Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-06
others aswe would wish them to do to

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us.
Mr.. Caikom expressed in common with
other gentlemcD his good wishes for the
cause of the South-American colonies a.
gainst the mothercountry but that such
wishes would never influence him To per-
INIT violation OF our neutral OBLIGATIONS
The provision under discussion, however.
he thought pushed the restrictions further
than those obligations required he
looked on armed vessels az nuch articles
oil trade as munitions of war, and he WAS
unwilling To make orr citizens answerable
for the con,iuct of those who purchased
their vessels. Al iiiat could be done.
and whatappearod necessary, was 10 re-
CURE bond of the purchaser that lac would
not violate the neutrality tti,is country
further he could not go in legislating OH
The subject. Hca!luded to the nature Of the
contest exisiingin the Spanish Provinces,
acknowledged that lis analogy to our own
situation III '7G enlisted our sympatlies-
but all that could be expected OF us by the
Patriots was, that we beingneutraI should
do nothing To weaken their efforts or in
jure their cause.
Mr.. Randoiph again spoke in support OF
the bill. He condemned the policy of
following the example of European coun-
pretend to prohibit, and in favor, so long
as we protested neutrality, Of acting in
good faith, and compelling our citizens
strictly To conform TO the neutral obiiga-
tons of the country.
MIR. H0pkaiSOa said, that the late debate
OH the compensation law had so exl,aus-
ted the spirit of the House, that the pre-
sent bill was received yesterday with cold
ness aud Indifference. lie was glad, how
ever, TO find that the House began to be
awakened to the importance of the sub
lect under discussion-one of the most
important that bad ever come before the
House, and The decision of which dceply
concerned the honor and safety of The
nation. The subject, Mr.. III. said, had
intrinsic difficulties. Whenever the peace
of the nation requires the rights of the CT
tzens to be restrained, thediflicuty which
arises is to strike that point which will al
tain the object with as little ineomveni-
encc as possible 10 the citizen. That point
must III some degree be matter of opini-
on-thougil, i'll restrictive measures, no
country had more experience than cur
own. MIR. II. adverted to the former res
trictivc policy of The government and the
discomfort which had been encountered
by the various acts TO enforce it, and into
the success OF which il was now unncces-
sary To enquire. Another difficulty, Mir.
llopkinson said, presented itself in This
case, that every regulation adopted would
operate, as the sun shines, on the lust as
well as the unjust, on those who wished
not TO infringe the laws as on those who
do. What, said he, is incumbent on a
wise legislature in such case? To
produce the desired effect by all means
bearing fair proportion TO the object to
be attained, and within their legitimate
authority. BY the bill before YOU, what,
Mr.. ii. asked, is the result presented TO
the Judgment of the Hoase? The evil
complained of is not denied-a CRYING sin
threatens TO bring upon It's disgrace and
The horrors OF war, # the government do
not exert all It's powers 10 prevent it. He
did notwish TO be understood, that for
eign nations bad right to require of us
impossibEi!ies but foreign nation had
a right to require ug, protesting To be neu-
trail, TO prevent eur citizens from embark
Ing In a quarrel between her and her col
onies-tle quarrel now alluded TO was be
tween Spain and her colonies-on that
point ne found no difference of opinion.
In tic present case, however desirous for
The success of the colonies gentlemen had
expressed themselves, he found none,
speaking in their legislative, official ca
pacIfy, who doubted the country ought
to lay lis hand OF its citizens, and pre-
vent them from aiding either party in the
contest. All agree as 10 what foreign 90
vcrnmcnts have Il right TO demand Of us
the difficulty is about the means by which
we shall perform this duty. Mr.. ii. said.
he would say nothing of the nature of this
strnggic-he would neither call them pa
triois or rcbels-Le knew them only as
Two parties at war, and what was or had
been the connection between them form
en nS part OF this question. There was
IN The law Of nations no difference be-
tween our duty i'll this case and lin a war
between any other be!ligerents he con
sidered 1t precisely as he should war
between Spain and Portugal, Spain and
England, or any other two powers. and
our dutyrcquircd that we should observe
a strict neutrality between ti,cm-to whit
the result, and take up the conqueror as
the legitimate authority. Offhe contest
referred to, MIR. II. said, from all he had
seen, IT appeared more Ikea war between
rival Chiefs to serve private views. and
promising no great or general good. I'm
no such war, nor In any war, would he
consent 10 embark, unless he saw advan-
tdges sufficient to Justify il, for that he
should always wait Tor information from
his own government and so long as tLe
government SAID we must beneulraI Inc
would not listen to those wlro were tho
parties al war. In this case, Mr.. II. said.
ought to consider themselves
active tor neutral country-and fit be
our policy to embarl, i'll tie war, let il be
4 A.