The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-22
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POLITICAL.
SPEECY
OF THE HON. MIR. HOLMES,


) In the Sencfe Of N4ass9chusetts, on, closi7e
fie debate on tse Proposed Gn1endmenrs 10
ERE consultation ofthe u. S.
Mr.. Pre- s1DENT-
Our Fathers fought and bled for us--T'hsy
achieved our Independence. AssaileS by
Toes without and traitors wirhin, their strug-
gle was great, but they triumphed. Our tri-
ais and distresses and the barbarities of the
enemy, are still fresh in the recollection of
many. Peace came--but it brought MS no
safety. We were Without governnent--dis-,
tracted and torn by dscord. With extreme
concern and parental so.icitude. the pat1 IS
ct the revolution ..fectes, t,le aior.i>rf os fts
Coz ssitraon, and liberty Ttas safe. TT, -ac-
vocates OF this Constitution, in Massachu
sets, were happy under it, so long as their
political friends had the maH .gement Of the
Government. They rallied round it. were
determined to defend il, and affected TO be-
come its exclusive guardians. All was right;
the Constitution was perfect, an, it's admin
istrators infallible, while these paragons ef
wisdom wero IN fdu These disnterested
patriots, in Office, saw that the country was
prosperous, and fer that the people OF the
earth.
But, says the gentleman of Suffolk. r r.
Sargent another King arose who knew nne
Joseph. Mr.. Jefferson was made Presidt L,
All is reversed--the sun of prospeiitg !,
instantly obscured by a cloud---the adDuiis-
tration is base, the Constitution is intolerasle.
and the people, =" a many-head.d mouster- =
Notwithstanding the prosperity Of the natter
during Mr. Jefferson's administration, was
unparalleled, and our commerce increa sed
Beyond the expectation of the most visionary
theorist, still al was wrong, The admins
tration were artacked--No energy, no spirit,
no national honor--Inaipit, pusillanimous ru-
lers, who could not be " kicked into war;
Desplsed and trampled upon by all the pow
ers OF Europe, and yet dare not resent Such
was then the Language of the present meek,
consistent =" friends Of peace" After the
most unprecedented attempts to drive these
rulers from the government, after compass
Ing sea and land to make proseytes, and be-
ing dlscomt fitted m every attempt, We find
these same men wishing 10 undermine the
constitution, under the pretext OF a3aena-
aents.
An unauthorized and unconstitutional a.
seTnolags Of individuals at Hartford, have
proposes string of alterations, and we are
to adopt them without any substantial reason
o7erec, except these very .ise Men recon-
neld them. We are told, sir, with ore az
composure. that il is cuoueh that rren of such,
wisdom have proposed them for aioDtif,i--
,tthe gentleman from EsseH 2 1I- ~ }
3'esSf, 90 ttH Ffa'cs,sY OF esis Ssaa.e esBect
y sf1cm will die with them , No sir--No or do
We SXpeCc mat II viii expire with the mem
osrs OF the Hartford Coavention--If il
should IT would have few mourners. Yo1l
you'd not MORN, because you would ex-
psct to be the heirs, and yve should not, be-
Cause we nave no relationship with the ne
ceased.
hut, Sir, K gentlemen will pardon us, we
VIII venture to question the great wisdom, of
adopting any Of these amendments at dis
tine. we have called upon gectlcaaen, rot
only TO shew these amendments reason Bile.
Dutto shew, as they ought, that they wrre ~,
4,TcnsGbie. How they have succeeded -
WHAT evils have grown out OF the Constitu-
ton which these alterations would havs.pre-
vented One gentleman + Mr. 7To~nd4ss
tells US very gravely, that the war Womb nor
have been declared had Il not have beer de-
ctared, had It not been for the alq7,s re9,s.ez,-
E@fion And he taxes cur gravity whilS he
attempts 70 prove it in this wayne states.
put does tot prove, that MIR. jefferson was
chosen 5yfhis slave representation. I5ethen
proceeds--5ad not Mr. J, been chaser he
would not have been e-chosen-and had he
rot been re-chosen, Mr. Madison would not
nave oe en- chossp, and 50 there would have
been no wsr---SVorderiul Wonderful
pHuft ask THIS hon. gentleman, If in mis- wis
o2yn ne can tell what would have beer tbe
eHect h7d not Mr. Jeffsrsor been chosen mir,
h,lsmF, 20 be sure would have been the Pre-
N'''t th , same MT Adams, is eS-
teeined by that gentleman and ais friends. ten
times worse than J, iferson. What vie .hi,ea
ne Would have done, Cod only knows. We
are too 600 that this war would not have han
pence, had It not been forthe facility clad
I9Itvng new states into tho Union. No proof
OF ms what had Louisiana T. do with de
cIarmg war I.onisiona, sir, Is expendinr her
properly and blood to preserve the rirhts and
honor OF the country. Bot find that while
'nefe was prosper Of New Orleans heinz
fo7gHsrea Your party had changed thcir6vone
fapd adT"ted is vast importance to thE ~
mon. YES sir, gentlemen who have propcr.
" W <F%.or's2rs, can very patrioticsny.
WISH Tor rs detence---Aud. am grieyed ard
mort'hcd 70 find, that the best blood in tho
country n be split to defend the propertv
% northern merchants, while these verv
merchants are throwing every stuobling-
b'ocS y ibe way Of prosecuting the war. a.
onsifg snosc bGck zoood men. and ,1enoun-
eng Ne~-Orleaus as a curse 70 the nation.
bu' we should haze had no commercial 70.
s'rictlons nor war. hid Il rsamjoed tn, con-
cnrrenos. ottwo thirds of both Horses ~ Con- !
gFess--Keadily admitted Should the.e Al
seratlons SUCCEED, we shall have no yyarNgitb !
fhfand' Tier Influence IN this counfrv ;s /
@'cn. tnat nothing but miracle could pro |
+ e1oe war with her, should these alterations