o THE SUBSTANCE OF A BEBTERED IIT THE MOUSK OF REPRIESEHTATIVES, OJV TJIE &TH JAXUARY, 18J2. By D. R. WILLIAMS. On the passage of a Bill from the Senate to raise twenty-five thousand men. :Mr. D. R. \V1LLIAM3 said, there was no- thing more natural than a desire to justify the \6Xt we are called upon to give upon so import- ant a question as the present ; even in ordinary 5 cases, it is bot'> natm-al and justifiable ; much more so, in a case which is of sufficient magni- tude, abstractly considered, to eScite all our sfilicitude, nou' become infinitely more mpmen- ^tovis by the course the avgurnent has t-kcn ;'. for the question is, not only shall the bill pass, but shall there be war ? After the m.aturest deliberation, he had been able to give the subject, he must confess that, he was not perfectly Satisfied with the details of the bill before the' House, He believed it to be fairly liable to tlie objections urged against it, b}- his worthy friend from N. Carolina (Mr. Macon). Sir, the organization of the troops contemplated to be i-nised is new — it'is true, it liad Tjeen intimated to be an imitstion of the Frenah organization ; but that is not the fact, and viewing it as an experiment, he could not •but distrust itj il possible that any man can mistake the secret object of such a requisition ? C;.n it be concealed that it is c- quiialent to an absolute, imquulified rejection of every overture for a rejjcal on her part ? What prcU xt of justice has she f )r sucli a de- mand ? Ai"e F;tnc!. manufuclures admitted in- to heTj-'orvs! Will she admit them under any circumsi-ince whatever ? Does she even per- mit yoii, who are to procure this advantage for her, to carry yo!u- own mauufac'.ures lo her do- minions .' N-i. If, then, the renunciation of the p.inciple of her ord.'Ls, depends upon our securing lo her ihe mtrcductioii of her manu- factures into France, v.liat are we to expect ? What oilier re^otnce than po.si'ive resistance have we I. ft? We are ihen brought to a di- rect dee isiun, either to submit to Liic pririciple, or CO ojjpose it b_\ force : Submit ! did he sa^- ! he shi-unk. with Geu- tlemrn neid not dwell upon the miseries, the eori..equetie«-s of war. I dread the curses of pOittnty more. Uut, .sir, wh:it are the causes of w.ir ; Sin.ilar injur es with those of which tjle Old Congress complained, and against which they fou'^'hi Great IJritain "exercises ^unbounded 'overr ignfv on the oce:m— she rami s chandize should be carried, and wiili whom alone we should trade" — The wanton plunder of our propi r(y — tlie ur.provoheil impresMuent of our fellow ci I izons — 'Jic assertion of ))riii- ciples and the practice uoon them, absolutel> incompatible with our independence — Shall i go on ? Ny-T-Gentlemen cannot bear to hear the nauseous calalof^iie of wrongs repeated; notwithstanding they will not resent them. Tiic same gentlem.'in from A'irginia, acknowledges we have had sufticient and justifiable causes of war, ever since the years 1805 — 6. Indeed ! what were they ? Top interruption of a trade dunng war, not enjoyed in a time of peace. 'Was the im]>ressmeut of sc;;men then, such a cn.use of war ? If these were justifiable causes of war then, how can he refuse to avenge the wiongs of !iis country now, increased and ex- tended as they are ? To his mind, ;iie inter- ruption of that foreign carrying trade, injuri- ous as itwas, hears no comparison with hei restrictions on the expoi-tation of our own pro- ducts. He could not give utterance to the in- dignation be felt, :it the i:nposition ofatiansit duty on our commerce to any pact of the world ihat Gre:a Uritaiu might choose to inter- dict. M) — thegeiUleman may reply, the orders in council do not levy contribution on our trade now, they are modHicd, sn as cv/y io interdict ptirticular places. If one place, why not cvtry other place ? But indeed, has that proud un- bending nation modified her orders, of whom he declared it w as impossible to divert from her purpose ? Was it discovered she had taken too rank hold.upon the peaceable habits of our people ? That tiie impositon of such a tax, had excited a ferment injurious to hcr.self, the cause of which, no sopliistry could conceal ' ^^'as the buriiing of gin at Baltimore calculated to induce a belief that