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

not employ tiieirarncd vessels hited out
in our own ports against either partv, but
that they shall not sell them TO any per
son who may. Nay, II goes farther; /;
gives a discretionary power TO the eOi!ec-
tor TO stop any vessel which, from her
cargo being chiefly munitions ofwar, ha-
Wing an extraordinary number of men on
board, or OTHER circumstances, he may
believe intends TO violate oar neutrality,
and compel such vessel TO give bond aud
security in very heavy penalty, that she
shall not do so! Is it safe, is it wise, TO
vest such a power in any subaltern officer
OF the government? That he may have ii
IN his power TO stop, to harrass the lawful
commerce of oar citizens, merely upon his
belief OF their intention IL is enough to
punish acts where they are committed,
and not III effect punish the intent and
That on the belief of collector. from what
circumstances he may think suspicious.
| rccoliect, and no doubt other gentlemen
rccollect, that in the time oi'tlle late war
a provision like this was proposed, 10 pre-
vent supplies of provisions and other ar,i-
Giles going to our enemy i'll Canada, and
some OF the gentlemen who advocated
this bill opposed the adoption Of that,
because IL gave too unlimited Il power 10
collectors they would not allow it, even
propose to adopt ii for the benefit of Old
Spain. Are we interested for the success
OF Spain in subiugating her colonies Or
are notthe feelings of every gentleman
on the opposite side of the question
Can we be the spectators ola struggle for
liberty and independence by any portion
of the human family. and feel indifferent
as to the result! Let others feel a. they
may, cannot and will not disguise my
feelings. My most iervcnt wish and de-
sire is, liberty IS self-government 10 Maine
* South-America; their cause is one that
must and ought to be interesting TO us
they are contending against tyranny and
superstition oithe most gloomy and hate
full character, and whether they are suifi-
GENTLY informed to secure, us we have
done, the blessings of civil and political
liberty, Is question with some gentlemen;
be that as II NAV, IT Is incoateshDle they
cannot be cursed with worse government
than the one against which they are array
ed; and, at all events, they are entitled TO
the right of self government, let their
change ofthe form be what it may. Then
| say, shall we IN such a contest, for such
a cause, pass an ACT that shall give aid To
their subjugatlGn, or lessen tier means OF
resistaucel Mr. Chairman, | hope not
My best wishes are for the success OF
those patriots, III opposition To Spain ;
theirs is the cause OF hberty--it is the
cause of nay heart.
When the French revolution, at its COM
mencement, gave hopes 10 the world Of
the emancipation of that nation; when
the tyrautS of Europe were combined IN
common cause against her Success, was
there seen an American, who did not
think the laws then enacted 10 preserve
our neutrality, and to prevent enferpri-
zes being fitted out i'll favour of France,
went TAR enough, and did not many be-
lieve they went too far, and yet those laws
arc iii force and Ola general nature, and
can be applied TO prevent any violations
| OF neutrality by our citizens. But gen
| tlcmeu wish to do more, and perhaps with
| out such intention they are indirectly gi-
wing aid to Spain, to subIugate an extern
sive portion of ourconiment. Could this
| course be reconcilcd 10 our love of repub-
lican institutions Or shall we despond
| for the rest of the world, because that
blaze of freedom, that for moment ii!u-
minated France, has been quencIIed in
| blood, and she has again bowed her neck
TO the yoke; or should we not rather hope
| tor the success of liberty III new soil and
| country like our own, and al least do moth
ing to tllwart lis progress and establish
| mentt
Mr.. Randolph, of Virginia, said he had
been extremely surprised TO hear the doc
| frines that had been advanced by the
| gentleman, who hadjust now safe down.
! The gentleman talked about the oblyati-
ons OF neutrality but, his doctrine did
not apply, Mr.. II. said, to portion of a
nation III arms against another portion of
| 1t, until the revolted portion was acknow-
led as free, sovereign and indcpeudent.-
Let It be remembered, that this was moi a
war between Spain and another indepen-
| dent political association, because tIie
independence of tie colonies had never
been acknowledged. But it was civil
war; war Of one portion of the kim
| dom against that portion in which the 20
vcTnlng power rcsides--in which il is I'M
! possible TO refuse TO maintain that neu-
trdlity which it is our duty TO maintain
between the two belligerents, without be-
ing at once party in the contest. Did
| gentlemen recollect, Mr.. Il. asked fbe
case between these Colonies and Great
Britain, and in what way France became
party to that war In the same wav
| tile United States may and probably viii
| become party TO the war between Snaiu
and her colonies by fitting out arms ON
colonial account from her ports, for the
| purpose Oi carrying on tie war, public 4.
private, against the mother country. In
That way, we highland probably should
become party TO the present war. Now.