Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-16

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more de- cided, a more complete, or more tri-
umphsnt victory. was never won by land or
sea. And, Sir, said Mr.. b i for one am not
" Hing that that act shall follow in the train
Of any military comet which has shone, and
glittered, and glarsd across this land. No.
Sir, lot the victory Of Erie stand by itself. Il
will not agree thsta vote for the commence |
ration Of an event like that shall be tackled to
4 resolution, the only object Of which is to
commemorate the victory Of the Hero Of Or
leans 1t is not my intention to deny or to
d'sparage the merits of that achie vemcnt.-
But ! ask il there il my man here, who feels
his bosom well and his heart glow at the re-
collection of the victory at Orleans, who does
not at the same time feel his exultation check
cd by a pang, at the thought that such a bat
tie, with all ito attendant carnage and woe,
was fought by two nations who ere at thai
moment at pea ce: that the contest, glorious |
az il might be, was q mere mistake: that il
happened solely from the tsrdy pace at which
intelligence had unavoidably to pass from the
point Of pa citication 10 the extremity Of this
Republic. The Treaty Of Client was signed
on the 22d of December. If the Angel which
brought the news Of peace across the ocean
could have hastsned his fight but seventeen
days, this bloodsned. on the 'Sth Of January,
might have been spared. And who is there
that does NOT reg,e, that all tins glory had not
been won whilst the nations were yet in the
career of full and open hostility! Who is
there that does no, regret that the drama
should have been closed with such a scene Of
blood. afie all the events Of the tragedy itself
were finished and over? Not SO with the bat
tie Of Erie. Tho immortal victory happened
when j. was needed. II stood out in bold re-
lief in the midst of the scenes of our national
difficulty and danger; and its effect was felt IN
the renovated courage, raised hopes, and sx-
cited feeling, Of all who we've engaged in the
contest. ask, then, il. when the conse-
quences Of these two victories are taken into
view, there can exist a moments comparison
between them
Sir, | am against this measure on another
ground. 1t may illustrate our pride as a ma
ton to put the warriors who have served us in
an attitude Of glory upon canvass, but methinks
it would better illustrate the national humanity,
were wo to put those warriors, themselves al
least in comfortable circumstances. Here
have we more than an hundred petitions on
our table from those who once breasted the
battle for Va, and are nov in circumsts Of
acInai want and mendiCi!y. 1t would better
become us, before we reward our heroes by
the pencil, TO send some scan,y pitiance to
those who are begging at our doors. And be-
sides, Sir, we have hanging on us, by a slight,
I grant you, and a fragile tie. a remnant still
surviving of the soldiers Of our first war. They
too, have prayed us for relief, but TO this hour
we have made 10 provision in their behalf
The plea urged by some in behalf Of these
aged veterans, was met by the alleged poverty
Of the public Treasury; yet now we are asked
TO put our hand into that Treasury, and cover
Our walls with more than they can contain,
while these men are left to beg their way
through the Siaies. Sir, what have we done for
the HERO Of our first war! We begged his
bones, and we have left them TO moulder, to
this hour, under a covering of deal boards and
sand. Would to God we could do something
TO redeem our pledges Of respect to his mem
Dry, before we put our respect for so many
others upon the canvas.
Mr.. b. observed in conclusion. that he was
unwilling the House should take any measure
which might lead men to suppose that there
was not an artist in the world who would at
tempt. without 4 bride, 10 pant the victory of
New-Orleans.
Arer some further debate, during which
Messrs. Everett. Bartlett, and Dwight success
s,vely had the floor, n, question was taken on
the amendment offered b. Mr.. Storrs. and tn
same was lost, 80 to so. The question wa,
then taken on the am sndinent Of Mr.. Dwight,
viz " TO embrace the battles of Bunker Hi,
Monmouth, Princeton, and the attack On Que
bee. which was also lost. 107 10 83.
The Question then REQUIRED on the resolution
as offered by MIR. Ilan,il on wnereuIon lIr.
Everett moved to amend tho resolution as fol
lows :-' That the committee If the House of
( Representatives on the Library be in trucied To
iuqiire into the expei'eocy OF taking suitable
MEASURES. at this time, 70 procure a series OF his
toric paintings for tie empty pannels oi the Ro-
tunda." Mr.. Randolph p,ke-bu, not TO the
! uupstlOD. His Di oct was In lacpratp The fn,l
inys 81 Col. Trrmhull, who painted the great
historical painting which now a jmn The Rctun-
ia. The splendid painting OF the Declui alton
of Independence h. co led ny the dIguifisI name
Of a SHIN pioec.-He did not explain the wit Of
the remark
Mr.. Bartlett made an animated speech in "a.
vour Of the atoecdment-.poko of the naval ex.
ploits OF our coun,ryu.en in the bay Of lripGli,
and elsev hrte-repiled to the effu'ts TO max
Jackson /" the her" OF IN late war; the excl
snnn OF the hard fought field, of Chjrpew" and
Bridge water, and The brilliant sortie from Fort
Eric. &c.
Mr. Hamilton replied: after which the on
tion 'p,on Mr.. Everei''s anssd neut was taken
and the sane was lost, l05 TO 81.
Mr.. SteWattheu moved the following am, nd
meat 10 ~ Hamili"n's resolution, to come in
after TIE word " New Orleans" VIZ: ..he. battle
on Lake Erie. and such other ~sutJec,. a. they
may select to Eil the four vacant panel, il ,he
RoinDda.' Mr.. S. spoke in favor Oils m"ti II
aud W.. MCoy against IL. Tie was opposed a.
the While project. The glory Of our country
could he perpe'usied better 10y printing than
paipi,nc. Ifihe ats cunld not tnrive wiiio II
20, erment jots, let them Eail. Mr.. NC. ".
ed 10 10y the subject Oh the table. Lost, 100.
To SO.
Mr., Woodcock then moved TO al TO Mr.. s ew
art's pa opposition, "the Battle Of Br,dssoa 81.
and Lake Champlnin." Mr.. Siewar, accredited