it might renew the same scenes with tlse elesU-uction of tea at Boston ? The outrage, w as indeed, too nearly allied to the causes of the revolution, to be borne. The orders are tlierefore modified ; but the evil still exists, tlie prii.ciple is retained, and is the Same, whether exercised by her in imposing a tax on our trade, in restricting our commeicci to particular places, or in asserting unbounded sovereignty on the ocean. AV'hat, at this mo- ment, ia the practical oj)erat:on of h.er orders ! She marks out the course and debtiniUion cf yotn- ships, laden with the productions of your own soil ; if 3-ou vary in the least from llie rimiUs she prescribes, your propert\' is capUtred and cwr.deiTincd, "y'or contrciveniii^,his Jlajer. tti'.'; o.'iUrs in Cnvnci'l !" Shall we be again ask- eil f.' gcntkm.n of Virginia asks, what are the ohjecis of ihc war ? The objects are necessarily involved in the caust-s of war; and, to his mind, were legitimate, honorable, just; ;md necessary. The liberatitm of our unfortu- nate, incrrcerated seamen, is one object ac- know Lged by the gentleman to be proper. Tlie suflTerings of this meritorious description ;f citi- zens, who are as much entitled to protection aa any other (no matte r how elevated), cannot be [)alliated, and ought no longer to be endured. The right (not a restricted permission from G. IJritain), to a free and common use of the ocean is .-mother. The renuncialion of a principle ( 3 ) r.riotliCr. The rc-ackno vviegenu nl, not ia form, but ill fact, of indcipendence — practical sover- elgntj- — another. Tliere can be neither securi- ty for our rights nor our property, when the power of taxation can be exercised (it is imma- terial under what name or cliaracter), without representation; for surely the produce of labor is his, who can take of it whatever he pleases. deprived of these great and vlt;il objects, who has amind to calc.ilate tiie result : And yet, great and vital as they are, they constitute only a part. V/ill tlie g-entlemau reply, tliey ar» Tici'hcr just nor necessiu'v r Wliat j^ave '-isoto the revolution ? Not a paltry tux on st.i'.ri s or tea, but the asscri.lon of the rlg-ht to tho.sc t„xes. AVMi.it now is our sitiialion ? The principle and jjractices against wliieh we are called upon to act, are in mag-nituJe and inssporuance, infinite- ly transcending th.i:ie of that day. 1"o avoid war, we huve receded, step by step, until we liave not one inch of !■ ;norable i^-ound left to Pland on. Are we not degenerated ? He would be glad to learn from the ;;eiitiem:in, whicli oi' tiie niuncrous o\itrap;es we l;avc; sufu red from G. Britain is greatest: so r.unierous are the\, i' appeared, to his mind, alniost itn])OdsibIe to d. - tennine vhich is worst. We arj now called upon to assert these objects ; if tliere Is no other ]nacticabk- mode than f;rce, we a.e bound to make great and cheerful sacrifices to sustain that force. But, suppose uncjualified submission is yielded, will that satisfy her ? He thought not. A disposition to advance on a receding opponent, marks her ch-iracter ; your ow)i ex])er;ence teaches ; yieUl them but fore cent, or a moment.and her sy btem is fasU-ned on your neck forever. To war there must be an end ; to this there never wiUl>e. li r s) stem, sir, is levelled at ♦■oiir most valuable interests : in a pecuniary point <)f view, it carries poverty and wretched- ness every where ; in every other, it ought to be spurned with detestation. Indeed, sir, it i* fastening a gangrene at the heart of the nation, whicli will imposUiumate in corruption and i-uin — its life-strings must rot. It has been said, our constitution is not cal- culated to sustain a war. It surely is not cal- cuhiteJ fsjr submission ; if it be, its brightest glories are gone, and his solicitude for its pre- servation must vanish with its virtues. He did not believe this was the fact. "What is this constitution ? It is a system of government whicli comblries a vast variety of interests and character in one great national larnily. In tliis family are many peculiar interests : how, then, is it to be kept together. He w.shed to feel for the people of New-England as be felt for the people of the South — each have their peculiar interests. That of the eastcin section of the