Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-03
From the Federal Republican, Fec. /.
CONGRESS-.

me revenue Dill was again Del0fc the
House in a committee of the whole, all
yesterday--and there was much speak
ing. The day was pretty far advanced
when Mr.. Calhoun got possession OF the
floor, and delivered a speech which, be-
Cause we consider it of deep import, as
indicating the secret purpose, or at least
the expectations of the cabinet and its |
party, we wish it we're in cur power to|
give at full length. As it is, we will en-
deavort0 delineate the most striking fca-
lures oft. He said that, the policy oil
the country ought to follow the character
| oft that is to say, tohe Just, moderate
and high-minded-but justice and mode
ration, II carried to an extreme. dwindled
Into feebleness-and hgh-mindednessI
urged too far, rose to ,iolence-both of
them extremes, which ought to be avoid,
: ed. OF TIE two, however, feebleness
was more dangerous than violence for
many nations could be enumerated who
fell the victims of their own imbecility.
This ca ntrv. he said, was peculiarly IL
able to that sanger-the people were
high.nlilided, to be sure; but their COM
Portable independent condition, operat-
Ing as warm climates are known to do,
, on the human frame. disposed them to
ease and asathy. The nature OF their
government too. had a tendency to be-
tray them into feeble policy; and IL
duced them to be more regardless of the
European nations than they ought to be.
7 With regard to Great-Britain there were
additional causes for their supineness,
namely. that a war with that country
broke in upon their arrangements, on
which account there was continual ten
dency. kind of gra,itationto ease and
inaction. Adverting to Mr.. Hopkinson's
question two days ago, if the nation
, stood in degraded and scorned state
before the war. who was it that placed
: her in it? s. he would answer that the
: fault was not in either party, but rose
out of the disposition of the country, of
which disposition the federalists, lie said,
took advantage to make the people re-
main quiet. aud he added that that quiet
: ness made them submit to humiliation.
In answer to another expression of Mr..
Hopkinson's, VIZ. that if there had not
been peace the union must have beenI
dissolved, he said. that such an opinion
ought not to be assented to, as It would
have TIE effect in the eve OF war, OF
depressing the spirits of the people oil
this country. AID at the same time OH
emboidening tie enemy. Bat he Pc
remptoriIy den'e'i the position, refelringI
to Baltimore & New-Ofeans, as proofs
to suppo him, aad declared thatin HIST
opinion the nation re, er stood flrmer o,
It's basis than at that very moment. Shel
had many difficulties no doubt OF tinan-
cial kind to encounter, but he lad h'g
authority in his tav, +, no less than thatI
lof Burke, whn, when MIR. Pitt so conf
IDENTITY relied Tor success against France
upon the rui GUS condition Of the French
resources, being Inflated the NEST saga
cious man of the two, insisted that no
nation could ever sink under want Of fl
nances, who deterwned t. malntaia her
self free.
| He said there were but two nationc
with whom we were liable to come IL
collision, England ant; Spain, and for
sake of brerity he would apply his dis
course to the former, overlooking to
the present the latter, as included (I1
lpoint Of argument) in TIE consideration
OF Great Britain. lie could give no .
opinion whether peace with England
would endure or not---but would saH
what he thought the probable course of e.
ents. England was now dominant over
the world. We were tie most growing
country in the world, in commerce. ma
lvigation and fame--the question then
Twas, would net the great nation endea-
vOr to prevent the other from rising tot
its natural growth (? 1t was truly SAID |
that nations had heads but no hearts i
and it was natural. and net blameabie IN
| England TO wish to be tie greatest, and
Ihe Lad nc amnesty to her for it. There
existed, still, many points of collision
Ibetv cen the two countries. Gentlemen
lon the other side had remarked, that the
objects in contest between them remain |
ed undetermined. They did so, d did
not that slew that there were points of
dispute which must be revived, & which
neither country would give up? Hell
thought highly Of Great Britain, but he
must speak out--we should have to en-
counte her in every shape, be said
for in every shape she assailed us--thro'i
her newspapers and in every way she
4 =