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

tube, and superstition, the most dark
and detcstable That was ever known, was
al the bottom of il. He would keep
loot .rom it,
Mr.. Il. said he could see no constitu-
'ional objections TO the bill but ifiiIere
was, lie could almost agree 10 say with
some OF the constitution-iiDancie away
with party! To secure the passage of a
bill To restrain any of our citizens who
were sufficiently base, or, if gentlemen
pleased, sufficiently enterprising to en-
gage IN such expeditions as it was we'll
known had been fitted out. Gentlen.. II
say, observed MIR. II. that our enterpriz-
my citizens must go and fight the wars Of
the colonies with Spain. With all my
hearl. That they mast 90 and attack
her commerce. WitliaIl my heart. itl,ey
will not attack onrs, nor involve their
country in the war. Let Spain catch
them when she can, and treat them as
she has right There will be one at.-
vantage, certainly, III permitting this svs-
tenn oil priyaie depreciation ;ei continue:
there would be less capital, less of ins
generous enterpriZing spirit left. TO en-
ways attempted 10 prohibit by law-that
is, The Internal slave trade.
But the gentleman from MARYLAND had
told the House, that keknew we'll enough
wherever there was trade, there Great
Britain, and not only her, but Neu-Bri-
tam, would find the way. This, Mr.. =.
intlmated, was exempliied in the trade
to which the gentleman from Kentucky
had adverted. The character of thai
trade, which had been praclised for some
years past, too extensively, Nigh, be sum
med up IL three words: il might be call
Ell, IN short, supplying the Devil with
birthstone.
Mr. Sharp said, he was aware of the
distinction taken by the gentleman from
Virginia between civil war, and a war
between two independent natlons but
1t was laid down by writers on the law of
nations, that when ii civil war assumed
a regular shape, the laws OF war should
prevail, III regard To prisoners of war. &c.
III SO, had moi neutral nation, lv sfronr-
or reason, d right 10 shew them the hos
pitalIileS due 10 their situation With
respect to the law relative 10 81. Oom;n-
go, IL was true that law did 90 further tIsn
our country was under an obligation TO
go. but fer peculiar reasons distinct from
general rules. ST. Domingo, Mr.. $. said
was a reyoited colony, IFS independence
TO tins day unacknowledged by its for
mer Sovereign; yet we trade with ST.
Domingo-we 30 to her ports, she cones
to ours. Where would the gentleman
find d reason 10 distinguish between this
case and that of the Spanish provinces
If MIR. 5. said, our feelings were enlisted
III favor of Old Spain against these colo
MES, and we believed that self.goyern-
mont would be curse 10 them, this bin
might be proper one to aid tie mother
government in subjusating the colonies.
we may 20 thus far, said lie /; we have
ff.tt -Trf rst .,.,l .t,rl,f ~. L. a.. %
tons. i}ui, nc insisted, on the rules
which govern neutral naiions in ti,ejr
conduct aud commerce. with belli9ercnts
we are not bound TO pass it, and that we
ought not to pass il, because it would be
unwise TO do it. The gentleman had
asked why the feelings of gentlemen
were notas warm in bebalfof the patriots
| OF SPAN III their struggle for selfgovern-
meut, as now for the s. Americans. For
my own feelings, said MIR. Sharp, have
10 difficulty in expressing them. When
| the House of Spain had ground down the
! people, felt no aversion TO seeing auv
! change which would improve their condi-
! ton. The putting down ofihe Inauisifi-
on, the abolition of monasteres, tie re-
| duction OF the number ofpriesis, he was
glad TO see. When the Spanish Patriots
collected Tie sense OF tie people, rallied
| drOunu lltelT SldnudTu, E1N itclinnS were
| interested IN their tav our, more than they
! had previously been infas our of any CT
fort of Bonaparte. viewed him as a ~
rant, but | canDotvieww without aLhorrence
| the onductof the rulers, who succeeded
| OH these efforts of patriotic people--I
cannotview without horror human nature
in such state of baseuess, as 10 exhibit
such imgratitude as has been shown. AR.
s. said he would never suffer himself f.,
take any part TO sustain the dominion of
That Monarch. And, wh he saw surh
similarity in the Struggle in Which the
people OF s. America were engaged. IL
though not so much enlightened as or
people were, TO the struggle Of our rc,o
luton, he most sincerely and heartily de-
sired success TO that enterpfiz., which
should give the right Of self-g0vernnenf
to any portion of this continent. Fortsesr
reasons, he should vote for striking out
The third section OF the bill
Mfr Slegsg, of Virginia, said, he under
stood il 10 be the policy Of tie govern
ment OF The United States, 10 observe
slriot neutrality between the old cnunirt
al Spain aud her colonies il rebellion a.
gaiust her II that was the dctcrinina'i-
on of ihis country, il was Tie due of ibe
constltut q authOrit cs 70 carry that de-
termination into effect and MOI 10 mani
fest neutrality, when ln fact our citizana
Nere taking part with one OF TIE bsiiipr-
rents, and against The ether To prs,ci,3