Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-15

a
the Navy, nc might b. permitted 10 say, tho, thiS
was hot the moment III which the Hou hal ;Jr-
gotten the sentiments expressed by the = ~ sman
fom New York. His principal objection to the
gentlemons amendment the consequences
that must iollowit lie thought il worid bring the
House into difficulty. II G.ey voted for the
amendment TO the amendment, they We're, iii
some sort, pledged 90 vote Tor the amendment
itself. Nosv, if ne could shCw that the amend
nent to the amendment went 10 destroy that
which II WIS intended 10 amend. hc thouwht he
should satisfy gentlemen that they ought not TO
vote Tor II; yet such was undoubtedly the fact
lhis accompaniment 10 the ans ndment went to de-
stroy the whole. Why? Because it proposed more
paintings than there pannels in the Rotuudo
TO receive 6em. Should This be adopted, it requires
farther extension of the plan which has hitherto
been agreed upon for decorating that apartment
AS TO the amendment of the gentlenun from Mas
sachuSetts, (Mr. Dwight) the subjects proposed
by him were certainly great and noble in them
selves, but they not comparatively, that
l., they did excel other actions of the Bevolu
tonary War 80 far TO deserve to stand above, or
to be preferred over them. They di /! not, for eX-
ample excel the battles Of Germantown, OF Eutaw
Springs or OF the CowpGns, much that the one
ought to be celebrated, and the other not.
mir. Il. was here reminded by the Chair that
the amendment of Mr. Dwight was not now under
consideration, but only the amendment proposed to
be added to it by Mr.. Storrs.
Mr.. Bl.sett resumed. At the time when the
four painting; now III the Roiundo were resolved
upon by the House. the principle was distinctly
decided, that those four panncs were all that ought
20 be assigned to the communication OF events ia
the Revolutionary War, aud the tour remaining
panne!s were purpoiely reserved for subsequent
events that might arise IA our history. Mr.. B saw
good reason for departing from the ptinCinlo
then established. He thanked the gentleman from
New York for his kind intention towards cur na-
val heroes. He only wished the gentlemen had
thought of his plan little sooner. Dil not the
gentleman see that his proposition liable 10 the
very objection he himself had urged? If ti,cre
was, as he said, any thing inyidous in preicrrjng
the Army before the Navy III oar proposals for
conlmcnnoraOn, would not that very feeling be
excited by bringing forward his proposition now (?
Why not wait till the resolution of the gentleman
from South Carolina was passed upon by the House,
Let that first be done, aiid then his motion in ia
vor of the Navy would stand upon its own ground.
Then, said Mr.. T., that gentleman shall see whc-
thcr this House is moi fully prepared TO expresss
feelings of gratitude for our naval achievements.
lie regretted that the subject had slept 50 long
Not, indeed, so far rs himself was concerned be-
cause he had never voted for any OF the pictures.
This mode Of expenditure was Objectionable, ac-
cording to his view OF the principle it involved.
But he had no doubt that the gentleman who had
introduced the resolution, (Mr. Hamilton0 if il
were suffered TO pass, would Immediately convince
the House that he felt warmly on the SUBJECT of
our naval victories the gentleman from ~ York
At present, he left it for the House to say which
OF these two courses would be most for the honor
OF the Navy
Mr. Burgess said lac had risen because one of
those, whose acts il had been proposed TO com
meinorate, by the amendment now under conside-
ration, was native of that State, which he had in
part, the honor TO represent. lie was opposed
10 the amendment, and, if for other reason,
III consequence oil what had been said hV the mo-
of the original resolution that The multiplying
oil amendments well know, as one OF the
modes OF Legislative hostility, by which measure
which IT was not wished openly 60 oppose, might
often he fully as ctitctuaiiy destroyed. In COM
Inemorating deeds Ike those contained in the IL
mendment, me was unwilling that the vote should
be taken under any possible suspicion OF mere
party hostility. For his own part, lac was a.
gainst tha WHOLE both resolution and amendment
because nc could not believe that the fame OF any
man could be secured by Legislative enactment
Did he think for moment, that the future fame
81 such man Oliver. II. Perry depended
on any vote which this House could uasy hmm
Die he was, he would not accept Of IT, No
Sir, his fame is already secured. IL is beyond
your reach or mine. But if lls actions were OF so
Iittle value that no artist would consider taen
worthy OF a voluntary and uhbought coInmenora-
ton, then let them so down to oblivion. But Sir
say that the victory on Lake Erie presents a
spectacle, which no artist need be persuaded TO
select Artists will be found who will gladly en-
bark their fame III the same barge which confer
red Immortality on that gallant man. But for this
part, Mr.. b. said, he felt uuicigncd surprise when
he observed the sOlicitudc ofgcntIencn TO secur.
the glory OF the Hero of the Battle of New Orleans
by any vote ofthis House. That battle is not one
OF those achievements which needs any reselo-
tuition Of this kind. A vote of this House Ouucb
as are inclined 10 think as ~ is but humble,
thing, when placed alongside ofthose achievements
which have been produced by our wars The
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Drayton)
had contended that Il resolution for commemorate
ing our avail victories ought not to come in at the
tail of resolution intended for any other purpose
lie fully agreed in this sentiment, and he agreed
with II, because he held those victoSies whether
we consider their nature or the consequences
which flowed from them, as infinitely superior TO
that which had been achieved at New Orleans
The Victory of Lake Erie WIS 50 especially: be-
cause it brought us into competition and adyan-
1geouS comparison with q. Britain in that kind of
warfare which was her peculiar glory. We had al
ready often met y conbatted hcrtrooDs OH the land
& on the ocean, We had again < again met & CON
quered her III battle ship u sijpbut we had never till
that moment had an opportunity of graphing with
her fcet 90 fleet The occasion was q rreat one
and the victory cOninen- uTatc 10 the occasion -
more dcciicd, more complete, or Il more triur-
plant victory, was never won by land or sea
AId, sir, said Mr.. b. for one am not yyilinr that
that act shall follow in the train OF any military CO.
met which has shOne and glittcrcd & rlarcd across
this land. No, Sir, let the victory of i.fie stand by
itself. will not agree that vote for the onfaei,
Grafton oi an event Ike tIat shall be tackled 10
resolution, the only object Of which is 70 coinmeu-
crate the victory OF The Hero Of Orleans. IL Is
rit5 OF That achievement But ask II there is any
man here, who feels hi, bosom swell and bi beaft
glow at the recollection Of the victory at Orls.1-.
VINO does not at the same time feel his cyultttiOu
checked by pang, at the thought that such
battle, with all it, attendant carnage and WOO. WIS
fought by two nations who were az mt ma
ment at peace: that the contest, glorious az il
might DC, was NEE mistake: that 10 happened
solely from the tdrdy pace no which intelligence
had unayoidably TO pass from the point of Hacifi
cation to the extremity OF this Republic Tho
Treaty Of Client was signed on Inc vi of n(.