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


drawn into the upJsw " ful eptcrrr;..;, ,,,.;.l
they we're engaged ~"
The Resolution reported by the comm,.
tee on this subject came up for cons;ders-
ton on the 13thoi June, (i6O9, J and an n.
teresting debate sprang up on the occasion.
in which the then leading members of tha,
body took part. Mr.. John Randolph o.
pened the debate in opposition to the re-
port. He began by arguing that no re-
solution ofthe House was required TO au-
thoizeany negotiation on the subject with
the Government ofSpain, as all necessary
power for that purpose was possessed by
the President Of the United States. He
then went on toexpress himsclfas follows:
| Mr.. Randolph said he was unwilling,in
his Representative capacity, to give one
cent Of the public money for bringing oack
into the bosom Of the body polite these un-
fortunate but guilty men. He knew how
'nvidious task it was to appcarto lean to
the side OF inhumanity; he knew how very
natural It was for the mind Of man to re-
lent, after the commission Of a crime, and
to see nothingin culprit but his misfor-
tunes, forgetting his guilt; but there were
occasions and he took this to be onc) where
to lean apparently to the SIDE OF humani-
tyis an act OF as grcatinJust'ce and cruelty
! to society as the Legislature can commit.
Mr. II: said this was not Ike question
OF redseming ourcountrymen from Slavery
In Barbara or IrPoii; but 1t was question
whether this Government would lend Its
countenance to that class OF men who were
concerned In the expeditions Of Miranda
and Aaron Burr. He, for one, would not
consent to 1t, and those persons who, above
the dull pursuits Of civil life, had enlisted
under these leaders, might take, for
him, however he might feel for their
situation as men, the lot which they
themselves had selected. He said he
considered them as voluntarily txpairi-
ated from this country; and among the
articles OF commerce and manufacture
which 1t might be contemplated to en-
courage by bounty and premiums, he con.
fessed, for one, that the importation ofsuch
citizens as these was not an article Of traf-
nc which would meet with any enconr-
agement from him.
1t appears to me. sir, Continued Mr.. r J
that IN passing this resolution We shall
hold up a premium to vice; for if this
proposition be agreed to, when some new
Miranda or Burr comes forward with his
PROJECT, he Will tell his conspirators that
they will have nothing more to do, should
the matter turn out adversely, than to put
up face and tell Congress that they were
'nrof1ntar7iy drawn into it-an extraordi
nary mode, to be sure, Of volunteering. to
go against their will. These involuntary
volunteers Will be told that they will have
nothing to do but to throw the whole
weight OF the blame on the original mover
OF the expedition, and Congress will tax
their fellow creatures, who (poor souls,)
had not enlarged and liberal minds. and
were content with the dull pursuits of civil
lie, Tor redeeming them, clothing them,
and bringing them back again to society!
wish the committee totake the thing into
consideration. As men and Christians,
our conduct is to be governed by one rule;
as representatives ofthc people, other con-
sideratlons are proper. There is in the
proposed interference no justice; there
may be much mercy; but it is mercy
which carries cruelty. ifnot deliberate, the
most pernicious ofall possible species Of
cruelty along whit. l believe (said he)
mat there exists proper disposition in
me Executive to Interfere when American
c''lzens are wrons'uiiy treated abroad
and snail we come forward and open the
Puohc purse ana assume on ourselves the
responsibility ofthat act which the Presi-
dent refuses to do, and thus share among
us the imPutation' such as 1t may be, which
society choses TO cast upon US IN conse-
quence OF IT. instead OF letting 1t fall sim
Ply ana individually upon him. IN case he
chose TO incurhs NO. SIR; have no dis
position to pass this resolution to take the
responsibility upon myself. In short
should have been glad, instead oftelling us
that these men are unfortunate and miser-
able--for who are so unfortunate and mis-
cradle as the truly guiltyl-that the MEM
bers OF that committee. or the respectable
chairman himself, had come forward and
shown the night OF these petitioners to the
peculiar patronage OF The country. So FAR
from any disposition to bring them back,
l would allow drawback or bounty on
the exploration Of every man Of similar
principles.
Mr.. Randolph was followed in this de-
bate by Mr.. Emott. highly respectable
Representative from New York, who in
supporting the resolution, relied mainly
upon the allegation that these men were
drawn iuroluntarily into the cxpcJi,ion-
pressing this point as follows;
Mr.. Emott. Had Mr.. Smith or Gen.
Miranda gone to these men and said. 1--WE
are going on an expedition agant the laws
Of the country, and if taken you will be
punished under the laws of one country or