The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-07-28

ed, That even then, the banquet OF blooq
might be refused TO the guests, whose
knives were sharpened and whose appetites
were importunatc for the barbarous feast :
Locked up In the bosom of the executive,
1t did remain until congress met in the
succeeding November. Then surely, the
foul accusation was communicated to the
representatives Of the'people then, surely,
the feelings of wounded honor, of indig-
nant Innocence, smarting under false impu-
tation OF guilt, burst forth in tones Of deni-
al, rcProach and resentment / feel de.
graded, as an American, when am fore.
ed to answer no. Still the infamous impu-
tation is concealed from the American peo-
ple--from the representatives Of the peo-
pie, the peculiar guardians of their into
rests and their honor. And never until
the 4th of March, the very last day, and al
most the last hour of the session, was it
dragged from its concealment, by a rcsolu-
ton Of this house.
Even then, not word of denial, not o
whisper of innocence, not murmur of re-
sentiment is heard--If the subject is per-
mitted to rest In its present mystery, by
every rule of evidence and of common
sense, what must be the inference What
the decision of the world upon the conduct
of the president? GUILTY, GUILTY, will be
the universal verdict-and not a man will
exist without this nation, who will doubt
the justice Of the verdict.
We are asked, if the I" infamous duke oe
Bassano," the author of the charge, is CONF
petent to excite suspicion against our
executive ? Mr.. Speaker, this minister is
the official organ of the emperor he &C.
cnpies the same Office as did the duke Of
Cadore, when he wrote the famous letter
OF Aug. 5th, 1910. The executive then
recognized the act of the minister as the
act Of the government. BY what article of
logic shall he now be permitted, when his
own character is involved, to escape the
rule which he then established?
In this condition is this dark subject
| now placed The foul accusation has been
| made, officially made, by the government,
OF France BY every motive of policy, of
honor, OF truth, the executive was bound to
stamp falsehood on the infamous charge,
and indignantly to hurl it back upon the
| imperial calumniator This honorable and
virtuous course he has not pursued Let
MS now, as the guardians Of American truth
and honor, DEMAND it at his hands.
But member from Tennessee CMr.
Rhea) has justified the pre- sident in not de-
lying the accusation, or resentiIg the in
| suit. 1t might, he has told Us, obstruct our
negotiations and injure our interests in
| France--ln other words, the tyrant might
resent our attempt 10 yindicate our ho-
Tnor.
Mr. Speaker, have we arrived at that de.
generate age OF our republic, when a re-
preventative OF the people dare advance
sucH slavlsh doctrines on this floor? What,
SIT, VIII you truckle to France to obtain
justice VIII you, like the crouching spa
mel patiently endlre the whips and scorns
OF an outrageous tyrant, lest he should
trown upon YOU.
., my county! ifsach is truly your de-
graded condition, mock the world M more
with your vain boasts of freedom, If To
AVOID the resentment and Injustice of a ty.
rant, you must smile at insult and become
familiar with dishonor, tear in atoms your
instrument of independence, strike the
! PROUD eagle from your escu:cheon, and blot
from your histol the names of Warren.
Montgomery and Washington. No, sir.
no, never will believe it until I hear IN
from his own lips, that any president of this
| high-minded people has dared to disbonor
his Country upon motives and pripciples
like this. Mr. Speaker, there was limo
wien our executive was not so slow TO an.
| nounce and TO resent an insult ofrered ts
bra and his ministers. / allude to tbe "a
nous -" insult" offered by the British ninia.
tei JACKSON. That" insult as it was call.
co. al the very worst, consisted in a reRec-
non on the honor and yeracity ofthe secre-
tary Oh state. And how was it hhen receive
co and treated--no Consideration of conse.
quences was then permitlcd---fhen the hoe
nor OF the government must be vindicated
4 crh ae 81. r