Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-08-21
MR.. LrlGms couesg@f NO l IrIg

Mr.. LEIGHS COURSE-TNO. I'LL
h'oerd IA the opinion OF ais Assembly that however highly
we sns tho blessings Of Peace and however may syrecac the
evils oWar e pcfol has when Peace 6 e nor A4s
t. af q,tei B, T.. (;e.,ca g.
s~6y ef Ptry'' Ae ltt January, isl2lges 49, ,ecs a.
Sesates Arcs 49, .,tc
la oid'r t. obtain fair and impartial Judgment Of the
PEOPLE oil Nirgni" upon the merits aud drinerits of
their present distinguished Senator, Mr. Leigh il be-
comes proper 10 test his orthodoxy Ly reference To his
opinions up'n the great aud cxraor,luary questions
which have heretofore been ay;ticd in the councils of
our country Among which, stands foremost in nuor.
ancc, The question of Nar or Peace; which for some
t'nc prior to the 18th of June, 1912 convnlsed our
Union, from ITS centre all round TO Tie seas have al.
ready shown. tina, upon the memorable Resolutions of
INC ,g'a Leg'slaiure passed IN tn year ls.e, and
re'ahrnird IN The year %, among other things d-nunc
ing the Alien Laws and .SuJrersrc of
me general Prncipes ea free Gorernmca ,cc as ne
deTat Constitution" Mr. Lcirhs opinion il y.J;ca,I,,
tciong and rahkiy Federal.
The next great question in order Of time and perhaps
more important IN the magnitude of its cquences
upon winch he displayed very bad judsnl well as
misguided patriotism, grew out Of tine gallant Rrsnu-
uon standing at the head of this which
as TEST gneS,on was submitted Ia and adopted by the
house OF Delegates the lti January 1912 by vote
OF i3i u 3s-Nr Leigh cottny ia The nesotiee. This
act has been alleged (but with what truth do not n
hrin) caused ms expulsion rom public lie; and branded
him with the fatal marx of minority mln and per
haps originated his refined tstc for t. o,ina con liz,
ntfnte IN private life, which he enjoyed uninterrupted.
~ Tor the space oil nearly twenty yeuIs Il may not be-
improper therefore, 10 recapituat here the main causes
q
showing The utter and Scusaie of MIR
Leigh vote III the negative I'll. wise policy adopted
oy America towards the nations of Europe during the
wars OF the French Revolution, by mantainnqa strc,
neutrality between the begcent Powers had enabled
her 10 realize almost the entire profits OF the Colonial
commerce OF france and Span and also of the whole
European trade; from participation in which The native
vessels prohibited by counteractinr systems of COM
mercinl restrictions. The spirit of hostility between
France and Great Bri,Ln, in 1855 was SO great that
each determined TO pursue such course towards neuta
nations might have the incidental tendency to inure
the other America, at this time became the object of
Br...:.. - 'e"'
The vexcd question of '' Tie right If search which
had, IN some measure, contributed the American Re-
voiution and which unfortunately had been sanctioned
or rather not prohibited by MIR jays Treaty of the 18th
Nov. l7i4, again became subject OF DISPUTE between
the two countries. controversy also occurred between
thcn about the time, upon the subject of
uon-England maintaining, MG man once a subject
icaS at'oayS SUBJECT and that act Of his could ch6nge
has allegiance TO the ander tchh he as BORN
While America, influenced by the more cnnoblng vir-
."es OF human bcnevolence and national Gberay,
Tended thai man was born free; ami IT. schca he arrred
at years 81 rcfcct0n he precTr6d other Government
to tat Of has aticc and he had right lrhdya,c him
Scy and 10 LTeGk Tie bonds imposed 5y birth le he
should deem them TO be feers and become an integral
part 81 the nation choSe Government hc most aDprored
ana on 'ehose sol he should prefer to dotL" A
great number of British Subjects pursuit of the more
congenial cnes of Liberty, had crossed the Atlantic
ocean and awaited themselves of the benefits of our
laws Tor the naturalization of Foreigners The officers
OF the British navy claimed right search American
vessels and to take herefrom all of England and
s dependencies who might have been nsturazcd in the
United States while the officers of navy discai,n
cd the right and orbnd the practice This rave rise I,
the effort on the part of the British! vessels not only To-
impress the nauraii-ed but also t, ualre r,;-,y ri
America and afforded in itself just of war. But
as IT to give the Government of the United States an
opportunity of resoriing to defensive measures upon
grounds indispensably requiring refuse upon the
sole alternative Of national pusillnninty Great Britain
during the administration of MIR. Fox. in Nav lso6
undertook to blockade the board OF the continent
from El6e to Bres; which elected from France the De-
cree of Berlin, Nov 2lsi, declaring the British Islands
in state of blockade. Thus each nation did what is
taDtanount To the declaration that no neutral milton
should trade with the other.
