The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-07-30

. 'IINSitioht GIN NOlIld bCl on dCCCuOC,
have been so freely communicated with by
those who supported it.
Sir, wish gentlemen clearly and dis
unctiy to answer me this gues,ion-.SVill
they give up the principle of imprcssment
Nill they s'iier the petty officers of the
british navy to seize at their pleasure Anne
rican citizens, toice them into a foreign SER
vice, and compel them with stripes TO fight
the battles OF the enemy, even against that
country Which gave them birth If so, let
1t DC known to the people--lct il be pro-
claimed to this nation o. frecmcD-and let
the Inc of distinction be drawn between
those who will and will not submit TO this
tyranny of " the mistress of the seas"
Gentlemen have indeed said that they will
not hight for the question of impressment
But willthey surrender it? Will they weld
this point to the king Of Great Britain !?
VIII they say that the slaves 81 George the
So, have right to seize and drive into cap
uN!ty the fire emen of the American states !!
demand an answer, yea or nay. There is
no difficulty i'll understanding the question.
The gentleman from Newly York, (Mr. Gros-
vcnor) Ill atlver,ingto the correspondence
between Mr.. Monroe and MIR Foster, at
fccts great difficulty in understanding its
meaning. l Cannot sec wherein this diff
Guilty lies; the language is plain, void of
ambiguity, conveying distinct IDEAS, i'm clear
and unequivocal expressions. The same
gentleman has the modesty to tell YOU that
Mr.. Monroe and Mr. Foster did not I'M
derstsnd the meaning OF the words octuaNy
and Internationally. What, sill, your Sc
cretary OF State, who has visited i'm the cha
ractcr Of an American minister nearly half
the courts of Europe; he whose literary ac-
quircmeDts have done honor to this nation,
not understand the meaning Of the common
English words actually and unconditionaIGy
Mr. roster, too, the accredited minister of
the tast-anchored isle" sent by the Bri-
ish government upwards of three thousand
miles TO negotiate upon delicate and diff
cult points, is charged with the like igno-
rance. Sir, the gentleman who introduce
ed these resolutions, MIR. Webstcr) if he
has ever read his name-sake's spelling book,
ana no doubt he has) can readily cXpound
thcm Even school-boy Can tell you their
;neanlng.-l feel no great solicitude or ten
dcrncss about the reputation of the late Bri-
siSh minister, but surely he ought not to be
subject to this imputation.
In one idea advanced by the opposition,
perfectly concur: if the executive had re-
caived copy of the French decree previ-
Gus to the declaration Of war, and had with
held 1t from the British minister, | should
Say he deserved the eXccration of his Coun-
try The honorable gentleman who has
manifested such critical skill III language
might have drawn It's character in terms Of
blacklist import, and | would subscribe 10
it; but l know, with moral certainty, that
the answer Of the president will dissipate
every idea Of that kind--it will shew, that
in the whole OF this transaction, he has Con-
Quoted with fairness and uprigh;ness, and
from desire TO prevent conflict between
this and any other nation. Yes, sir, he has
acted in obedience to honorable feelings, TO
which many who duplicate him are entire
strangers.
1t Is said, that formerly, when Mr.. Jack
son insultld this government, there WIS
great solicitude manifested to resent it. Sir,
who manifested on that occasion DISPOSE
ton TO maintain the honor and dignity of this
nation l aiswcr,this side ofthe house. At
the same time, who palliated-who excused
who apologised for that greatest of out
RACES and who attempted, finally, to JUS
tliy 1t why, sir, the political associates of
these very men who have Just taken the
honor of this administration into their keep
ing.
The gentleman from New-Yor (Mr.
Grosycnor) says, that a suspicion prevails
among many of both parties in this country,
that French influence has found its way into
our councils l do believe that among the
prevailing party, the great majority of the
nation, there are none who suspect it. In
the opposition, am satisfied there are a few
who have been so far mised as to enter
tain such suspicion bat many are they
who speak Of French Influence, and do not