Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-04-11

.hosse in his favor, as far as he ought 10
90; bit he would not agree to the pa'
ter being carried beyond reason. FINAL
", he observed that if any man was ar
rested and thrown into prison, as was
proposed by this motion, the law WOW"
interpose, and a habeas corpus co"pel
Government to recede from their act.
Gen. Harrison thought that the house
would be lost TO all sense OF its duty, II
it did not before the end OF he session
adopt some decisive measure IN behalf Oh
Mr.. Meade.
M. Sergeant thought that to take the
proposed step and stop there, ~oulc De
no satisfaction. What coed could it do
Mr.. Meade If it did not procure his re-
lease a-and VII thrr it wsuld produce
that or any other influence on the Spa
n;sh government, would depend on the
value of the person we should arrest, in
the ewes of that government. On our ma
tinnal honor it could have no favorable
,ffrct to wreak our vengeance f"r The
wrongs done BY the crowR OF spa'n' on
an innocen. individual. If, on the other
hand, il was intended not TO stop there,
hut to 20 to war, this step would be i'm
proprietor, to take satisfaction. first, Ir
kind and then to take il in another way.
must subject us to the just reproach OF
the world. In a word, one step only
should be taken. and il the house thods il
that step should be war, they ought to
march up to it al once.
Mr.. Spencer spoke in repr rotation OF
the treatment Of Mr.. Meade-but / was
at such distance that | could hear but
few words, and those very indis,inctiy
MIR. Williams, Of N Carolina, thought
that in resolving to support the president
in any steps he might find it expedient
to pursue. The hose would do all thatit
could do. If the case demanded war
they had better proceed to it al once.
Mr.. Forsyth said, that by agreeing to
this proposition, the house wsuld commit
on an innocent individual that very cru.
city and injustice for which they so just
|, cehsur-l and menaced the Spanish
vernment-an act for which the exam
pie OF he Spanish COVE nment would be
no j ifcation-much less would IT be
ju,riGab.e to do So because we had the
po er; with US at least power do notcou-
stita'e riaht. In this punt of view he coz
sidered that tie act would be dishonoIa-
Bile. Have you not power (said he) to
punish Spain Tor i'll uSagrS II you have,
Why do you not do it at once, instead OF
wreakrg vengeance on an individua!
who may have taken shelter under the
protection of your county? Ac, dehnI
tiyey, and visit your indignation on SPAN
herself"
AR Forsyth then reminded the house
that it vas not as an American citizen
MIR. Meade was imprisoned, but as pei
son who, by residence in Span, had
placed himself at once under the hands
Of the Spanish Iaw-under its protection
and nnder its penalties. An American
citizen residing in foreign countries was,
he said, subject to their laws. and We
had no right to Interfere With them
Seize all the property Of sPain within
your reach, tsaid hey that will serve to
compel the Spanish government to re-
store Mr.. Meade; but do not stain your
country with an act Of cruelty, iOhumani-
t. and injustice"
MIR. Trmble then recommended to
the adoption Of the house the old Mosaic
law Of " an eye for an eye. aud a tooth
for TOOTH" and illustrated his notion OF
applying it in the present case, by direct
ing their attention to the island ut CUBA
on the one hand, which he called the
right arm Of this country, and on the
| other hand to Halifax, which suppose
he considered as the left. BY what pro-
cess Of anatomy he cut his way to those
conc lusions, l am not profound enough to
| ;,,.o;pe-much los. can | conceive b.