Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-03-17
Rsasrrse Soy saf .il<raadria Gazette.
MR. siIIpHERD,s SPEECH,

Dsltoered IN Coamitfee Of the WAete g
gainst fas Army BR.
MB. CHAiRMsS,
/ cannot agree with gcatiemens tnaf
arguments against the war, arc uncon-
nected with the bill before the commits
tee. This bill is framed to encourage
she rscraitinr of soldiers, TO offer an ex-
tray agant bouaty, 70 use the language c.
yer tue way, IS to tempt the cupidity of
our respectable Young raen." Whate.
yer reasons can be offered against the
war, are equally ressans gainst this bill,
for il va withhold supplies from the 60.
yernment of men or moae~, We therssy
pot en- end to the prosecution OF the
war.
Before I make apy remarks directly
10 he bill on yoar table MIR. Chairman,
I feel constrsihcd to notice, the old sub
iest OF u,Srsl treason, renewed by The
:hsnorsble gentleman from Tennessee
Z (Mr Grundy) in speech in support ct
tie bill. He has coDdsscended to treat
rs with defiolnon of thr erime, in so
enlarged manner, that even the mino
ritz on this floor, which the gentleman
last session, In the plenitude OF his cir
rscacy, saw Fl. 10 spare, will be far'u-
nais il they escape being enmeshed in
bis ret.
We are told By the gentlemen 10 what
moral treason consists, and it he Is CO.. /.
rectiy understood, it extends to thou sit,
word and deed. Think, speak or act o.
gainss the gentlemsn's war. and he fss-
teus upon your soul the crime. Indesd
If YOU omit To sapport II, by loans, hy
advice, by encouraging your friends 70
enlist, oy loud applauses and earnest
cnmnea9stions, YOU ars smutfed With
g ,iorat treason ("
Noy SIR, ,lo not subscribe to the
dortrine, aud shall accept tho challenge
80 argue the point; and feeble as my
fscuhics are, have no fears OF tearing g.
way the edo web woye rouHd tbis sub
icct, and exposing the eXtravagant alb
surdity of the position.
Ooe cannot nc guilty OF treason in Law,
without liftirg his arin against The go.
sernment. 10 commit this crime he
miisJ sc, at deSance the sovereignty and
power 81 the state and as such acts
constitute tue crime legally, it may e.
ssi,y he sapnnseA the moral traitor, most
Ser az defiance the authority and ohliga-
ton of moral principles, the mcr>l Law
not only be infrin red, out something
more, les vali1lty its sovereignty ever
tho heart ana conscissce must be denied,
and all the feelings and PASSIONS be arm
ed in hosiIie phaIanx, asainst the whole
yporai k;nxdesn. IL ynoral treason can
exist wMsh IS doubtful, certain | am,
Z th:.t re sin af differing in opinion from
the eSioriy viii not constitute the
cri,ne.
The gentlsman's doctrine shall be
tested by the Constitution, by the, senU-
inc principles Of civil and religious d.
barry. IVY the purest laws of our nature.
and the ,,ill mare Imposing laws OF the
sRsATop. Aad If on tfIis trial 1t shall
apoear tina, se are wrong. then, there
can be no douht but We must confess
rrnent and rssorn but if otherwise
we shaM clsin 10 be exempted from a.
nv further charges ofthe kind.
/. The coz stitution, lerter and spirit
Is AZ the sentlemaR's service TO provs
us guilty, aud when examined with care
sad capdour, plscing a fair tin,erprefa
tiSa, TO everv SYLLABLE, 1t Will De Found
inssce;l sf sappnrtins him TO oserthFew
3 not onSs his superstructpre, but tear a
way INSTRUMENTATION. Sir, IN the whole
Of this instrument there is not word
be- reasonable exposition, that IMPOSES
cnso the citizen, the least obligation tc
aiakhe government in the prosecutor
cfa ~. beyoRd our territorial Jorisdic'
ton. mn has the government any pow
er over ~ citizeas in this respect, ex'
cen, she Laying of taxes
His,left to ese feelings discretion s
vol;,;on OF ererT< man, whether. when
solicited 10 lend ina assistance, he vii
,ceen. the invitatien,>tn engage In Hlt
war WHY his omissihS> IN the consti
tuition ?-It was undoubtedly omitted es
design for two ereasons,
Ist. To prevent the prosscatsn O
foreigu wars. ",
81 Becaus-,tke power to drag forts
he reioct,nt uncnnscnting citizea, to
var OF conquest, is wholly inconsistent
With the principles of civil and religious
.iibertp.
Whsfe would be the benefit. To you'
sceustrymen Mr.. Chairman, IN possess
4 ing a cons,aasional right, TO s'd' OF re-
fuse to aid The government IN sucn
vac, ifthere existed at the same tlnse
In the breast oftbt conscientious man
\ psramoup, obligation to become the
auxiliary o. the government, IN the pro,
wcutiun ofsush a war This boosted
J privilege of our citizens would be bal
a shallow thar never could be rsalized
S,rsnge TOO tia. We should commend
4