Union depends upon the right to navigate the ocean ; that of the southern states, in the pos- session of a certain species of personal proper- ty. If you withdraw the protection of the general government from either, what is there left to cement its attachment to the Union ? Will any man contend that the rights of the one on the ocean are not as dear, or ought not to be maintained, as far as practicable, as in- violate as those of the other on the land, ? But that does not totieh tlieii* soil. Ttere seerai* be a sort of majic in these .vords. The Britis;; capture American vessels la,den with th* products of <5ur own soil, destined to France--^ the people will not resent tjiis, bccau^.e the soil is not touched. He would Le glad to learn f'om 111' eentlem.n v.'hat principle is there, that will justify the seizure of our produce on ts pissage from Charleston to Bordeaux, that •ill not equallv justitV the capture of our ves- sels bound from Boston to Mevr-York .' What t'!i£n becomes of your coas'ing tiade, the most iinposMant branch of commerce ? It may all bs destroyed ; and yet, accordi.lg ta the doctrin* of the day, the soil is not' touched! Cut the destructioti of th'- coasting tr..deis not suHicient to satisfy tlie impl.icable hatred of t!ie enemy; the bavs, and rivers and harbors are infested witli pirates; every thing that floated on their broad bosoms is also destroyed — this cornea still nearer the l.md, yet ihe soil is not touch- fd! Suppose the soil is touched, the hostile stundaril planted on the cu-stle, ;.nd Boston laid, in ;ishes— will the gentleman be contented to drive the enemy to the lines ? lie dare not fol- low theiTi— beyond it would be f )reign war ! Yes,sir, , just as much foreign war as we pro- posp to wage — the people will not bear it ! This is just " such stuff as dreams are made of." The soil, sir, is touched— be f It it— every man must feel it in his pocket, if not in his hca.ri, that the soil is touched, is violated. Tlte violation, reaches to the fire-side of e\ery ma!i in tlie na- tion, and the ■. iolators ought to find tlu.t the day of retribution is come. But, it is said, this war will not do, it will not be popular ; that the provoctions in '98 \rere greater than they nov,- ar., and yet the old repubiicans cpp. is^d the v/ar of ih.it day. It was not his intention to f How the gen lemaii (Mr. Stanford) through his long details of those times. He was unwilling now to excite feelings long since buried. It appeared to him that this f.^ntleman's opposition was induced by a sin- gular c:uise indeed. It seems we have adopted a new rule at the present session — one not prac- tised on in '93 ; and as there was no war then, it will be out of order to resort to it now. [Mr. ;§!a?i/.)v/explained,thatlie had not said there was no war then, but that he had been opposed to the war.] He 'thought, continued Mr. Williams, it v/as not material to enquire whether the provoca- tion was greater in '98, or now ; but whether the present causes of war can no otherwise be removed ; and if not, is war therefore neces- sary and just. But if we must look back into the" amount of our losses then ; if gentlemen, must be met upon their miserable calculations of pounds, shillings and pence, let us examine the statements of the gentleman from North Carohna; if I mistake liim, I shall be glad to be corrected. I understood him to say, the proof was indisputable, that tiie injuries theti were greater than the present, because, in the Louisiana treaty, there was a stipidation for the payment of more than t..ree millions of dollars to American citizens, being- tlie amount of Id prediction on our commerce by Franct it has been said, by the same gentleman, the thit thi; sum far exceeded the losses susty people will not support a war fur any o'^jf ct ' by the Orders in Council The g-entlcj/' ( vififortiini.'^ iu bis cwmparison. Altlioup'i there are no docTinK-nts in the possession of the /{(•use which thtw the number of capturos un- der the orders in ri,'jncil, from the h»st esti- mate he could make, and from llie oninio'i of rractical men in x.