Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-17
SPEECH
OF THE

HON. HERMANUS BLEECKEN'
Delivered IN the II. Of Representatives.,
January Z,
ONTHE NEW ARMY BILL.
CONCLUDED.
But after all. Mr.. Chairman. what
is the extent OF the evils. anti how
stands the accsunt between US and
Great Britain? In the whole period
Of the European war. according to
the statement furnished by the secrs-
tary of state, 625s seamen have been
impressed from American vessels
This includes person, of all nations.
Danes, Swedes, Germans. Dutch, &c.
All but 1900 have been discharged.
Probably at no one time have more
than 1900, or at the utmost 1000
men, including British subjects, i'm
pressed from American vessels, been
employed in British service. And
it will be remembered. that not long
before war was declared, the British
minister offered to restore all Anne
riean seamcn that had been impress
ed.
We are supposed to have in our
service 10000 seamen-Of these,
from ten TO fifteen thousand. at least.
arc supposed to be British subjects.
So, sir. it aDyears shat the complaints
of Great Britain on this subject. are
not unfaunded, nor unreasonable.
1t is somewhat strange. sir, that
though three fourths of the native
American sailors belong to New York
4 the eastern states. yet these states
are forced into the war by the peo-
pie ofthe western states, who have
no sailors, who have never seen a
sailor.
But, sir. will the evil Of which we
complain. be remedied by the means
proposed. Sailors rights are the OBJ
iect-the conquest Of Canada the
means. Will Great Britain yield TO
you when you have conquered Cana
da !? What is Canada TO her? 1t con-
tributes nothing TO her strength, nor
will tic conquest diminish her means
Of annoying us. 1t will rouse all
her pride, and make her more inflex-
idle than ever with respect to what
she considers her maritime rights.
ask, sir, wherefore is the conquest
aud possession otthe countr, desira-
bic TO US II Great Britain were now
willing 70 surrender il TO US. would
give my vote against accepting it
1t would be a curse TO us. Our ter
ritory is already too extensive. The
union is already composed Of toe jar
ring materials. Why increase them?
The government is already pressed
by a weight i, can hardly bear: why
add 10 III Will Canada compensate
us for New York and New Orleans?
For our ravaged coast :; for the mil.
lions upon millions which will be an
rually lost by the annii.:lation dour
commerce in consequence ofthe war'
Sir, the amount we Lose BY having
our ports shut up for mos. is WORT:
more TO us than all Canada.-You
cannot conquer it without vast ey-
pence Of blood and treasure. without
bringing upon the people an ennrn
Gus Lad Of debt and taxes. It the
conquest can be accomplished. II will
require vastly more time. force and
cNpence than sen;.emeu imagine.
But, sir, shall We succeed in the at
tempt vii! tic project Of the com.
nittre on military af..irs afford us
The means Of success? And here,
differ with sumo Of my friends ON
this side Of the house. do not be-
lieve SO much in orr ability 10 con
Iuer Canada as some gentlemen
seem to 90. The physical force of
the nation, and the means ofexerting
that force are very difitrcn; things.
We were told in this house in The
month of May last, that in six weeks
after the declaration of War, we
should be in possession Of the whole
Of the Upper. and great part Of the
Lower PROVINCES Of Canada. / did
DOT believe word oft. l thought
that it would have been more reason.
able TO have spoken Of six years for
the conquest. did not believe that
we should in The then next campaign
get possession OF an inch ofthe coun-
Try. 1t is nov proposed TO send a
force of 10000 mea into Canada.
and this force is to make the con-
Duest the next eamnairn. I do mt