Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-04

SPc, lucy must ne Sangulne indeed
VINO anticipate ITS success in populati-
On 81 much morcignorant aud uncnlight-
s.'eo. INC slight jawniny of liberty in
cihnce BAD been, he SAID, perhaps the
Srea'C>tc"rSe that human liberty ever
hsJ. No more Favourable consequences
afeHkeiN 10 result iron The contest i'm =.
America. There vii, Ice STRIFE and blood
siieu al long duration, but which will set
ne down IN a despotism perhaps more
dark than has heretofore prevailed there.
II population, like that OF the Spanish
provinces, is ia be emancipatcd, il vii,
NOT be by revolution, but by receiving
Srauudiiy The principles OF civil liberty
Ah"' when gentlemen compared their
struggle with that of the People oflthis
country IN the Revolution, they were
widely mistaken. We(said he)were mr.
'1se" 'h The principles OF civil liberty; the
%ot"ttsis were as free before the rcvoluti-
on aSwe are at this time; we contended
not ior revolution, though it naturally en-
sneu, pnt Tor the preservation of Tie
Rights of EnsIishmen. We were free.
and we desired 10 remain so. The CON
lest M y. America, on the other hand. is IA
contest ct slaves tn become lreemeu.
winch Cannot succeed by the exertions Of
physical force merely, but mustbe prece-
ded 10y the gradual expansion of the hui
man 'nieitect, and The adaptation of the
mind to ue principles of free govern
ment
1t had been said thai a war win Spain
was net 10 be deprecated. In one point
OF view u might not. But i'm another. it
was inorc to be deprecated than a war
With any oihercountry. We might sue
ceeci- even to The utmost wishes of the
ifeSt, 10 possess ourselves OF the contigu-
ousspanlsh territory. That was conse-
queace. he silcu!o dcpre, ate, Mr.. s. said,
mere than any other. When that hap
pens, our Moral character is DESTROYED
our liberty is gone. In such success.
ic saw greater evils than in any defeat
lie dreaded it on the score of the moral
character of the nation; on the score of
that liberty which be hoped would be per-
pctual-
rs 10 this question, he had Che said) diff
terent feelings from some of the gentle
men, who had spoken. Those persons,
WHO were engaged i'll this trade, consti-
tuted perhaps ten tiiousandtl, part of
our population; and, when he said they
were not the most worthy part Of the pop
station, he thought he was not far mista-
Ken. lie would 30, he said, TO the far
tbest extent of the constitutional powers
to preserve the neutrality ofthe country,
because lac would not suilera few worth
less men, who have 40 home, no country.
ia sacrifice the peace of The nation. lie
won!d rather go Il little further than pro-
pTietS would warrant, if there must be an
excess ON one side or the other--by no
means however countenancing excess in
either way. Those concerned in these
expeditions are not, the most of them at
least, the worthy part of the community,
and tsuch as they are) form but an incon-
siderable portion oft. The CONSEQUENT
ces OF the war, if war should be the con-
sequence of negIeciina 10 restrain them,
must be borne by the honest and worthy
part OF the nation-and therefore he de-
prcc2ted such a result
The third section of the hill, he said.
was necessary corollary from tie Sc
coma. The third section was intended 10
give Tic government power to prevent the
Intention OF the act from being violated.
twas Justiiiabe on the same principles
as loh lanD authorize the magistrate to
blhd The hands OF man attempting Vi
citation OF the peace, &c.
MIR. Robertson, Of Louisiana, prefaced
his observations, by saving, that in direct
opposition TO the gentleman from Virgin
The people OFFS. America. in the noble,
Nrtu0us and patriotic cause i'm W hich they
were engaged. But he said, he should
ever ieel disposed 10 respect the neutral
character OF his country, and he hoped
neyerto eeit degraded in It's own ewes, by
permitting his citizens, with impunily. TO
y'oia!e thai neutrality. He objected TO
tAc third section OF the bill nevertheless.
because II gave TO lie officers Cfthe gov
s:1Mcnt greater power over the citi-
teHs than they ought 10 have. lie laid
olf at view the state OF lie contest be-
tween Spain and her colonies he laid
llif 81 view all that had been said about
ne DEMANDS Of that nation, &c. He
look up this question ON its own me-
rlts. The House had official information
ilat acts had been committed by our own |
WHICH sell-respect required us 10 |
lui stop 10.
This, il appeared to him, would be suf-
lcfr3'!y accomplished by the clauses of |
'His act, without tie third section, TO |
l.lch he objected, because it gave to the |
'"iiectors an overwhelming power, viz |
ne power TO seize any vessel, which. |
som any circumstance, they might sus- |
lCci OF al Intention to violate the neutral |
,Dligaiions of the United States, without |
my proof whatever being required. II /
night be necessary for defence against
ia priyatcers and pirates that swarm in
Very sea, that vessels should, at the pre-
'eilt days carry arms, and more than the
lTdInaTy number Of mon, and ought not
bcreiOre To be arrested IN their VoVage.
7 ne term 1uy other circumstance a.,