Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-20
SPECIE
OF THE
HON. JOSIAH QUINCY

HOINs SooA&Au
Delivered IN the H. of REPRESENTATIVES..
January S,
ONTHE NEW .ARMY BILL.
CONTINUED.
The actual condition OF those CO.
Ionies. and the relation in which they
stood to the United States. aDtece-
dent to the declaration of war, were
of this nature. These colonies had
M connexion with the questions IN
dispute between us and their parent
state. They had done US no injury
They meditated none to US. Be-
tween the inhabitants of those cole.
MES and the citizens Of the United
States. the most friendly and muta-
ally useful intercourse subsisted.--
The borders on this. and those on
the other side Of the ST. Lawrence,
and of the boundary line. scarcely.
realized that they were subjects OF
different governments. They inter
changed expressions and acts of ci.
,iIity. Intermarriages TOOK place a
mony them The Canadian some
times settled in the United States.
Sometimes; our citizens emigrated to
Canada. After the declaration of
war. had they any disposition to as
sai!us? We have the reverse express
win evidence. They desired nothing
so much as to keep perfect the then
subs;stipg relations of anity. Would
the conquest of those colonies shake
the policy of the British cabinet I
No man has she"n it. Unqualifi.
ed assertions. il is true, have been
made. but totally unsupported by
any evidence, or even the pretenee
Of argument. On the contrary, no
thing was more obvious than that an
ipyasion of Canada must strengthen
the ministry Of Great Britain, by
the excitement AMI sympathy. which
would be occasioned, in the people
Of that country. in consequence of
The suffarings ofthe innocent inhabi-
tants of those colonies. on account OF
a diaaute. in which they hail nc con-
Germ. aud of which. they had scarcely
A know ledge. All this was antici-
pated. All this was frequently urg-
ed TO this house. AT the last and pre-
eeding sessions. as the necessary ell
feet of such 4 measure. The event
| has justified those predictions. Tie
late elections in Great Britain have
| terminated in Tie complete triumph
| Of the friends uf the British mi
nia.,.,.- yrfR'rIiUs this change,
The conduct OF these United States,
in relation 10 Canada, has had, IN
deni.bis, mighty influence, by the
disgust and Indignation. felt by the
British people. at step so apparent
~ wanton and c'url.
Asthere was no direct advantage
to be hoped, from tre conques. Of
Canada, so also there was none incl
dental. P.nndcr there was none.
At least none, which would pay the
cost of the conquest. Glory there was
none. Could seven millions of PEG.
pie obtain glory. by precipitating
themselves upon half million and
rampIins them into the dust? A
giant OBTAIN glory. by crushing pig
my! That giant mus, have pig
my's spirit, who could reaper hope.
glory from such an achievement.
Surely people. with whom We
were connected. by so many natural
and ad,entitious ties had some claims
upon our humanity. Surely if our
duty required that they and theirs
should be sacrificed TO our interests.
our passions. some regret mingled
in the execution Of the purpose. We
postponed the decree Of ruin until
the last moment. We hes,tated-
We delayed. until longer delay was
dangerous. Alas! Sir. There was
nothing of this kind, or character,
in the conduct of the cabinet. The
war had not yet been declared. when
gen. Hull had his instructions TO put
in train the work Of destruetioD.-
There was an eagerness for the blood
of the Canadians, headlong preci-
pitaiion for their ruin, which indi-
Gated any thing else, rather than
feelings Of humanity or visitings Of
nature. on account of their condition. |
Our armies were on their march for
their frontier. while yet peace exist
ed between this country and the pa
rent state and the Invasion was OBJ
stinate!y pursued. after acknowledge |
.lSS .bo <t,:,f .-.nrnd 20 o,nf,o~a.e,-