Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-02-16
DEBATE ON THE SEMINOLE WAR.
louise OF REPRESENTATIVES.
January 20.
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH.

MIR CLAY'S SPEECH.
The House having resolved itself into
committee of the whole % the state Of the
Union, Mr.. Pitkin in the cbair) on the
report of the military committee, disap-
proving the trial and execution of Ar
buthnot and Ambrister, with the amend
ments proposed thereto =
Mr.. CLAY, (Speaker rose. tn rising
to address you, sir, said he, on the very
interesting subject which now engages the
attention of Congress, / must be allowed
to say, that all differences, drawn from the
course which it will be my painful duty
TO take in this discussion, of uulriendli-
ness 10 either the Chief Magistrate of the
country, or to the illustrious military
chieitain, whose operations are under H.
vestjsation, will be wholly unfounded.
Towards that distinguished Captain, who
has shed So much glory on our country,
whose renown constitutes so great por-
ton of its moral property, | never had, ]
never can have, any other feelings than
those of the most profound respect, and
|of the utmost kindness. With him my
acquaintance is very limited, but, so far
as it has extended, il has been of the ut
most amicable kind. l know, said Mr..
C. the motives which have been, and
which will again be, attributed to me, in
regard to the other exalted parsonage al
luded to. They have been and will be.
unfounded. have 10 interest other than
that Of seeing the concerns of my coun-
try well and happily administered. 1t is
infinitely more gratifying to behold the
prosperity of my country advancing, by
the wisdom of the measures adopted to
promote it, than it would be to expose the
errors which may be committed. if there
be any, in the conduct Of its affairs. Mr.
C. said, little as had been his experience
in public life, il had been sufficient TO
teach him that the most humble station is
surrounded by difficulties and embarrass-
ments. Rather than throw distractions in
the way of the President, he would pre-
cede him, and pick out those, if he could,
which might jostle him 10 his progress
he would sympathise With him in his em-
|barrassments, and commisserate with him
in his misfortuues. II was true, thar "
had been his modification to differ with
that gentleman on several occasions.
He might be again reluctantly COM
PEELED to differ with him; but he
would, with the utmost sincerity, assure
the committee, that he had formed no res
olutiop, come under no engagements, and
that he never would form any resolution,
or contract any engagement, for system
ATTIC opposition to his administration, or to
that Of any other Chief Magistrate.
Mr.. C. begged leave further to pre-
mise, chat the subject under consideration
presented two distinct aspects, susceptible
in his judgment, of the most clear aud
precise discrimination. The one he would
call its foreign, the other its domestic, as.
pect. In regard to the first, he would say
that he approved entirely of the conduct
of his government, and that Spain had no
cause of complaint. Having violated an
important stipulation of the treaty of 795,
that power had justly subjected herself to
all the consequences which ensued upon
the entry into her dominions, and it be-
longed not to her to complain of those
measures which resulted from her breach
of contract; still less had she right to
examine into the considerations connect
ed with the domestic aspect of the subject.
What were the propositions before the
committee The first in order was that
reported by the military committee, which
asserts the disapprobation of this House
of the proceedings in the trial and execu-
ton of Arbuthnot and Ambrister. The
second, being the first contained in the pro-
posed amendment, was The consequence OF
that disapprobation, and contemplstes the
passage Of law TO prohibit the execution
hereafter of any captive, taken by the ar
my, without the appreciation Of the Pres
idept. The third proposition was, thai
this House disapproves of the forcibli.
seizure Of the Spanish posts, as contrary
TO orders, and in violation Of the constitn-
ton. The fourth proposition, as the re-
suit of the last, is, that law should pass
to prohibit the march of the army OF tae
United States, or any corps Of it, into any
foreign territory, without the previous au-
thorization of Congress, except it be in
fresh pursuit of defeated enemy. The
first and third were general propositions
declaring the sense of the House in re
gard TO the evils pointed out and til
and the second and fourth proposed the H.
gislative remedies against the recurrence
Of those evils.
1t would be at once perceived, Mr.. G.
said, by this simple statement Of the pro-
positions, that no other censure was pro-
posed against general jackson himself,
than what was merely consequential. His