Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-31

M CIR. the old Congress denied the right of
the sufferers TO Indemnity, and invariably re-
lnsed to grant any compensation wbate,er.-,
was our country, therefore, not independent
Yet the gentleman say we must either pay
s"ch losses ourselves, or compel the enemy
to pay them. or we are not independent. Sir,
we suffered much under the British orders IN
C"unclI. Was compensation allowed in the
treaty of Client ? We suffered surely under
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES. Has compen.
sation ever, To this day. been allowed for those
losses No, SIR +; and it is very questionable,
~ thr nation will 81 to war Ia ohsain il. Will
the gentleman, therefore, maintain that these
states are not, AT this day, independent? Sir,
The thing Is not dune by any Government
nor can the argument he sustained by an APP
peal to facts. The true rule is. that Govern
men: is hound To obtain such allowance, aud
To make such compensation, if it can he done
conveniently. But would the gentleman say
,hat, IN order To get the allowance uf one mil :,
Hon, the whole nation must be plunged into
war, at an expense "f one hunirrd millions !?
IN such cases. The demand becomes question
OF policy II way maxim (atiributed. be-
''rve, I" Mt. hdans) at one time. in the mouth
of every American, millions fDr defence, hu,
moi a cent f"r tribute" There is something of
h"n"' IN snch questions. What WAS the Ian
suag- of President Madison 10 Corkhurn
when hs commenced his ravagrs ? Did the
President say to him, /" Admiral Cockburr,
pray iofhear furbear, if y"u please; if not,
we must pay our citizens for the Injuries You
may Infiict." No, sir; u" said {" Forhear; If
not, we will retalia,e." This sir. is the Only
note Tor such an ear as Cockburn'ss the
dread oil retaliation is the only consideration
wh,rh can hnfd such an enemy IN check.
Inc gentleman relies much on the merits
and sUdrrlngs ofthe inhabitants on the Nigga
ra frontier. Sir, have much regard for those
inhabnants. and though they are personally
unknown to me, am inclined to believe much
OF me representation in their fav or whit II have
been gwen ny the gentleman frum New York !;
ON, s''I, feel great doub, whether they were
sufferers to any thing like the extent they
wo'''h nave us 10 suppose. | do know that
many, who send us the most heart-rpnding
accounts of their caumi'ies, placid themselves
voluntarily on the frontier for certain cummer-
c'a' purposes, and hav. been very cred;b'y
informed that That frontier, generally, receiv-
eu more benefit Than injury from being, 10
'he extern u was, the seat nj war. Sir, lhos,
people many of them, could well atfurd to
nave their houses burnt. If they received, nj
such rate. thu public money which was then
concentrated, and expended with the mos,
lavish profison on that frontier.
But on The subject ofrrialiaiion, the gentle
men would have us rely on the testimony ef
ctr'aia British captain OF artillery drivers
ms gentleman atisms that, 10 his hearing
general Drummond declared that il was " be-
nrath the British government" 10 waste the
o"fder on principle of reialiaIion. Very deli
cafe, indeed But IL. US hear another of
these delicate gentlemen What does admi.
raj Cockhurn tell us ? That IL was on this .e
~ principle that he was ordered tn waste and
hurn and ravish on the Chesapeake. Which
sna'' we believe ? SIR. III believe neither
"hat IS ths bat fo call cnIprit into court TO
swear OH ms own accusation Sir, any Bri- |
''sn ofieer viii tell us that his government is
NOT I'D Dlame-is never in the wrong. Wei
can appreciate, very highly, The decacy ofl
,nese gentlemen, especially after the scenes al
hampton, in which they made so chaste and
honorable figure; and 10 doubt, if charged
WIN those very transactions, they would nut !
on'y say they were clear of the prrpetraiioo
y. 'nese enorinIiiHs, hut, as believe, would |
swear 1" u. L VIII believe nnne OF them
nave iong heen in the habltof Surprising that |
actions spoke louder THAI words. ask NOT, | |
Cur. carr. ,'"'' no" man breaches, unless know
now ne ac's also and do know that the !
actions of these men were crucI d,s1,rdl,,
'indictise. and every way abomiual,l,.
"a these grounds, Mr.. Speaker. I am de |
cidediy OF opinion that this bill ought NOT +,
pas. 1t II does, ii will moi only make y ,,...
ruc''on OF your Treasury, but il will b.. An |
&C. without parallel 10 the history of lecis-
,a."i' VIII venture 10 assert that such :,
law IS not to bt fonnd within The lids of anv
code among civilized nations Tie pen,l..
man, Indeed, says the emperor Of Russ;,
has 'uade similar allp ~ ance to his ciiiyens-
snhl'cis ! would say-the has no citizens,
put the case 10 widely different from tina, he. !
'ore US. The damage for which Aexand.r |
.n'ut allowance was made by his own an |
.noIny-ihc burning was his own act. Bu,
, ~, 'or Wh'ch we are called To EMMY TN.
,L ,oa'y Is me act OF an enemy. IT. indeed. !
~ 'oSs'S 'au oeen oecasouei by the act
" a." n"r'r"h iorce, aching under lrgilmat..
po"y' snonid say, under my present i'm
F'pssio"s, pay The demand. But the case il |
widely different. was always onnos"J 30
!he act of 1816-but when il had n,ss.d ,od
became law, the Committee of Claims on
Jar rom impeding its operation, honestly en-
ue's"rra to carry IT into effect, not vjrwinp
'nc cia'in Oh The sufferers as right which I'M, |
government had been forced 10 ALLOW. but ,s
cia'm OF suffering fellow men To whom re.
iei hau been extended as an act of con,,,s
sion and charity, ''"'P"'
am sensible, sir, that have detained th.
Iiouse Too long; but thought il was due to
ne house, In the Committee over which
preside, to The gentleman who advoc,t.s The
'''' ana 10 myself, to stats with frankp.ss nv
easons for opposing it.
W.T.. Cannreleng, of N. York, said, that.
10" ever widely the gentleman from Norrb
Ioro'ina differed from him. IA to the Justice
u 'nsSe Claims, he was glad to find Their. was
~ Inference OF opinion As to The atrocious
,"a'dcler OF the enemy's conduct during the
ave war. 1t was impossible to forget the
,"'vIs OF Hampton and Havre de Grace
ne andalism here; ar IN. r,,ss.o.a r. -