifices, its defence
requires, Notwithstanding these may be the
result of the vices, or crimes, of its imme.
diate rulers. But there is great differ
ence, between supporting such rulers, in
plans of necessary self-defence, on which
or nTAe., IS La. Il
TALLY depends, and supporting them, in
projects of foreign invasion, and encourage
ing them, in schemes of conquest and am
bition which are, not only unjust, in them
selves, but dreadful, in their CONSEQUENT
ces; inasmuch as, let the particular pro-
Ject result as it may, the general effect
must be, according to human view,
destructive to our own domestic liberties
and constitution. speak as an individual,
Sir, for my single self, did / support such
projects, as are avowed to be the objects of
this bill, should deem myself, q traitor to
my country. Were / even 10 aid them, by
loan. or in any other way, should consi-
der myself a partaker, in the guilt of the
purpose. But. when these projects of in
vasion shall be abandoned {; when men
yield up schemes, which, not only openly
contemplate the raising of great militia
ry force, but also the concentrating them
at one point, and placing them in one hand !;
schemes obviously, ruinous to the fates of
a free republic as they comprehend the
means by which such have ever, hereto
fore, been destroyed when / say, such
schemes shall be abandoned, and the wish
ss OF the cabinet limited to mere defence,
and frontier and maritime protection, there
will be no need of call to union. For such
objects there is not, there cannot be, but
enc heart and soul. i'll this people.
know, Mr.. Speaker, that while utter
shese things, thousand tongues, and thou
sand pens, are preparing without doors
20 overwhelm me, if possible, by their pes
tiferous gall. Already, hear, in the air,
the sound Of" traitor, -" British agent
-" British goEd" and allthose charges of
vulgar calumny, by which the ina gina tons
Of the mass of men, are effected and by
which they are prevented, from listening
TO what is trae, and receiving what is rea-
sonable.
Mr.. Speaker, 1t we'll becomes any man,
standing in the presence of such nation as
Shis, to speak of himself seldom and such
q man as am, it becomes to speak of him
self, net NJ all except, indeed, when the
relations, in which he stands to his coun-
Try, are little known, and when the asser-
ton OF those relations, has some connexion,
and may have some influence, on interes s,
which it is peculiarly Incumbent upon him
TO support.
Under this sanction, say,---t is not for
man, whose ancestors have been planted.
in this country, now, for almost two centu-
ries it is not for a man, who has fami-
jy, and fr ends, and character, and chill
dren, and deep stake in the soil !; it is not
for a man, who is self conscious of being
rooted in that soil, as deeply, and as ex-
ciusively, as the oak, which shoots among
it's rocks; it is not for such man to hest
tate, or swerve a hairs breadth from his
couDtry's purpose, and true interests, be-
cause OF the yelpings. the howlings, and
snarlings OF that hungry pack, which, cor
rupt men, keep, directly or indirectly, in
pay, with the view of hunting down every
man, who dare to develoDe their purposes ;
a pack, composed, it is true, of some ma
tive ours. but for the most part of hounds
and spaniels, Of very recent importation
whose backs are scared by the lash
and whose necks are sore with the collars
OF their former masters. In fulfilling his
duty, the lover of hrs G0untry, must otter
be obliged to breast the shock of calumny
1t called To that service, lie will meet the
exigency, with the same firnness, as should
another occasion call, he would breast the
shock of battle. No, sir, am not to be de
tered by such approximations. May Hea-
ven SO deal with the, and mine, as / an
true, or faithless, to the best interest Of thi,
people May IL deal with me, ACCORDING
To It's just judgments, when I fail to bring
men & measures, to the bar Of pubic opin.