\u- House, tliat amount falls far short of the rece:;i capture? which are eve- ry hour iucrjasinp. Since the decision of Sir \Vi)\. Scott, in the case c.f the Fox, ninety o- thers (lie spoke from meinorj') had been ctv clcmiicd. The average value of these vessels and cargoes, is considered low at fifty thou- sand dollars, and in the aggregate, far exceed fhe losses he has alludc-d to. When it is re- membered that during the operation cf the Berlin and Mihm decrees, American merchants 'ftitlihcld their shipments to France — for after the case of the Horiztm, every one was alarm- td — it is very evident that the orders have been as deadly, as in such circumstances they could be. Is other proof required ? Look to Uie in- surance offices ; tliey will not irisiue again-st captures under the orders in council for less than a war preniluni. ■Why, asked the g^entleman from VlrgiHia, (Mr. Shefi'ey) shall we raise an army nox, when v.-e reftised to do it in '98 ? "VVj-j it hc- cause we were then our, but are nowj« ? The sheer politician, the man who seeks a seat in tills House for what he can g-et, no one can move heartily despise than himself Sucli are the wretches, who alone are affected by t!ie circumstance of in and out,- but the men v.-Iio come i>ere to represent and promote tl'.c inter- est »f the country ; who ask, who seek, who wish for nothing- for themselves, cannot he in- fluc:".ced by any such unworthy considerations. Arg^ument upon this po nt is 'superflous. lie api)c;ded to the ;^-enlleniari himself fjr the fact. He could not but consider thi induccn.cnts to avoid tiie war of '0!5 to be very diti; rent from tucli as prcs'.-nt themselves now. "What was r/.u- situation then ? Dues it bear the least re- bcmhbnce to th6 present ? Wc then enjoyed a prosperous trade with Great Di itain, wliich l!ie gcntlem-in sta;es to be to that of France as 52 to '^. .Vrulra'ity w:is then practicable ; v.c were in fact reaping- the g-old.-n fruits cf wc-.w- ival tvade. While all its ricli streams were pourln^c into our country from every part "f tl'.e world; we wii-- then prowinjj rich ' and j*. cat ; ii surely wa.i inexpedient to jrp to war ; we t'.nUl ^MM iiolhiiig- by it ; it was madness. Do thene ciicuniatances c.\in v.ow ? liutthe people were jealous of the army in '58. He Wifihedhc could speak of the trar.s- kcl.ons of those days wiihout riUudiuj; to f.^cts «-,a|cula'f d to excite unpleasant fecliii-f a. i'hia wys nr.t his object. Wliy were they jealous .' 'rhryHaw that the army v/as p^pably useless, *^7 v;')rKe. \\ was impossible to employ it a- (ijainst I'rance i not so ajrain.'iithomseUes. The :^'i.n :nid scd.iiitn laws ; the tloclririe of the nccei.'^ity <.f Jiimiblinjf in d ist :ir.(l ashi s a jfifit demorrkic .itate, f.llct, and thatthe army was jp instrument te tfl'-Tt that purpose. 1 he v-j- a-eers too were oppoicd — ^tluir PiCtorian . ■" ' ■ iuSj the power vcs'cdin the. states, • :i \i Xtxxt, \.\i6 oontriTCT.ci. Tbe 4 ) states were rolsbed -vf rue sbsoiule ng-lit to of- ficer them ; he said robbed, as that power which is Wfcly trivn to the states, .is a co\:n- terpoise to the physical force of tii2 general g-o- vc-Timent, was unjonslitntionally iiiken from tbi m and given to tiie President alone. He understood the g-ent'eman from Virj^inia (M)-. Shefley) to say, we were g; tiie continent of Eu- rop2 .-igainst your commeicc, but warrants its exten-jion through everv' /^pecies and grade of injury and insult, or.ly paper and ink ! It may be easj'' for the geu'leman who estimates na- tional honor .as a bubble, to c:>n':empl it3 tha orders in council vvilh perfect iuditlbr- encc ; but fjr himself, he coidd net see in them any thing that was not perfectly loath- some. Sir, we have talked so long- about trade ; about v.'hat ought, anunt or" our imports, IVoin the same j.daces, was §27,400,000 ; leaving a balance I in favor of Great Britain, cf ^11,710,^); I but noiwitlistanding the exportation of cotton had increased in 1804 to SG,3G0,000, the c:- ports of that year were <.'nly ^13,w'>J,ti'>.i, v.Iiile the importation Iiad been swelled to lii.