Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1814-02-26

nister's war to be wanton. they fore
saw Its end, and pointed it out plainly
both to the minister and to the country.
He pronounced the opposition to be self
ish and factions. He persisted in his
CO urse ard the resulris in history.
This example Of ministerial justice
seems to have become o model for these
times and this country. With slight
sha Scs of difference, owing TO different
degrees oftaient nv.l ability, the imi-
tatiou is sufficiently exact. Ii requires
little imagination to fancy ones self
sometimes to be listening to recitation
of the captivating orations Of the cccu-
pants Of Lord North's Treasury Bench.
We arc told that opposition has d.
yided the government, and divided ti,e
country. Renember, Sir, the state Of
the government and Of the country,
when the war was declared. Did not
differences Of opinion then exist P-Do
we not know that this house was d..
vidsd ?-Do we not know than the
other house was still more divided -
Does not every man, 20 whom the pub
lie documents are accessible, kaow.
that in the other house, one single vote
having been given otherwise that il
was, would have rejected the act de-
ciaring war, and adopted q different
course of measures A parental,
guardian government would have re-
Sarded that state of things. 1t would
have weighed such cousiderations-It
would have enquired coolly and dis
passionately into the state Of public o.
pinion, in the states of this confederacy
1t would have looked especially 10
those states, most concerned in The
protested objects Of the war, and whose
interests were to be NEST deeply affec-
ted by it. Such government, know
ing that its strength consisted in the
union of opinion among the people,
would have taken 40 step of such i'm
portance, without that union nor
would it have mistaken mere party
feeling for national sentiment.
That occasion, Sir. called for large
and liberal view of things. Not only
the degree ofunion in the sentiments
OF the people bat the nature,and struc-
ture Of the government the general ha-
bits and pursuits Of the community
the probable consequence Of the war,
immediate and remote Oh our civil in
stitutions tho effect of vast military
patronage the variety of important
i"cal interests, and objects;--these were
considerations essentially belonging to
The syhiect. TWAS not enough that 60
verament could make out its cause of
war on the paper, and get the better of
England In the argument. This was
requisite, but not all that was requisite.
The question of war or peace in a coun-
try like this, is not to he compressed in
to the compass that would beht small
litigation. 1t is not to be made TO turn
upon pin. Incapable in its nature Of
being decided upon technical rules, it
is unfit to be discussed in the manner
which usually appertains TO the loren
ste habit. II should be regared as a
great question, not only of right, hut
also ofprudence and expedieney. Rea-
sons ola general nature--reasons of
moral nature--considerati which go
back 10 tbs origin OF our institutions
and other considerations which look
forward ts our hopeful progress in fu-
ture times. all belong, in their just pro-
portions AVID gradations, to question,
In The determination of which, the hap
plness OF the present and Of future gen
crations may be 90 much concerned.
have heard no satisfactory vintiica-
ton OF the war on grounds Tiko those.
They appear not to have suited tho
temper ofthat time. Utterly astonish-
ed al the declaration of war, 1 have
been surprised at nothing since. IN
less all history deceived me, saw,
how il would be prosecuted, when
saw how it was begun. There is. in
the nature of things, an interchangeable
relation between rash eounsels aud
feeble execution.
1t was not, Sir, the minority that
brought on the war. Look at your re-
cords, from the date of the Embargo,
in 1907, to June 1919. Every thing
that men eonld do, they did, to stay
your coarse. When Mt last they could
effect no more, they urged you TO delay
your measures. They entreated you
to give yet a little time for deiibera-
lion, and to wait for favorable events.
As If inspired for the purpose Of ar
resting yoIr progress, they laid before
yon the consequences Of your measures
just as we have seen them since take
place. They predicted to you their
eftt, ..is nm puhiic op.oioo 'rhav soiJ