Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-15
VOL. XIV. NO. II.

that purpose But, while he admitted this he Eel,
sound IN justice TO Others TO say thathe had ne yer
thought, that, among all the chvalrous exploits
iWhch had advanced the glory of the Americai
character, and with reference 10 its consequences
respectfully, the battle of New Orleans was entitled
10 the exclusive honors that we proposcd IN cnn.
Ter upon it, He thought that the rasnl,to,, ne -
was introduced by the Honorable gentleman fro,,
SOUTH Norolina, might lead to great nisconstr,Ic-
ION Goh. ne Naval victories OF Lake Erie and Lake
Ihanpain he believed 10 be deserving in avery
respect IN which they could be considered of az
distinguished honor from Congress, as the victory
"chieVed at New Orleans by Major Gen. Jackson
ana our brave and patriotic countryncn under nj,
command While the one saved New Orleans &.
protected the Southwestern portion of the Union.
the Others gave security to the Northwestern
StoIes me w estern and Northern frontiers OF New
ORR ana vermont. MIR. >. said, that he had no
wish 10 draw any invidous comparisons between
the battle OF New Orleans and those triumphs OF
me Navy, or many OF our Revolutionary battles
that equally deserved the national commemora-
tion; and IL was for this reason too that he wished
to divest the resolution of feature that rendered.
/ II objectionable in that respects and which would
easily lead 10 great misconstruction lie should
most checriuily unite with the gentleman in civ
ing to the battle of Orleans prominent place in Tho
hotundo, but he thought it would lead 10 injurious
crluciSm II we refused al the time. TO confer
Inc honorS OF the country the splendid achev-
mentS OF the Navy. We were the more lable r.,
be misunderstood, from the existence OF other cir
culnstances, which it was unnecessary TO brine
INTO the question, bnt which were sufficiently oh
4
| J. hese were adventOus, merely, and the subject
should be treated 10 purely national. The moral
Value, too oi any vote that might pass, would
DERIVE all its real worth from the spirit of national
ity with which we treated the question Ii is not
a thing, said. Mr.. S., OF the present hour ONLY
inat We are laoouring topass upon, and hethoueht
| that, since the subject had now been introduced
before the House, very ut opportunity was pre-
schtcd OF expressing OF the gratitude that
\ the Nation owes othe Navy. We have, hereto
lote, Deen anxious to perpetuac the remembrance
% a eOf
men seem to have been, in some measure over
looked. Equal justice to all, requires of U.S. that
We now remember moral obligations 20 the
Navy also shall vote for the resolution if the a.
inehdrnent Is agreed TO, but owe it to myself az
ihe same time, cand1ly to say that if il Is reject
eu, consider the real WORTH of the original promo
slnon so much impaired, and so extremely Liable
10 !nVidious misconsrucon, or real InslrCerstaud4
ing, that cannot give it my vote.
Mr. Drayton said, that lie honored our NAVY as
iiiuch he believed, as the gentlemen from New
OH could 90, and was ready to go far as any
gentleman on this floor in assigning 10 its acheve-
ihehtS the need OF honor and renown, so far at
least as the effort, OF humble an Individual were
OF any avail And it was precisely because he did
honor the Navy, that he was strongly a.verse 10
the adoption OF the amendment; and he was mr.
suadet that the officers of the Navy themselves
would not esteem themselves very highly hono.ed
II the commemoraton of their deeds should ne
/ brought ii under such an amendment Whenthe
| OBJECT IN view IS 90 commemorate with honor ne
roie acticns performed in the public service whe-
tncr on land OF wave; let it not appear, said Mr.
~ 10 nave been an accidental thounht a measure
dragged IN at the tail OF a resolution when II h.s
never before been thought Of. The Navy docs
not merit this treatment at our hands Those WHO
a.. embarked IN 1t had never shrunk from their
ou'y' ana although none had higher opinion OF
t,le achievements of our Army, in the late war
man he had, yet, he must nevertheless adhere n,
ms convection that there existed 10 higher renowl
man mat which had been won by the NAVY of the
United States Indeed, he was not nraDorej =,
say, whether the Nation dill not owe even GREAT
cI deOi 10 the gallant tar, than 20 the veteran 500.
dler. ihi>, however, was, in some measure o,v-
/ ing To an accidental cause. When the first battle
/ was fought between an American and a British
Eigate' the action might be sold to have been BIZ
WIN the late, u not OF Empires, at least of Soye-
reign states. The whole world ,vcr,. he snecf,,
tors OF that combat. Its issue, decided the cues
uon, whether Great Britain was 10 continue ne
u'disputcd t-nPress OF the Sea- whethe. the tn
neII was To be raYIshed from her hands, and thosr
I'uFci5 winch had so long boOmel upon her brow
were TO be transferred 20 the possession of a new
1 Power. The issue was, to us, great, and truly
glorious. by 1t, we became the conquerors of the
conquerors OF the World, and this too on that very
element which they had hitherto considered as be-
culariy the element of their glory Not only did
they consider themselves as our acknovyledp ed s,t
peTlorsi but they remarked with taunt and rdicule
on the rasnes5 OF an American lrinate presumine-
TO engage British vessel, hayiDp any thno, Iiks,
an equality OF force The consequences OF tbit
battle none could forget. It was followed bv a
long stream of glory, as bright as ever uluminea
therefore, that nothing should be done in This
itouse-that no feeling should be expressed, nor
act promulgated, which might induce 50 much 90
suppo'itlon that this House held the merits of the
navy as at all inferior TO those of the ATmy If
alter ~ or IL years had been suffered 10 elapse
'iIlcr amendments on amendments had been pre-
paFet at the loot OF all these there should appear
[ IN single line, the proposal TO make some CON-
incmoIaiion OF their deeds; that gallant BODY OF
/ men world feel themselves not hono-ed b,It al
IGNORED. He agreed in the sentiment, EXPRESSED
% his colleague, that if amendments were in This
manner 10 be hcapcd upon amendments, there was
every presumption that the resolution, itself would
di', and It's object be defeated yet that object was
mere expression Of the respect, fclt by this Con
gross, for those who had achieved the great vicfo
ry when IS proposed to be the subject vi the paint
! ing.
~ TO that victory, It was not his intention 70 o.
| fer ony remark. IT had been already oofnfoenfcf
! upon with 80 much eloquencc by bis COLLEAGUE.
(Alr Hamilton, that he would not impair by an,
thing he could say, the effect which that gentle,
/ man specch was so well calculated TO produce
| ana winch It did produce in this House. His ONLY
ogcci, IN rising TO 0proc the men Imcnt Of tho
| honorable gentleman from New York (Mr. Storrs)
was, that the object of the iginnl resolution ighs
not be prevented from going into effect, and tlas
the reputation Of the Navy might be rescued from,
an indignity. The gentleman from New YORK
proessed himself the Navy friend, and he had no
doubt nc was so hut, he must be allowed to saw
hiatt gentcmans friendship had not on this DC.
casion, been very iudic0usly exhibited: and
should the amendment prevail, he feared that M
gallant spirit OF those who had never SOUGHT ~
void an enemy, might be constrained TO crv out
| save me from my iiicnds.'