-. enormous amount of §27,uO0,OC0 ; h-aving a bahince agai.,*' !is, for tb;;". year, S^ !)200,b00. . The lial.'uice, in favor of Great IJi iraiu, iii our trade to IJritish India, is stau-.d iJ 1^3,o30,000, which, added to that of her European domi- nions, cyivitituto a balanc<; in her iavor of Sl5,'i40,U00. U is to this point, he wished to calltl'.e gentleman's attentio:i. IIow is that bal.mce obtained ? li' he will a- tempt to ac- count for it indisputably, lu- must fmd tlie oi - tiers in council are not merely ]viper and ink. Again, sir, the importa i ins tVoni all parts of the worhl, ^ ormen; hiuh minded, honorable men ? He pres\imcd he could offer no outrage so great to tliat gentleman as the slightest im- putation on his honor, and shall that which graces the character of a gentleman, he scouted from this House ? Shall we, who hold our ho- nor dearer tlian life and all its blessings, consi- der that of the nation as a bubble ? Miserable indeed will he our condition, when there shall be "nolliing U.vly ill our cursed natures, bat villainy direct." Sir, lite gentleman preaches a dangerous doctrine ; it goes to sap the foun- dations of society, to imbiitcr the sweetest en- dearments of life. We have travelled far on th ■ Jiigli road to ruin, when individuals are taught to calculate their interests to be at vari- ance with tliose of the nation or its government. Such doctrine must destroy us. But, said the gcnilernan, if honor is not a matter of calcula- tion, why pay the tribute to the Barb.ary pow- ers ? Tie hoped to be excused, when he de- clared liimself mortified to see that gentleman stoop to such an argument ; it is destitute even of original it}'. AVhen the embargo v.'as laid every species of contumely was cast upon ail who approved it. . We were accused of crimes, with a prodig.dity ofabu.se tliat was never before witnessed. That v.e had abandoned their rights to the ocean — tliat our seamen h:id been shamefully sacrificed — tliat our eastern navigating interest h.ad been treacherously destroyed. The Embargo was at lengtli given up, and the non-intercourse lav.' was adopted. That too was wrong, says the gentleman— then non-importation was resorted to — still wrong. He ])rayed the gentleman to say what Vvoiild be right. If he will neither stay at home to avoid injury, nor fight wiien it is inflicted abroad, what will he do ? Sir, I .".m for fis'hting! ^ No, savs the gentknnan, let us hare no w.^.r, now you have selected y.Mu enpiny. by p'trvhasing' of Napoleon l!ie priv;-- ( 6 ; lef^ of goini* to France. Is that a fair st.ifement -1 ihc fact ; that ^-entleman canno ])cHcv<; it. He is too honorable himself, deliherutcly to poet others of sush d;\st;irclly Cf)n(luc.t. He t.;;hcd the pcntlciv;iii to look back, upon the Co duct of the adir.instr.itioii, and point out any terms \vhicl» hud been oiTerci to France, in tlie atnallest dei^rec more favorable, that have been •5«Ted to Eng'land Were not the same terms •fltrcd to both, and always _^r5; to Eni^land ? Is there any man wlio doubts, that tlie same identical terms which Fiance has accepted, have Been rejected by Enf^krul ? How then can it be 3aid \vc pu xhasfd of France any rig'lit whatever ? il'.-did not think the g-entleman could be .q-uilty of believing such an insinuation. It is not true. "Bui, the reveise is tlie fact. The administra- tion did at one time, offer more favorable terras to Great Britain, tiian to France. He alluded to the ofter to suspend the Embarifo. The terms then were difl'ercnt ; those to tircat liri- Viin moat favorable. It was apprehended France would accept the terms offered to Great niitain, T.ithout .iftordiiig- that security to commerce wliich, Was considered a just et/'iivalent for tlie repeal of the embargo. Eng'iand herself, se- lected the situation in which she is placed. The difference between the tone of supplication at London, and remonstrance at Paris is indeed palpable, Have we not bowed, and bes^ged, and entreated for accommodation, until our then minisier at London, had been charg'cd by many, thou.g-h not by lilm, with a prostitu- tion of his functions and character; with dis- pracing- the nation by his supplications ? Did not every man in the communliysee, that tlie admi- KistratioH had done every thing- in their power, to obtain a repeal of the oi-ders in council, and yet because France has accepted, and EM,C;-land ref\!se,d the terms of adjustment, it Is talked of as tlve purchase of a right ! When tlie ari'ang- mctit with Mr. Erskine was effected, did any one then candemn the administration for having purchased of Great Britain, the privilege of go- jr.g to