Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-31


gentleman will, of course, determine for him
srlf:-I shall be- satisfied with the result, pro-
vIdrd have an opp"riunity tn make myself
Clearly understood. What, then, is the uues-
ton At the commencement of in" se>sinn,
the President, in his message To Congress, cali
ed our attention. sonewhat particularly, To
the struggle in which the Greeks were engag-
ed 10 maintain their freedom He had taken
similar notice of that people, in his message,
the year before. He now expresses his opin-
ion very strongly on the subject. He re
marks, that the sympathy of the whole civil
Hed world is excited in their behalf-and he
expresses his strong conviction that the do
mnon Of the Turks, over them, is lost forev-
er. Now, if it were customary To return an
answer to the message, we surely should not
refrain from expressing the opinion of the
House I'm this subject. This brings us, then,
tn the very pith of the question. which, after
all. il, whether il is ii! fur this House tn ex
press any opinion, whatever, in the matter {:
No man can meet me-, and prove, that the Go
vernment is not already committed upon it,
The President is the executive organ of the
Government Z; he il charged with the oreiyn
relations nf the country he is the organ of
the nation, So FAR relates 10 the safety of its
concerns abroad. Many things pass the
House, IN the shape ofrpsolntions, upon which
It would not heroine the Executive To express
an opinion and the real question is, whether
this House has the right To have an opinion,
and 10 cypress it, on this subject ? I submit to
the gentleman from Vrsini,, whether il is nat
proper, whether il is not the good old prac-
tice, that the popular branch nf the Govern
mont should, mn certain occasions, express
. oplnions on matters which do mot come before
them as direct subjects oflpgisatiun ? Is there
single member who ran doubt that, if the
Hnttcn h.,I ,aA a..
dents Message, il would have contained
something like this language " We partiri-
p,tr in your sympaihyin behalfofthe Greeks.
You will exercise yenr discretion as 10 the
proprety ut sending an agent Ia that people {;
and, u " shoud be thought proper to send
one, we shall make the necessary appropria-
ton. when the proper time comes"
We now propose To express this same gen
rral o"inion, by resolution. The only differ
ence, in expressing the opinion by RESOLUTION,
or bv direct reply, is this that resolutions
usually have reference To some measure which
is 10 follow-wherras, in an address, or reply,
opinions may he expressed in more abstract
manner. think, Sir, this subject is of suli-
Gent Importance. to warrant, an expression
of the opinion Of this House. Yet il is not
merely, or principally. for thr sake of the
Greeks that introduced it. The history of
Greece. for the last five years fully shews the
application of the principles acted upon by the
Allied Powers This evidence Of those prin-
ciplcs seems To render il proper, that we
should express our concurrence with the ex-
ecutive in the expression he made Of principles
directly the reverse. The abandonment ri
Greece is another proof of the change Of ma
tional policy instituted by the Allies. They
have certainly started new principle which
they hold tn he part of the law Of the civilized
world. Now five hold so too, let us not say a
word on the subject. But If we think the opera
tion of their present policy is hostile TO the
true principles of liberty, and if consider
rhe opinion of the House Of Representatives
as worthy of any regard, let us express that
opinion.
The allies have brought their power to bear
directly anon the Greek cause. They tell us,
in terms, that they would act in her aid on
principles of their owe national interest hut
that the general principle of supervising all
revolutionary movements, overcomes all con-
sideraiions of private interest. and they, there
fore, abstain from all aid. Here then, is a
practical application of their principle
and IT is because Of the application Of this prin-
ciple, that have asked the House to express
its opinion upon il and | doubt not, that, in
the courts of The Allied Powers, opinions will
be expressed, discounfrnancing this attempt
ofthe Greeks against The Turkish government.
So that the question seems to resolve itself
into "A proposition tn Consider. whether we
will give currency to the doctrines Of the Ali
aDee, by our arquirsence in them. This rPso-
luton. therefore, cannot he considered as n,i-
gatory and idle it will show our opinion al
the operation of those principles upon human
happiness. And now I ask. sir, ifit is mot ni
sOmr Importance after the President, and the
Secretary Of State, have thought proper tn
express their opinions on the subirct, that This
House should make similar expression.
think the passage Of the resolution can
have NJ effect for evil. while it will have
much for good. Ii is said that II will produce
war. ask how How is it to produce war
No one pretends that there is any Just cause
Ofwar contained in i. Even the gentleman
from New York, who has read Grotius so re-
Gently, has not shewn any cause for war. But
II is said that, whether there is cause or not
offence will be taken by the Allies that they
have one system, and we another and that
they will express an opinion the reverse Of thai
contained in the resolution. And let them
cir, with all my heart hut is this war, sir
Yet still we hear nothing hut war, war" .Ar
mn pirum1te cnno" We must do nothing
they dislike, for fear Of war. But, sir, if you
once let them understand this is to he yonr
rule of proceeding. take my word for IT, they
will soon tell you nfA great many things they
do not like and IL you refuse this resolution
ON that ground, You will have set precedent
from which yon cannot consistently escape.
AS 10 the amendment proposed by the gem
tIeman from South Carolina think the com
mittee will be satisfied that If my proposition
has tendency to excite the anger ofthe Allied
Powers his amendment S. on that score
much more dangerous. There appears fo he
some ineongridty between the grnteman's
argument and his resolution. Fle has told you
e I,fs IF In ,,,