The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-12

.tage OF them. Ii was very difficult to give
entire protection to every part OF our sea-
coast but in the main the protection had
been fully adequate to the enterprises of the
enemy against it. The object of the accu-
sation and clamor on this head was evident
~ to divert the public att ntion from Cana |
da, and weaken our efforts IN that quarter.
Mr.. Grosvenor made another speech of
considerable length, expatiat,ng principally
III support ut the position he had taken,
when up before. relative to the defcnceless
state of the sea board. Among other obser-
vatioas, he sad that many Of the towns on
the sea board were subject to destruction at
any moment by "a single trigate and, mere
ly, because the enemy had foIbCrne to DIES
troy them, the gentleman commended they
were properly defended This was, he
said, slender reliance. Were these towns
defended against the probable consequence
of attack Mr.. G. denied that there had
been sufficient defence /; and entered into a
particular examination to shew that there
hid not been. New York. he said, until
lately, had been in such an i'll stare of de
fence. as not to have been defencible against
two seventy fours--and entered into an ex-
animation. the Reporter thinks, too minute
to be proper for nesoshaher Publication at
this'momcat, of the defenceless state of the
Notifications and defences at other places,
&c. by all which he supported his first Pc
stion of the deficiency of defence assigned
to the maritime frontier. The gentlem an
from South Carolina has sai,! that we (the
oppositiOn) have an object in this language
Who introduced this discussion Not we,
but the gentleman from Louisiana. The
truth was. Mr.. G. said, that the government
had deserted the sea-board and Carried its
troops on Quixotic expedition into Cana
da. He did indeed wish to divert their at
tention from Canada. bat not by indirect
means. but by open and avowed oBss 1t
was an object, he said, not within their
reach an object, In the pursuit of which
the blood of the people had been and
would BE- poured our without the slightest
benefit " the -nu.rv. The House were
now told this war hNd assumed 4 new as
pect; that Rf,tsin was all powerful. Gen.
t,emen ought to have anticipated it. He
well recollccied, he sal the time when war
was declared il was about the time when
the then Gcnqseror carried his army into
Russia, When. through the subiugation of
Continertai Europe England was to be
reached and prostrate5. 1t was at that
moment we declared war against Great
Britain. And what was now our SITUATION ,
How long was this ear to be con- inued
plungiug the nation still deeper and deeper
IN disgrace, &c. &c
Mr.. Calhoun replied He said the gen
teman mad very improperly charged the
majority with bringing on this discussion
Abe gentleman h;gaself mad ON this as on
every other occasf I'm lntrodu ced this to-
pic OF the defenceless state of our cities
aud he would now sta.e,a few facts on
this aeeo whicA should put the gentleman
dow1. lie then entered Rco,a view OF the
cetsncs' tvarious parts of the coast and tire
resa.ss ~ attacks attempted hythe enernp.
AS to New ork in particular, he had been
informed oy disting uistsed naval com mauci4
er, SO tar from Tot being able to resist two
seventy tours, that few towns il the world
presented so respectable defence. The
defence ot our sea p IT'S, he concluded. was
not to be ere ited to British fo,hearance
He declined entering into other toDics
broached by Mr. Grosvenor though he did
IN no wise agree with hi,u. 70 me. said
MIR. tits mater of astCnishment TO see
American citizens in This BID, or elsewhere.
get np and tell sou that all vour objects have
faifed; that your situation is pele.s and.
that instead OF FreaiisS he subj ct with pa
triot'c feeiing, in tead of exhibiting despon-
dency at that degradation ut their country
which they faucfully imagine thew really
appear to repeat it with CClight and exulta
ton. How, said Mr. T.. 10 Y . test a friend
by his sympathy in your JOYS his confidence
and depression at your sorrows. How then
do you prove patriot By his sympathy
with his country's cause. If thar Country
De In prosperity, MS tace beams with low ;
Ut in adversely, it is. cIouded with sorrow
Does the latter comport with the manner OF
gentlemen in speaking thus OF the situation
of their country? No, sir; tLeir co,I,te.
nance and manner are wholly different. MIR
q. wasnot however of the same opinion with
the gentlemen. He still thought the coup
try, 1t united, possessed the means of accom-
pushing all oe objects Of the war, protect
ing our seamen. and rendering our commerce
secure. ste the conqles, of Canada. he
hoped we possessed ample ,nears 10 reduce
ali the British provinces on this si,sithe wa
ter, and he feared not Of accempl;si an the
OBJECT il necessary. - =
Mr.. Webster again spoke. He sid he
wished the gentlemen Of the majority co;iid
on The present occasion have met the alleea
tion OF a neglect to defend the maritinc
frontier with some betterreply than that the
war mad not been as disastrous a. some
gentlemen had unprecedented it would be,
tnat some part of the coast was vet safe
taat 1t was rot all laid in ashes, &c. In
seao OF THIS, we ought TO have been told ri
great rights secured. Whar objects had
zen. effected 10y the WARP None, notwi,h
s-andinS all me sacrifices of treasure and
blood, aHd%osses by the embargo. g. Mr.
w. enumerated SINE defenceiess nos; ions
On the Eas', and said he could mention ma
NJ others il he thought proper. And j, was
because the resources of he nation had been