her dominions ? On the contrary, were not all rejoiced, and anxious to sh.avc the credit of that arrangement ? S.ioner or later, sir, we must fight or be sacrificed ; the sooner we begin, in his opinion, the better. Hut we must not resist the injustice and tyranny of Great Rritain, she li fighting, said the gcnlleman, for her ex- ists, nee! for he liberties of the world! Sir, if Lcr existence depends upon the ruin of my country; then, 1 say, down let her go. He thouglit the gentlemiui was as wide fi-om the fact l,?re, as in any otlier argument. It is im- possible, IVom the very nature of our conimcice with her, that it simuld weaken, much kss tlestroy her. A traik* wliich, co!»sists in the exportation r.f raw materials and the neressaries ofliti', receiving its reuirns, i)riiicipally, in lier own nianufacUircs, must neo'ssarily advance her interi si, ;iiul invigorate her sM'onglh. If she would abandon her mad policy against us, that saniv spirit of enterprise, which extended into every region of the world, seeking (lie means whereiiy to canccMliat balance in lier favor, b'forc alluded to, would again pour its rich and tribufiry stroama into all her domini- ons. Under such a state of Ihin,;.-*, he would r.'-joirr as niv.-.h -^r. any man, to see her arm stre'igthened ; but if tliat arm is to contiu't.? lifted against his r/nrntty, he cared not ho\e soon it was h'prosied and dcstro)'ed. She is contending for th? liberties of the worM ! he would as soon have expected to hear that the Djvil iiad e.=;pous<;d t^e cause of Christianity ! So far from fi-htiMg for the liber- ties of th-^ world, the standard of freedom had never been raised in any country without her attempti'ig to puU it down. If it was not fo- reign to his jju/pose, he eould trace her f:)ot- steps wherever she moved, mark.-d by blood and desolation — all the miseries of war and re- vengeful massacre liave traveled in her train^ in - to everv region inhabited by man. For whos^ fell cujiiclitv, were so many human hecntoi-iibs sacri- ficed in India? For wliose more fell ambition, did she wag; war on inftmcy and innocence in t!ie west ? For whom does t!ie savage yell now wake the sleep of the cradle ? England ! I.ulisputably, to exten 1 and secure ancf CMtend and sf-cure tlie blessings of liberty to the world ! The gentleni:«i had said, if the war on which we are about to enter, bo jusr, we have mt tho means to carry it on. His worthv colleague (Ml-. Lowndes) had rendered it perfectly umie- cesar\' for him to meet this arg inieut ; he would tlieref)re, only observe, that if the war be just and necessary, it ouglit to be commenced — if commenced, "it must be supported; cost f)Vit of tlie question. Tlie pwwcr of maiutaining it, will find no limitation, as long as you cani\ai,se a revenue sufficient to pay t!ie interest of the debt you may incur in prosecuUig the war. Sir, i't is worse than idle, to tSix ab.Mit war without a disposition to provide the ni/ans of carrvi'.g it on by taxes — they are insenurable. Forhis; p.irt, he was ready to vote tli^ni, and he had no doubt that the peopl'S ]:nowing that tlie adiTiioistration had done every thirag in tlieir power, and more than was called for, by any other consideration than a love .e gcntleuTUi, your physical force is inodequ.-ite — if this army is employed v.'ithout the limits of tiie United' St.ates, we are threatened with war on ovu- eastern frontier — our towns will be burnt— our cities sac'ied. Can the gen th man estimate the patriotism of freemen, Icsj tlian the obedience of slaves ? Is the physical force of the owner of the American soil, lesstliun that of the mercenary hireling of Europe? Do you doubt ? Call up the great spirits uf the pa- triot dead— appeal to the unbroken valor of the living — to those men, the steriiag excellence of whose virtues, bore them triumphant thnuigli the unequalled horrors of the revolution ! He could not believe that seven liundred thousand freemen in .ariris, were inadi-qualc to sustain any war, in defence of their just and dearest riglils. But it is said, if our means and physical Ibrce were adequate to the \var, our ob;eets cinnot be obtained by it. M". W. .said lie thought otherwise. It appeared to jiim, much easier to settle the terms of a u:w peace, than ( 7 ) to