Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-04-06

eases, let us Imagine the Indians i'm pos
session of the fort-woSld your army
bave been in dangerl Can any gentle
mam believe il Sir, did you ever hear
OF AN Indians using cannon i'm action
Their situation would, indeed, have been
iadicrous. submit it, in the spirit of
calidor, 10 gentlemen to say, il the Gene
ia. coaid more ardeuily have wished for
any even, than thai the enemy should
have concentrated the whole of his forces
al 81. Marks, with the settled determlna-
ton OF holding the post. He would have
been saved the fatigue of marching fur
ther; one action would have Terminated
tie sufferings of his army The defence
"oulf have Deen weak and unavailing.
ans a new spark of glory would have IL
6lnniinated the crest Of the hero. But even
Tins Imaginary state OF things would have
presented case contemplated in his or
d,ers, and as military man, he would
nave been bound 10 have reported 10 the
President before he could have struck
blow. Butwe are told iriumphantIy by
honorable gentlemen, that The governor
OF st. Marks had violated his neutrality;
that he aided and assisted the Indians
furnished them with munitions Of war
nursed their wounded, and suffered them
nose. Be il so: will admit all this. |
give 10 gentlemen all they can ask. Nay,
| will go further, and WELD TO them that
he was destitute of principle, aud was
deadly, but secret enemy of the United
States: what inference can be drawn
irem these admissions? Why, sir, that
he furnished YOU with abundant cause OF
war against Spain. But demand TO
know who was authorized, under the con-
stitution, 10 liavedeciared The war, Con
gress or the General To this point we
must come at last. Great Britain gave
sou innumerabie causes of war; she
searched your vessels--conhscated your
property -disregarded your fag-im-
pressed your seamen--and made an at
tack on one of your frigates in sight of
your coast. France also committed ag-
gressons on you, of q serious and afilict-
Ing character yet, was il ever dreamed
OF, that your Commodore had right
10 strike a blow before Congress gave
him authority | put YOU case pa
railcl 10 the one have supposed TO exist
You had, during MIR. AdamSs admins
trarion, quasi war with France. Did
moi Spain then violate every obligation Of
neutrality towards you? She suffered
French consuls, residing in her sea ports,
TO grant commissions 10 privateers, TO
prey on your commerce. She transferred
to these consuls portion of her sove-
reigniy, and permitted them to adjudi-
cate prizes. Would you have excused
your naval officer, il he had entered a
Spanish port, captured their shipping,
ard destroyed their town? AAd yet is
no, that case as strong as the present
Implore you then, Mr.. Chairman-l sup
plicatc this committee, In the name of
lIberty-in the name of the constitution,
TO beware how they counieuance pre-
cedeni of this sort. This nation, If this
precedent receive your sanction, may be
involved IN war without the question ever
having been submitted TO The representa-
tives of the people. Do you wish any
further illustration of this position! Sup
pose war to exist between us and a nor
ihern tribe of Indians your arms are
victorious-your enemy flies for protec-
ton 10 a fort in Canada they receive
succor and protection at The hands ofihe
officer commanding such fort; your gen.
eral demands a surrender of the fort his
demand Is refused he carries il by storm,
and retains pOssesslOn--would the gov
ernor of Canada submit in silence No
slr-he would send an army 10 attack
you: the pride of your officer would not
permit him 10 retreat we have then hos
lie armies in the field the war RACES
between us and England, without the
appreciation of the constituted autbOri-
| ties. You, however, must soon become
parties in the war; for, if you admit The
right 10 exist with the General to involve
| you in ii, you owe a corresponding duty,
| and must furnish him the means of wag.
| ing il to a successful termination. Taxes
msst be levied 10 carry it on; your re-
| sources must he developed you will moi
abandon the standard Of your country.
| And, sir, what prevented these iconse-
| quences III the instance under coHsidera-
| lion Nothing but the iHibecilily Of Spain.
| Aud shall we adopt a different rule OF
! conduct when weak nation is concern
ed, from that we would put in practice
| against a strong, formidable nation
Manhood forbid il Patriotism forbid il
Valor avert the deed MIR. Chairman
| the principles Of justice, the principles
| OF your constitution, are inf1exiDle, i'm
mulabIe tliev yield not to time or cir
cumslance. ! appeal to Tie honor Of this
commltiee--to the oath which each mem
| Der has taken, 10 support The constitution
! of this land-to guard and project, moi
only that constitution, that honor, bultIe
character OF tbs nation for Justice and
! imparilaliiy.
The remarks which have made rela.
tive TO the seizure Of ST. Marks are now
strongly applicable 10 that of Pensacola
II is in vain you Tell me that The Governor
was destitute of prineipIe-had violated
his neuifslitv-had given shelter 10 q
poor, miserable, broken and defeated
foe--a foe, who, like tie hunted beast oil
the forest, had held YOU but moment
at bay, aud was then flying 10 his secret
| places, far from tie llaumls Of civilized
| mau, to hide himself from ile desolaiina
vengeance which pursued him. Sir,
| cagSy YOU back so my first position.
| Eon0rcss and not the General ,yas alonf