Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-03-12

No, sir, This people have not constituted
you the agents to confer her thanks, or
TO select objects of benevolemcc, aud dis
tribute her graiuiiics. More arduous
empioNinchts are ASS gucd- more impor-
iant duties imposed. You hay, been to-
| ierated IN weaving eulogies, "a ad biaiding
and fesioonlng them with all the art Ol
taste aud criticism, 10 decorate The favor
| he OF the day. Ii was an innocent waste
| OF time; II did not render a II role deed
more brilliant, nor did il sully the bright
chastity oil well earned rrnown. But
when y'iu censure, you desert legislation
YOU exercise high judicial power; YOU in.
net punishmenis, upon cXparte eAamina.
ton YOU deprive a man of that property
which lie holds IN ii cherished reputation
that property which he hugs nearest to
his heart, and which is tn richest and
most precious patrlmony of lIs drSceud-
ants your censure " rives and blasts Ike
lie lightning of Heaven" leaving lis vie
| nm exposed To scorn and cuntuney, and
brings him 10 trial, If military court
| shall be ordered, with presumed yuih
| and anticipated conviction. Ry pra ,tice
| you are the grand aimoners of the nation.
In lie spirit Of beneficence, Won made
| magnificent donation 10 a South Amer.
can province charity cast her mantle
| over The act, and the nation would not
reno The ven. SIR, this nation has heart
| 10 feel, and maSuanimity 10 forgive, when
| the error is on the side of generosity and
humanity. Built upon This a auirsceuc..
| night In punish touch but a vested
| right III the humbiesi citizen. and lis
| Justice viii lead YOU back 10 The coustiiu
| i!on, HE instrument OF YOUR power and
| their projections.
| hui, admitting that this House possess
Inc pow,s, The transactions OF the Semi
| mole war do not justify lis exercise. The
advocates OF the resolutions, by different
| routes, aFiVe al one common conclusions.
| one contends That The presi,ien made. war
| aud uSurped lie powers OF This bou.e
| others take post al ihe 3Isl d gre of south
| latitude, anu somei few push 10 Pcnsaco.
la, and contend that there the original sin
was comml,Ied-tIieTe The 70, bddru fruit
was eaten, that stains The who'll govern.
| mcni with the guilt of Violating he con.
| sl!luiion, and insulting his majesiy the
klis oil Spain. Many, 10 be sure, Mr..
Chairman, drop by the way and fill up
| HE intermediate ciIaSms. Did The Pres
| ldehi make war, and usurp the powers OF
| Congress, the just exposition of our con-
| siItutIon is best seen, and most CLEARLY
understood, in The uninterrupted practice
| oil illIs government. The administration
OF Washington, to which we all look with
| prlde, ana many With regret, as The good
oiu constitutional times, presents The fiIst
| INK IN tbai cham OF precedent which
reaches down 10 the present Transaction.
ms goNernmeiil found several Otihc sialcs
engaged IN hostilities with tie Indians
The president communicated This ci;cum-
stance TO tie first Congress, who im,De
dIaieiy appropriated money and blou-
dy contest enSued, distinguished onl, by
appropriations aud defeat. Harincr's ar
my sprung from an appropriation bill
that commanded b, The unfortunate 81.
Clair stood upon The same basis and when
lis disastrous defeat reused tie govern
meni 10 The miserable condition of the
frontier, The military establishment WAS
considerably increased, and placed under
the command OF the gallant WAYNE. who
Infused his martial spIrii into that army.
aud achieved the victory winch gave peace
and tranquility 10 the haraSscd and bleed
ing frontier. AS early AS 1892, Congress
vested power in the President 10 cali out
The militia TO suppress Instructions, or
repei INVASION from any iuroigD power or
indian Tribe. lbe power transferred by
that act, being Insufficient 10 hcpurposc
contemplated, III 1905 another law MAS
enacted, clothing him with further power
authorizing him 10 take advantage the
indications 0fhosiilliy aDiiripate tbr
approach of The storm, and 10 strike be.
fore The elements of havoc and dcsolation
were collected together and poured upon
Tie frontier Ill fire and indiscrimiia,e
M rssacre.
Those who then filled the government
were fresh from The revolution, aud were
animated by the spirit which is embodied
III f.,i,, -
listed IN which could flourish party spirit:
il could germinale, but TO expire, in the
then pure state of our political sfmos
phere III the calm light Of mild philoso
ply they examined their duties and trans
ferred this power these we're the men
who worsblpped liberty in her lavoriie
temple, III sincerity and in truth ih Sc
were The men whose blood and suffering
elevated YOU TO The rank of a nation, and
whose wisdom gave you constitution
which breaks upon the view Of ensIaved
aud bcnigbled Europe, like lie star inihe
east, happy harblngrr of hope, proclaim.
! ing there is power sufficient to redeem
! from tlraldOm aud misery.
Upon examining the documents. if will
satisfactorily appear that The Seminole
| war was conducted upon principles strict
| ~ consistent with This practice aud the
laws OF the land. Bat, Mr. s. said. be-
fore lie went into this enquiry, lie would
advert TO an argument of his colleague.
| (Mr. Mercer,) WHO called for Information
ia put his country III Tie wrong aud the
but, he said, was had from Tie father OF
"a galantYoung mldshIpnan, rerypscute
to have fallen victim 10 q Stsaiagem
employed TO provoke Indian hostility al
Negro Fort. The appearance Of a small
| detachment of American troops, 10 pro