Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-15

Mr.. Macon, of North Carolina, spokd
more Than usually at length TOR hiu) on
the subject. The pith Of bis argument
contained in the following extracts:
!. !, Tor my part, (said Mr.. Macon.} never
vii, give one cent Of money out Of the
pockets Of those whom represent for tho
refeioi thosewho would enlist with Miriam
da' or any other foreigner. Genslcmcn
mey tfik about The innocence Of these men;
! do not believe sha, they were innocent.
They knew what they were about Tho
papers Of the day wcse filed with accoupts
Of the great fortunes which they were ID
make. the hope Of which no doubt induced
great part Of them TO 60 in the enterprise.
In proportion to the freedom Of men, and
Of course to their power Of intriguing, ought
we to guard against such men as these.
feel no compassion for them. no more than
would for man about to be hung for n
crime which mcrited the punishment Of
death. l might feel compassion for such u
man when seeing him going to the place
Of execution; but | would never put my
hand to a petition for the pardon Of a man
who had committed murder. Their own
word is taken for their innocence. Take
his own word for it. and no man was ever
guilty. Remember, sir, how many CON
spiracies you have already had inthis coun.
try. They began ten years ago to disturb
the country, and yet these offenders are tn
be called peaceablc and iuoffensive mehi
The history Of all free Governments OK.
hibits the same thing. have no feeling for
u i ~, 4
| wish that they and all other citizens Of
this country, rich or poor, who would fol.
low the Mirandas or any other adventur-
ers, were out oft. IF all these men. ex-
cept Capt. Lewis (hc commander Of tho
Lcander) and Miranda, were innocent,
they have very little Of that American feel
ing which charncterizcs our citizens aud
seamen in general, or they would have
knocked their employers over board when
they could get to place where they could
dcit securely. Iftheir failing to do SO is
no proof of their guilt, they have been con-
victcd Of the crime, and that is certainly
some proof 1t is true, they were treated
not quite so bad or little worse than those
who were hung; for ! ON at a loss 10 say
which fate | should have chosen
l want all American citizens 10 know
that if they engage in any nefarious trans
actions by which their fclow-citizcns may
be involved in war, the nation will not ex.
tend its hand to relieve them from my diff
fcul,y they may get into. Let them follow
Burr. Miranda, or any one else; and share
their fate.
II b,s IL, q.
mercans, and entitled to tho protection Of
the nation. do not doubt that they arc
Americans by birth, but they have not A.
merican feelings. think less ofsuch men
than do OF the foreigner naturalized here.
and who yet feels for the country Of his
birth. This Government was too free for
them, and they wished to attach themselves
to the fortunes of a foreign despot. They !,
did SO; and am unwillngto give ono cent
Of the public money to relieve them from,
the situation in which they have placed
themselves.
Mr.. Taylor, Of South Carolina, was call
cd up by party turn given 10 the debate.
and defended the Administration (of Mr..
Jefierson) against the imputaiion that it
had connived ut Miranda's cxpcdition--
He agreed entirely with Mr.. Randolph and
Mr.. Macon on the merits Of the question.
adding the following suggestions:
But it seems (said Mr.. Taylor) that these
men are to be called back 10 the country to
tell the tale of their sufierings and horrors.
Now, sir, suspect, lromthe feelings which
the gentleman from Pennsylvania tMr.
Ross) himself has shown, that other feel
ings would be excited that, fthcy return.
they would bring back with them their re-
sentiment against those who punished them;
they would return with information OF the
country; yourinterlcrcnce would convince
them that, no matter how ncfarious plan
might be, this nation would again stretch
out its arm 10 protect them; and. like tho
petty incursions which the Danes in form
or days made on the British coast. what
ever hard blows are received, will only be
the motives for larger band to follow. II
the people OF the United Suites would not
believe Moses and the prophets, IL they
would not already prefer the dull pursuits
of civil life to these ncfarious piraiicnlcxpe.
ditions, they would not believe, though
these men with their chains came back and
told it--though one should rise from tho
dead and tell it.
Mr.. Macon was again called up by some
remarks upon his first speech; and, among
other remarks, mndc these:
Sir. you may try to laugh at "Rotnan
virtue" ill you getit out fcountcnance;but
it is that stern virtue on which every re.
public depends. All republics that ever
did or will exist must depend on that stern
or Roman virtue. TO take thing half
right or half wrong, is not according To
my creed. was always rather fooIhardy
neck or nothing; and the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Randolph need not
fear that ] shall depart from il as long as
have common sense. had rather DO in
the majority than in the minority but
shall never go there for the sake of being in
one.
As 10 the money involved in the busi.
ness, ! do not bring it up rs an objection.
1t is the advocates who bring it up. But
my colleague (Mr. Holland) has made
new dlscovery-not only thatthcse menaro
innocent, but that they are deserving men.
because they went crusading in the cause
Of liberty. Sir, let US take care Of homo
first. When we can do more than sup
port our own liberty, we may 60 cru
sading. We are in a situation, the gentle.
man seems to think. to 60 into general .
battle, to rcvolutionizc South America, and
after that to take British India. suppose.
1t is something strange that we who are
opposedto the resolution are called upon .
TO prove these men guilty. They went in :
an unlawful expedition. and are taken in 4
the fact. have no charity for evil doors. /
| have heard nothing said Of their repent /.
ance, thong il a good deal Of their suffer =
ings.