Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEB.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEB. 7
Message having been received from the
President Of the United States, transmitting GER
tain papers concerning our Relations with
France
Mr.. j. @. Adams said
The President, at the commencement of the
session, had declared to the House. and to the
world, what he thought the interest, the rights,
and the honor of the nation would require on
contingency which was no longer to be consl-
dered as such. Mr.. Adams believed It incum-
bent on the House to shew to the nation and to
the world that they, too, were not lnsenslole 10
the interest, the rights, and honor Of the nation.
OF the particular measure proposed by the Pre-
sident he would say, as he beliRed the public
opinion would be, ds was said ofthe first great
act of the life of Lafayette, when he came TO
Join the standard ofour country, that those who
censured it as imprudent must yet applaud us
spirit 1t had gone forth to all mankind, e&hlo-
ting the President in the attitude OF the sustain
er Of the rights, the interests, and the honor OF
the nation and he hoped the House would not
suffer itself to appear in a conrasted character
with that of the President of the United States,
by shrinking from the responsibility specially
incumbent upon them as the representatives OF
the People
Mr.. Archer said
He confessed he should have great regret in
being driven into war, and especially for so
small a subject of interest, with our ancient
friend and earliest ally. If indeed, the affair
should become question Of honor, as ntima-
ted by the honorable gentleman, then there ceas-
ed TO be question, Mr.. A. said, at all what we
were to do In that case, though the subject OF
controversy were scarcely to exceed in amount
the cost of two or three OF the naval expeditions
which might be required, he should De ioEno as
much as he was behind him in present fervor)
at the side Of his honorable friend from Massa-
chusetts Before he planted himself there, how
ever. he felt it perfectly consistent with honor
to exhaust every resource OF forDearanCe 10
avert an issue which must prove exceedingly
caamitous He, thought this indeed the highest
course Of honor, to precede the harsh resort 10
which he referred by this forbearance.
Mr.. Clayton said
From the remarks Of the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr Adams) having stated that
the papers Just read convinced him we had no
further hope Of compliance on the part OF
France with orr wishes, and that it was time to
support the President in the manly spirit OF his
message. and to save ourselves from the re-
proach Of meanly shrinking from the support
of the national honor, infer that ne believes the
crisis has arrived. ! appeal to the House 10
say, whether, if, down'to this time, such pro-
cedure would have been unwise and njudiclous,
there is any thing in the communication just
made by the President that should authorize
change of policy? Is the evidence on your
table Of that clear and satisfactory characteras
TO REQUIRE that we should resort TO the war mea'
sures recommended by the President! In 1t
there'is nothing certain; all Is conjecture; ana,
although believe the prospect is extremely
gloomy for.an adjustment of the difficulty &C
cording to what we consider due to our rights;
vet il is the better part of wisdom. to walt Tor
the final action of the French Government, I'M
der the new aspect Of the case, as presented by
the Presidents message
Mr.. Lyle said
The French nation, it seemed evident, was
determined not to pay the amount of our claim
1t could not but know, that, in that case, war
would be inevitable. And what if France should
resolve to take the first step-should anticipate
the declaration OF war upon our part, and
should at once place our feet in state OF block
ade He confessed that such course would not
surprise him at all. And, now, what was that
House asked to do? Nothing was asked but
that if the refusal of France to ratify the treaty
should be received beforefore that House ad-
ourned, that the House would purge itself from
dishonor-that it would answer the call and the
lust expectation of every American citizen. by
declaring that the President should have power
to save the nation and protect the honor and
lust claims of its citizens from the aggression OF
an insolent and juggling Power.
Mr. Sutherland said
five were to have any contest with France,
he wanted 70 secure for this country the van
tage ground. This he would do, not by pres
sing such question nj this moment. He would
wait tin he received definite information as to
her final determination. For. after all, France
was, and had been our friend and ancient ally.
He would speak to her in the language of the
President and he would wait till the very last
hour, that he might give her chance of say
ing whether she would or would not pay this
debt. He had been asked, by the gentleman
from Ohio, (Mr. Lytle,) whether he expected to
receive any favorable intelligence. In reply,
he would say that every wave carried hope up.
on its bosom. The French Government might
vet send us message worthy OF France. But
ifnot, then he was ready to go with the gentle
man from Massachusetts, with the gentleman
from Ohio. and with every other gentleman in
the House, in the high road Of honor, and main
tain the glory Of our country.
Mr. X. NJ. Johnson said
tits doubtful whether those who held back and
refused to take strong measures, in cases OF in
Jury, did not do more to plunge nations into war,
than those who acted promptly to resent and