Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THE GREEK oUFsTION.

THE GREEK QUESTION.
The House then went Into committee of
the whole, Mr.. Taylor in the chair, on the re-
solution some time siuce offered by Mr.. Web
ster, which is in the words following:
" ReSotred, That provision ought 10 be made
by law for driraying the expense incident To
the appointment of an Agent, or Commits
sioner, to Greece, whenever the Presid. ~,
shall deem il expedieni 10 make such appoint
ment."
MIR. WEBSTER rose, and said, that he WAS
AFRAID that, so far as his pari was concerned,
the excited expectations of the public aiind.
on the present occasion, would be eisappo,ni-
ed 1t was difficult, on any occasion thai call
ed the attention To spot On the globe con
Dected with associations and recoIecfions as
Greece, To avoid some degree nf warmth and
enthusiasm. Yet, he was entirely sensible that,
IN gravely IeSislating on the present subject,
those feelings must he clIaslsrd. He should
tndeavour, IN what he was about to offer to
the House, to reprpss such feelings as far AS
lt was practicable: yet, If we would wholly
escape from them, we must fly beyond the H.
mits of the civilized world /; we must GO be-
You'd the limits of social order, the. hounds
where laws and knowledge are found nay,
we must leave this Hail. before we can turn
away from the memorials of ancient GREECE
What, he asked, is this popular assembly !?
what this free discussion of public measures !?
what this open, unreserved action of mind
upon mind K! what that popular eloqurncr
which, ~ VI were now present, would, Oh such
theme, shake this Hall TO its centre p
what are these but such memorials This
magnificent ediice, these columns, with their
stately proportions, this fine architecture by
which We are surrounded, what are these hot
SO many witnesses Of what Greece once was,
and what she has taught us tO be? Yet, sir,
Laa.Nd liz ..INa 4 -
resolution, now on your table, with any ,ien
towards rePaying ausbt of the debt, which
we, in common with The c, IiZed world. owe
To that land of science, freedom, arts, aud
arms. IL is debt that npeer can he paid
Whatever may be our feelings of gratitude for
these gifts, we are constrained tu act with a
view alone To the present state of the world.
and OF our relations To it, What propose.
and what shall say, has reference Ia modern,
not To ancient Greece--tO the living, not to-
the dead.
am aware, sir, that il IS a very easy thing
to run over common places on the subject Uf
THIS resolution: TO call It visionary and
QuIxOtic measure, aud io urge fie good old
maxim Of its being the soundcst policy for
caci one iU take care Of his own concerns
That maxim, sir, is very true, bat very iuap
Plicable tO the present occasion. The question
which is now to be discussed is the .9nericau
question in relation to- this aidir--what, is IL
hest )or as to do 10 the present aspect Of things
respecting Greece? Aud surely, sir, this s q
qnesiirn that comprebends something more
than mere pecuniary calculation. Whence, er
my mind turns to that question, | cannot for-
get the age ] live in, as well as the peculiar
position Of my own country.
AT the commencement Of the present SEES.
I sion of Congress, Mr.. w. said, the President
81 the United States, in the discharge Of th,
| nigh duties of his station, deem, d il incUnbrn
upon him to introduce the subject to the COR
sideiaiion Of the National Legislature an,