Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-01-08
CONGRESS-.
HotJsE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUEspAY, December 90.
TUsRsaU,S BETTER.

sently send to tho chair Two ressiu-
lions cailiag for Information from
the President Of a nature to render
Il extrsnely desirable to be placed
n possession Of the house 80 early in
in tbsssion as possible. One subject
excepted, (retaiiation there was
no informatisa, perhaps in the pow
err of the executive to communicate,
more important TO be known to both
sides ofthc house. He did not wish
to be understood as intimatiRg in the
remotest degree. that some, perhaps
many, if not oil the political elect,
who are initiated int tho mysteries
and secrets Of government, do not
already possess q minute knowledge
% what is only buzzed about, and
kapwn by vague report TO gentle
men of the minority. To be sure.
said Mr.. III We who are political
heieties, and of course under the
Judgment Of fiery eendemnatiOn--we,
the peryerse unbeiieyers in the true
faith. cannot expect to be initiated
into the ceremonies and mysteries
ofthe established church. But un-
ill you LET in upon our minds your
light OF rsvetior, you should not
curse and condemn us. for not under
standing what you sill not permit
MS to know, and to comprehend. 1t
had been said by divine, of pure e.
vangelieal picty and great intcllec-
tuai illumination, that where mystic
nv began, there true religion ended.
mr.. H. meant no inyidious aiiusion
to aay religious scot. but he thought
the sentiment applied with at least
equal aptness aad force TO politics as
TO the moral and religious concerns
of conscience.
Mr.. HANSON said. frsm what he
remarked by way of preface. the
chair with all its acknowledged fore
east and .agaeity, had no doubt been
unable to anticipate the resolutions
he was about to submit, he would
therefore read fron tae Presidents
message paragraph which seemed
to reader il peculiarly proper.
There he read an extract rG!atiag
TO the admission of public vessels, &
priystecrs ofcertSia nations into our
ports.l
Mr.. HAs5Sy said, the paragraph
he had just read, altho' the word
France, not very difiult of utterance
bs him, was not TO be found in ii, it
was pesftetiy apparent to bis mind.
that il related exclusively to France
her dependencies aud allies. As
that part of the message had been
made a subject Of special reference
70 a committee. and as an alliance
essentially In fact, though rot in
form, that he knew officially already
existed With France. before drawing
closer the cords which bound US to-
rether by q solemn legislative act. it
war certainly -raper for the exceu-
tive to enable the house to lesis'ste
anon The subject iatsll'gent!y. and
with wisdom. At this day. after the
nany important disclosures End mor-
tirying events in respect OF our reia'
lions with France, it would not be
denied or disputed in the house. that
very serious asd humiliating wrcass
and insults had been inflicted byBer
chief upon this gevernmen'--that he
had sursrizcd, seized, eonilsca'ed 4
appropriated TO his swn use, millions
u.on millions OF American property
entered into his ports
10 an amount Indeed so enormous,
that IFS mere magnitude in The o.
pinion of our minister at Paris. des-
treyed All hopes OF o restoration. To
saw nothing nov, said Dir. III. OF the
dep,ors bic Consequences. efthe dresd-
faiand advantageous 10 be depFecai-
ed from an admission into our parts
Of French privateers and nuh.ie yes
s.,s of war. ia was OF the highest i'm
10 ,he house and TO tie peo-
I.le. 70 know distinctly the precise
tate Of our relations With France.
The interest Ofthe nation required 1t
The safety offhe country called Ton.
1.-THE hcnor of the natien loudly de-
naaded a..
M. L. said he might safely rest
The second resolution upon IFS own
intrinsie Il, sriss. It's Importance WAS
pbyiou,. ami ree,,ed no illustration ;
he would. however, held himself
Esuna. If TIE house would place il IN
his power. ia omit Ne exerticns to
prose. for be considered himself au-
ih,r;zed to "a they were susceptible
pf proof, all the waterfall facts eoa-
.ea,ed With the second resolution