patch lip the old quarrel, ^^'■hen he consi- t'eredlhe limited extent ol" oiu* demands, a.ul llie nature of the pressure on the enenn;, lie conld not but believe our objects would be at- t.iined. What are our demands ? What have v,e been so long seekin.g, rather beo^pfing' ; for ve have begged negociation ? Truly, IVlr. Speaker, in two short words, " hands off !" VVe iisk — no, sir, we never have asked of her, j>ny boon, any sacrifice whatever. "Hands ofl" is the only term or stipvjation that we sue for ; fulfilled, she would bind this nation to her fate. But v/hat is the nature of the pressure and injury that we can inflict? They are to her deep and dangerous. We also must suflTcr ; but, tliaiik God, we can stand it. The appe- tite of revenge is keen and steady ; in most men, inextinguishable. It was not wanting, however it may have been p evoked, to enable individual cnterprize to wage a war, if not of absolute ruin, cei'tainly of vital injury to her commerce, not only " befwre our doors," in the West Indies, under the heights of Dover, but to the Indian Ocean. Deprive the West- Indies of the supplies of our necessaries of life and of lumber, and their profitable cultivation M'ould be too much diminished, not to be con- sidered. Take our raw materials from her ma- nufactures, and they are injured, not merely to the amount of the enlianced price of such articles, but to the entire loss of their whole exports to this country. Is such an injury too trifling for her cansiderution ? The conquest of Iwr North American colonies too, mnt,t be felt. Ye.H, sir, conquest-— for they rnust inevi- tably fall. The gentleman ma}' deprecate the physical force of an American army as much as he pleases ; but rely upon it, whenever the storm of war is poured on Canada and Halifax, it will sweep vith the resistless impetuosity of Xiagara. But, if you wage a successful war, saj-s the ;gentleman, the army will probably overthrow the constitution, as none but Gen. Washington could have prc% ented the army of the revolu- tion irum subverting the liberties It had con- quered. IMr. W. declared, th.-.t observation was to him, truly painful ; he wished such an insinuation against such an arm}', could hava been spared. Sir, that army was true to the core. It is not pi'obable that such a band of pa- triots, tlie OTily army that ever did give liberty to a country, could have imagined its destruction. To this fact, the letters of Newburg were con- clusive. Those letters were alone wanting, to finish the purity of its character. Suppose there were two, or even three traitors in a camp, does it follow that the whole army must necessarily be polluted ? No, sir. So far v/as he from believing, the liberties of tlie country were in danger from tlie army, ha ■ would say, there never was a period, during the whole revolutionary war, when the great; W;ishingt( n himself, justly as he has been de- scribed, " tlie sanctuary of a nation's best love," could have been a successful usurper. It was as impossible, as that sucli a black pro- ject should enter his virtuous mind. He felt the profoundest gratitude, even adoration if it were justifiable for man, to that inestima- ble body of men, who achieved the liberties we enjoy. Their arduous toils — their hard- ships — his feelings were too much excited to go on. He believed, he could never have stood hei'e a fi-eeman, but for that arm}-. If, sir, we are to take counsel of the gentle- man from Virginia, we are In a most awful si- tuation ; notwithstanding the proud glories of the revolution, we must submit to every indig- nity ; every daring infraction of our rights. It would seem we are destitute of resources ; without means to support the war ; even our physical foice is inadequate : but, was it adequate, were the means ample, they must not be exerted ; the government would be subvert- e'l ; the vail of the temple of the constitution would be fent in twain. Although the best in- terests of tliis nation are crushed beneatli the paw of the British lion, we must not resist; he then is wisest, who can soonest bow, witli all the stupid serenity of servitude, and take the yoke ! Every faculty of my soul, said Mr. \V. is indignant at this counsel, and for onp^ i sav, I will not submit. LiBR*^ * SSr- te"89r652 1'