Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-20
MR.. HANsoN's sEcoNDsPEEcH
Mr.. WrBsrsR's RESOLUTIONS!
Concluded.

Mr.. Hanson Wouiu fotu"
more to the gentleman from len
ncssee, (Mr. Grundy) whom ne was
not yet willing to leave.
He observed it was a remark
made by one of the greatest, bs Il
and most consistent statesmen OF this
or any ether age that " if any one
criterion more than all the rest. DIS
tinguished wise and prudent go
yernment, from an administration
weak and improvident, it was this,
7Uell to lsno1c. 1chen and in Uhat
manner to surrender that zchich 1t
ucas impossible to keep Let this
maxim be regarded in the present
case. 1t applies TO individuals as
we'll as governments, and they may
find their account in respecting the
experience of Edmund Burke. 1
know, said MIR. Hanson, a deaf ear
will not only be turned to this ad-
vice, but il may be met with sneers
and ridicule. / knew sir, it is not
in the nature of imbc"iIity, and its
concomitant obstinacy TO benefit by
experience, or to acknowledge any
other influences, or yield to any o.
Their impulses, than the passion of
the moment. They never draw les
sons of wisdom from adversely: for
folly is sure to be rendered obdu-
rate by misfortune. You find in
private life beings of this descrip-
ton. perverse and headstrong in
proportion to the uniformity of their
failures and disappointment. Like
mules they plant their feet in the
ground, and can neither be led nor
driven. Once overreached and pur-
sued by misfortune, they plunge
deeper and deeper into difficulty
they will multiply their desperate
adventures from some ten, twenty
to hundred fold. 1t is a most de-
sperate gambling policy they pursue.
a policy which can alone be likened
unto gambling, when the unfortu-
nate adventurer doubles and redou-
bIes bis risk, upon the plan of shoot
ing another arrow in the same direc-
ton TO bring back that which is
lost.
The gentleman from Tennessee,
has said much Of British influence,
in connection with his doctrine OF
moral treason. Before he takes the
mote from our eye, let him pluck the
beam from his own. Let him judge
net. lest he be judged. But among
the leading prominent causes of this
W ar, that of particular foreign pre-
objections and partialities-that of
French influence is never advertedto,
but an instant ferment, a fame is
blown up in this house. threatening
TO devour all obnoxious TO its fury.
Why truly. sir, (said Mr.. H. the
wonder with me is, that any doubt
OF delicacy should be felt upon that
subject. 1t is matter OF historical
record. the annals Of all time show
it, from the days of the Caesars
down to those of your Napoleons,
that all nations, Il concometdntibus,
ec risceribns rel have had their To-
reign partialities, their favorites,
their allies. know not that hu-
man nature has undergone any such
changes as to forbid or refute the
supposition Of a particular foreign
leaning in the councils Of our. coun-
try. for nothing is more natural or
easier accounted for. Is not human
nature the same in this hemisphere,
that it is in Europe ! and does not
the gentleman know that Holland
had her Sclimmelpcnninck, Austria
her Cobentzel, Sweden her old dot
ing treacherous Duke Of Smderma-
mia. and Spain her Prince OF Peace?
At different periods. every nation of
Europe. even England once during
the SteuaTt dynasty. has avowed,
has not pretended to deny or conceal
an attachment and subserviency to
France. And yet, sir. there can be
no question had any one presumed
to suspect Godoy on the very day he
sold his country, and the wages OF
treason we're paid, his head would
have been the forfeit for such sus-
picion. if within the traitors reach.
So sure is it that tylants and wick
ed men. that the guilty are always
most cruel, most implacable, most
relentless and sanguinary. They
seek to cover their crimes by the
effect of terror, rage and blood. No
nation felt this French influence, or