On the 22d of June, 1907 the United States Ftigate
chesapeake, commanded by Com. Barron sailed from
Hampton Roads for cruize in the Mediterranean and
was overtaken within few leagues of the cuast by the
British Ship of War Leopard, officer of which en-
tered the Fngate with order from Vice Admiral Bcrke
y to seize and take herefrom three men alleg.d TO have
deserted from the Melampus. The demand was instant.
~ but cvilly rejected; in consequence Of which, the
Chesapeake, although wholly unprcparrd for attack re-
ceIved broadsdc from the Leopard aud in the engage-
ment which continued about thirty minutes several of
her killed and wounded Sin. was com
pelcd to surrender, and the three men demanded To-
gethcr with the fourth alleged have deserted from
merchant vessel taken and sscd into the Bri.
On the 10th OF May, 1911, the British sloop Of war
Little Belt commanded by Capt Bingham made an al.
tack on the American trigatc President commanded by
Commodore Rogers, but disabled with severe
loss of lives In the time, the British Orders in
Council went the length of requiring all neutral nations
to cease trade with France aud her allies cxcept upon
condition OF ''paytag tribute to England"
In fine the incrccss Indian savagcs were excited TO
the inhunan bnchery of our people; commerce was
almost wholly deslIoyed vessels were captured; our
citizeus absolutely forced into the British service
and made to fight against their friends and brothers
Ambassador.
Under these circumstances the Legislature of Vir-
gna, considering the interest the rights and the honor
of the American nation invaded By the nsolencc and
cruelty OF Great Britain adopted the following esolu-
ton as manful and deliberate expression Of opinion
"EeSofDed The opinion Of ibis 2SsenGig tat hOcerer
hghfy 'ee eaiue the blessings IF pene hOserer IRE
may dopTecdte Mc 6cUS If lcar c ycri0d las u0o ayrn
ed IcheH peace hare it, is dsgraeeEuL and ,cer
IS h0RyTabfo." truly and unaiirctediy sorry IN
have TO tell the reader, that Mr. Leigh voted against This
Resolution iii minority of32 In this vote lie as associ.
ated with the leading federaiisfs OF the House and
afterwards sustained by the Feeraiists Of the North
even so Tar that they threatened dissolution of the
Dnion the war should progress cannot he re refrain
from paying Just compliment 60 two of the leading
w higs OF the present day. Messrs Clay and
Calhoun When John Randolph Of Roanoke and his
minority party were dcnouncng the uncacd for
lnquitOus and fuinOus aud cndcayorng 10 render
The Government odIous in tie estimation OF the people
III order to paayze the joint energies Of the nation at
tune wien ITS interest its safety its honor required
bold and united effort, these statesmen untainted
with the fault either Of Federalism Qualification but
impelled by a holy zeal in the cause Of our cannon
stIUggdny Sgering c0fTy in The Congress Of Tie
United states, and with all the power Of rcsstlss gic
and cnraPturng coquence urged the American people
" VIC C"Sf' 01Sct' 0'iScf! Ihey were heard, APP
The war was vigorously prosecuted and hnnoraLly
terminated by Treaty the Of which reached the
United States in Febry 1916 Bat. Oh how changed
Then Mir. Calhoun regarded the Union az the sacred
inyolable Temple of Freedom and conceived it the
TO preserve each and every pillar that sustained IL from
the unhalowed shock of foreign domcstic ynlencr