Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-17

the Bay OF Tripoli. prescLs scenes AMI scenrr, !,
which the most slilfu artist may be proud TO copy
Somers and Israel, and W"lsworth and Decatur
have executed designs, which need no decorations
Of imagination or fancy. 1t is not necessary to
advert 10 the brilliant achievements ofthe late war
upon the Atlantic and upon the Lakes.
Another reason for preierrins the amendments
that, ii we are confined even to military events,
this permits the committee TO select from among
them. They may 80 back To the early scenes of
our history. Personal va!or and heroism are no.
of modern growth The carly Indian wars exhibit
ed efforts OF bold and successful daring, that have
since never been surpassed. The achievement at
| Lewisburgh loses nothing in comparison with lat
ter events. If we 90 10 the time Of the Reyolu-
ton, al the mover of the resolution Observed that
It was iit that we should have exhibited the clos
'nS scene oil the late war, ii cannot be less ft that
we should exhibit the first scene Of that which
secured to us our present happy form of Govern
nent. Among the subjects suggested by the ar
list employed under the former resolution of Con-
gress and yet unexecuted, is that of the ''Eyacua
ton of New-York," the Death OF Mercer at
Princeton" the g Battle of Eu;aw Springs;'' the
last OF which, surely, has the advantage OF Local!
associations, TO recommend itself TO the cousilcra
ton OF the mover Of this resolution. The gentle-
man found fitness in his proposing the subject
and an artist TOO for the present work in their be-
ing natives OF the State he represents. So far as
that may influence cur wishes, he might feel as
-fep an interest III embracing, with other radiant
achievements, the battle Of Monmouth. 1t was
there his brave countryman, Col Cilley) standing
upon the battery, from which he had driven the
enemy, being inquired of by Washington, e.What
brave troops are these - answered, ssfull-blooded
\ ankees, Sir, from New Hampshire little
higher than il is in the power of any prince or DO
tentate to bcstow. Ii is too exalted distinction
10 DC Claimed exclusively by any section of the
country. II was given, by the enemy original
Iy IN derision of all those, who dared assert and
defend the rights of freomen, against the oppres-
sions 81 tyranny. name and principles, of which
from their associations, they should ever be proud
me battle OF bennington may not have been at
tended with ali the ''pomp and circumstance OF
spcccheS ana proclamations, that have accoInpani-
ed some other occasions for the only proclamation
oil the fearless Stark was, T. There is the encmy;'
ms only speech, 1--WE will beat them Or this ncIt
Atary Stark is widow; but in the heroisrn Of its
Leader, or that OF the hardy yeonanry who fought
! by his side, il has 40 where been surpassed. Will
the House prohibit the Committee from consider
ing whether ''thc battle of Bunker HIP is worthy
on the notice contemplated by the resolution -
me fitness on his part of urging it, rested not on
ule local origin OF a commanding officer but the
citizenship OF many, very many, OF the brave men
VINO there fought and fell. The original resoIu-
uon proposed to us the subject Of the battle OF New
orleans, and commended To us an Artist, who was
native oil the same State of which the Command
ing General had been a citizen. The battle of
Bunker Hill need not be excluded from the inoui-
ry oil the Committee. Ii is not intended TO detract
from the just praise due to the Artist who was
named by the gentleman, by saving that he has n
worthy and successful competitor, in the school of
thelr common master and distinguished country
man west, who literally was raised upon the soil,
Winch mad drank the blood of the brave men who
iei IN that unequal fight-it was Morse
But II we were to coflsine ourselves TO the o.
vents OF the late war; the subject proposed was not
inc only one worthy of notice. He had no desire
t0eAciude that from the consideration of the Com
iiA'ee' lie had no unwiilingness TO give honor
10 whom honor is due Yet, splendid as was that
acmevement, he could not assent TO the decIara-
uon oil gentleman, that he was e'tke hero of the
last war, TO the exclusion of all others or that
ne was The man who achieved the victory of n
Orleans" There were other men there and bo,,s
too, who did not " insloriously hee.' Is it orr
DUTY, by such an exclusive resolution, TO degrade
thCse who fought at Fort Erie, Chippega and
Hi!dgewater' In the bloody scene of that battle
cihZen OF New Hampshire had earned whethe,
IL should ever be awarded him or not higher re-
Putation Tor personal bravery, cool debereton and
successful enterprise, than belonged TO any other
Individual OF that war. When asked by the com
Inandng General if he could drive the enemy
from the battery, his answer was, I'll try, Sir
1t was done.
He had adverted 10 these subjects for no other
purpose than To bring TO recollection scenes wor-
~, at least, of some attention. in connection with
the one proposed. The mover of the resolution
had expressed, and most dcservedIy great coDf
dence in the Committee to whom he had directed
ms resolution. If he has equal confidence in the
merit OF bis proposition, he ought not to hesitate 10
submit 1t to their decision the broadcast principle
Of inquiry.
Mr.. Hamilton said, that he did not rise for the
purpose o. Proracting the debate for he was CON
seiodS, however great the interest he felt in the
resolution, that the discussion had been already
prolonged much beyond tiio period which the in
tTiiiSc merits OF the subject might seem 20 deserve
lie would, therefore, not emulate the exanpIe of
the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr Bart
iett,) by travelling the historical detail with
"hich ne mad been pleased TO entertain the House
-adetaii which had satisfied him from its proxitv
tlat many OF the events were much more bsppjv
disposed az, where they were placed in the records
OF our history, than iIcy would be- if transferred
TO the canvass. He was inclined TO INDULGE in thi,
criticism II he took for the grouping of the picture
Tie events IN the order in which they had been
narrated by the gentleman himself
Ifor would he emulate that gentleman in ano-
t,lef example, VINO has certainly not exempIified
inc OLD adaGe: that "cOmplrisOns are odious' from
ITS usual penalty. He may retain all the fruits of
tins example; will not follow it, have not been
guilty OF the righteousness of Challenging sinrlc
comparison, or running n single parallel. / woiiI
not purchase, if could, the success of my resolu-
Ton by undertaking even the humbiest achieve
ment which has contributed 10 the sum Of our ma
uonal glory Nothing shall provoke ne into this
species Of war.
But, sir, rose merely for the single purpose Of
repbiling an insinuation Of the gentleman that
there something of a sectional seI6sbp,ts n,
thc motive which had dictated my resolution. The
gentleman inumates that am mistaken; sir. he
may not have SO intended-but he rung the char
geS repeatedly on 'fSou.h Carolina" and 20 often
appealed TO what he seemed 90 regard as my selfish
feelings, by asking Why would not select such
anu such an event from the Revolutionary history
Of South Carolina, a. &. subject for the Dainfey
that II surely was mistake into which no. alone
but others, might very naturally have fallen
Sir, desire my own words should be my own
interpreters did not say that had offered The
ranaH ~ nfF#.H.