Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-11-05
ELOQUENT APPEAL.
SPEECH

vi the Hon. Mr. HOLMES, IN the Senate |
of Massachusetts. during. the Debate on
shelssc /" Repcrt."' and the proposed Con-
vention at Hartford:
Mr.. PRRsrDHnr,
FROM the indefinite tenor Of these
resolutions and their preamble, Ibid expect
that some one who was friendly to them,
would have been good enough 20 point our
their object. This hsd right to expect
from their candeur and iiberalitr. but in this
i have been disappointed; and unweit as
am, ] feel little inclination or encourage.
ment to detain the Senate long in this de.
bate.
It was hoped that at thi. extraordinary
session. summoned, as 1t is said. on account
OF extraordinary DANGERS. little would have
transpired to excite the spirit Of party. For
myself SIR. was disposedto dispense with
party feelings, and unite my exertions with
those efthe majority in resisting and cxpel-
ling the common enemy. In time of danger.
we might wellsuspend our domestic quar-
reis, to be resumed If we choose, in times of
tranquility, but though in this'expectation
! have been disappointed, am not surprix-
ed. During the short period have had
the honor Of a scat ia. the Legislature of
! Massachusetts. have learnt to be surprized
at Nothing, however extraordinary and I
confess look upon this Report Of your Con.
mittec with great coupssure, and do not
believe that the dangers which it seems to
threaten us will ever be realized. Yet sir,
lest ] should be tor confident. it is my duty
60 resist it. Idrem il. to be sure, fraught
With pernicinus principles and iptoleabie
heresies That the Constitution of the Uni
ted States has totally failed to secure 70 the
people those rights and benefits which were
the objects Of it promotion, 10 q strong as I.
sertion. That radical reform, or new
Constitution is necessary. is singular aud
xtraerdinary.--That at this time any inno-
ya.ions should have been projected, is sub
3ect of extreme regret.
The spirit ofparty had subsidized. All were
becoming indignant against the eremy, and
were determined to resist him. But certain
leaders of party no doubt became alarmed
nj thine symptoms. and the summoniHe the
Legislature at this time became necessary.
Gentlemen were probably alarmed lest a
uainn in support of the war, would operate
as destruction of their party and surely,
sir, the course taken in the preamble, Is.
well calculated TO guard against the dam
ger
You begin with the old story Of the injus.
tice of the war This position of yours has
been hundred times refnted. and yet you
persist. have neither time, nor strength,
mr. inclination to travel again over this
ground. If our cause is unjust nosv, it was
much more SO at the commencement of the
Revolution We, then, concluded that we
ought rot to be taxed without our consent.
That the tax on tea was trifiing. and that
we ought to pay something, qve admitted
bat we claimed to be heard in assessing it.
The right Of Great Britain to her own men,
we admit; but we claim some right in de.
Gliding who nre her men, and svho are ours.
In the former case Britain undertook to take
orr taroherfy, without consulting us, in the
latter. or citizens.
The ouirages which Great Britain has
Committed on our Commerce, are such as
gentlemen DOW Gppcs d to us, have Thought
intolcrable. could quote the opinions OF
those gentlemen at different times, were ] !
not afraid offiring your patience. One in
stance mnst at present suffice. / hold In nv
hand a memorial Of committee of the n err
chants Of Boston to Congress. preferred In
the winter of 1868, signed by MIR Lloyd. 4
now one OF our Council. Mr.. Perkins, now Il
nember of this Sena r., and several o,ber
very respectable merchants Of Boston, in
which the most outrageous pretences, prin.
ciples and practices, against the American
commerce, are ably and faithfully exposed.
Here Mr.. Holmes read several parts Of the
ynem nrial Are these complaints Just D.
Is this interference with neutral trade con
sistens with neutral rightse And frem that
period to he declaration. of war have noe
these sutraees increasedf
Bur, Sir, ] hold that however trining the
cause ofthe war in its commencement, addi-
Ia,
gress and suchas would justify its ,prosecu-
ton, even after the original cause had fall
ed.
,Tdrn your attention to the in.o)erable and
unprecedented barbaritigs Of the British,
and say, are not these. fresh causes Of war 2,
The shocking barbarities at Havre de Grace
and Hampton, the wanton destruction Of
monuments of science end taste at Wash.
ington, the robbery at Alexandria, the bru-
talities at Penobscof. and the extortion and
pilIsge at Cape Cod, are not these acts
which demand our vengeance 7 But, sr,
consider these as trihes, compared To the
employment of the savages. The moment
you engage them. you authorize and become
party TO a war Of indiscriminate massacre.
It Is like the use Of poisoned weapons. or
poisonous medicines. X Converts the soidi.
er into a savage. Such were once he senti
ments Of the great Chatham" But. my
lords" said ne, " who Is the man. that in
addition 10 thatlisgrace and mischief Of war,
has dared to authorize and associate to our
arms the tomahawk and scaipiDg knife of
che SAVAGE To call into civilized alliance,
the wild and inhuman inhabitants Of the
woods2 To delegafe to the merciless 1ndi.
an the defence OF disputed rights, and to
wage the horrors Of his barbarous warfare
against our brethren These enormities
cry aloud for redress and punishment. I'm.
less thoroughly done away, they will be a
stain on the national characteristic is not
che least OF orr national misfortones, that