Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-27
REPORTED FOR THE NATIONAL INrELLierscER
Eighteenth Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, JAN. 90.
THE GREEK CAUSE.

|
On molten of Mr.. Webster, the House then
resolved itself into committee of the whole.
on the state of the union, Mr.. Taylor in the
chair.
AIR. Clay offered the following, which he
desired To lay on the table for consideration /:
Resotred by The Senate and House Of Rep
resenfatires Of The United .Siaies in Congress
assembled, That the people of these States
would not see, without serious inquetude, any
t0rclble interposi'ion, by the Allied Powers Of
Europe, IN hehalfof Spain, Ia reduce To their
former subsection those parts of the continent
OF America which have proclaimed and esta-
oiished Tor themselves, respectively, Indepen-
dent Governments, and which have been So
temnly recognized by the United States'
! The committee of the whole having resum-
ed the consideration of the resolution recon-
intending an appropriation TO defray The ex
pense of a mission To Greece.
MIR. POINsETr of South Carolina, rose, and
addressed the House as follows:
| To view this question calmly and dispassion.
ately as Statesman ought la do. requires ms
Z" exercise the utmost control over our feel
ings.
1t is impossible to contemplate the contest
between the Greeks and Turks, SO eluquently
described by the gentleman from Massachu-
SETS, without feeling the strongest indigna-
tim at the barbarOus atrocities committed by
the 'nhdei oppressor, and the deepest interest
IN the cause of brave people struggling alone
against fearful odds, To shake off the woke Of
despotism.
| Our sympathes are always with the on
pressed-our feelings are always engaged in
the cause of liberty. In favor of Greece, they
are still more strongly excited by recollec-
tons, nhlch the scholar chershes with delight.
and which ale associated in our minds with
every pure and exalted sentiment.
| The descendants of that u,trious people.
| 10 whom I'VE oweon arts, oar sciences, and
except our religion, every thing which gives
charm To life. must command our warmest in
terest : but the Greeks have other claims 70
our sympaines. They are not only heirs of
The immortal fame of their ancestors-they
are The rivals ofiheir virtues. In their hero
&c struggle tar freedom, they have exhibited
persevering Courage, spirit If enterprise, and
contempt ofdanger and Of suffering worthy
The best days of ancient Greece. Tie enthu
sas'n and liberallty manifested in their cause.
by our iellow-citizens throughout the Union.
are, IN the highest degree, honorable 10 their
feelings. AS men, we must applaud their ge
nerosIiy, and may initiate their example,
But The duty OF statesman is IA stern duty
AS representatives of the people, we have no
right 10 indulge our sympathes, however no.
bic, or To give way 10 our feelings, however
generous. we are TO regard only The policy
oi IA measure submitted To our consideration
Our hrs', and most important duty, is 10 main
tam peace, whenever that can be done consis-
tent!y with the honor and safety of the natior {:
and we ought TO be slow to adopt any mea-
sure which might tD' olive us in war, except
where those great interests are concerned
lhe gentleman dsclalms any such intention
lie does not believe that we run the slightest
risk, by adopting the resolution on your table.
He considers it as pacific measure, and re-
lies entirely upon the discretion of the Prrsi-
dent, To accept or reject our recommendation.
as the interests of the country may reauire.-
Inc object OF passing such resolution, car
ohiy ne 10 give an impulse to the Executive,
and to induce him, by an expression of the
opinion OF this House, TO send commission
10 Greece. have as great reliance uno,,
the discretion of the Executive as the gentle
man from Massachusetts. believe that he
wouid resist The suggestion of This House in
FAVOUR oi any measure, if he thought the pub
lie interest required him to do so. But unless
we wish and expect him to act upon our re
comrAendailon, we ought not 10 throw upon
hun, alone, the responsibility of resisting the
strong public feeling, which has been excited
ON ms subject. The question for US TO con-
s'der appears to me to be-, whether, ifthe pow
or rested with us, we would exercise il to
this extent. | think we could not do so. with
out mourning some risk ofinvOlving the coun-
try IN war foreign 10 its interests. Let us
suppose that these commissioners were to fall
INTO the hands of the Turks; an event by no
means impossible, in the present state OF
Greece-what would be their fate ? The
Porte has not been remarkable for its siric,
observance Ofthe laws of nations in its inter
course with The powers of Eurnpe and il il
moi probable, that such a court would be very
scrupulous IN ITS conduct towards q nation
whose flag 1t has never acknowledged. o., le
w imagine, what IS much more prObablr, that
on the rumOr Of our having taken any measure
in IA, or Of Greece, the barbarous and infuri
ared Janissaries at Smyrnas were to assassi |
nate our Consul aud feIlow-cifizeps residing
there might not war grow out of such
acts The gentleman from Massachusetts
SAID. yesterday, that we had already taken
steps, which would offend the Ottoman Porte
as much as the one hc proposed Money
has been freely and publicly contributed in aid |
of the Greeks. What we have done in that
respect il common tn all Christian Europe
Large sums have been contributed for that
purpose in England, 10 Germany, and even in |
Rnssla. he said foo, that the Executive, in |
the Secreiary's letter, to the agent of th,
Greek guyernment and subsequently in his |
message ia Congress, has used expressions |
calculated to irritate that court as much AZ i'll
we were 10 send commission To Greece.
Thrse expressions of ardent wishes for lh,
success Of the Greeks are honorable TO tn
Executive, and will he echoed hack hy the |
nation. They may be- So by this House will
safety. and that expression Of our interest in
their welfare and success would have all lbe
cheering influence the gentleman anticipatcs
from the sneasure he proposes.
u APPEARS to me, that in the consideration