Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-17

to the honor aud interests Of the country, and in
hucnoed by sense Of duty paramount to all per-
sonai and selfish considerations the not be re-
stored to the walks OF private life, with stain up
on my reputation-let me not be pointed at |
discarded servant Of the nation, in commsc ration
for whom tho President has concealed that, which
the public has right TO know
In addition to this letter, I also addressed ono to
Mr.. Sergeant, the representative OF my Congress
s'oCai district, end a member OF the Committee of
o egn ARa O. enclosing 10 him the rongh draft OF
Il resolution, which l wished TO be offered, in the
words following, viz. R=soicsd, That the Pres
dent OF the United States be requested to commu-
ncate to this House (f the public interest pcrmit
copies ct any correspondence in the Department
OF State, between the late Charge d'AfIares of this
Government at the Court of Brazil, and the Bra
! lillian AMI American Governments, relative to the
blockade OF the River Plate, the capture and de-
tention OF American vessels, and the impressment
| and maitreatnent Of American seamen by the Bra
! lillian authorities, we'll relative TO the causes
which terminated his mission to BRAZIL
To this letter received reply dated on the
10Th Of March. in which Ir. Sergeant stated,
that is my memorial was before the Committee Of
Foreign Affairs, it would be- wrong for him to offer
, resolution without consulting them, and that he
T, did not believe the Committee would offer such a
| one as proposed. From the moment Of the
ceipt OF this letter, resolved that if access to the
Legislature OF the naton aud through it to the bar
OF public opinion, could only be obtained through
a party channel. to such party channel would
apply, and accordingly wrote to that effect, to Mr.
Sergeant on the I'D In justice. however, to that
gentleman, must say, that he did not any ne
cessity for the resolution which contemplated. In
his letter he said to me, ar. 1 copy his words
strong testimony in my favor. proceeding they
did, from one Of the most confidential friends Of
| the President:-" But. friend, may tell you,
that think You nisjudge in supposing any vindi-
cation necessary? No blame has been imputed to
you, and none will be. The President in his mes
sage has sanctioned your conduct, and the Com
nittee will not do less. -. 1t seems TO be gener
ally known, that you were jealous ond efficient,
and never wanting in just sensibilty to the honor
cf your country" your government is satisfied
Of your fidelity"
! Agreeab!y, however, to the determination above
expressed took, without delay, steps towards
engaging friend in Congress of the Opposition
party, to bring forward a resolution for my cores
Epondence, in the reply from Mr.. Everett
should conclude with the antcipations of Mr.. Ser
gcant But was prevented from carrying my de-
sign into execution, by the receipt of letter from
! the former gentleman. under date of the oath Of
March, acknowledging the receipt Of mine of the
10Th, and containing the following sentence: &c Not
being prepared, at present. to recommend to the
House, to make call for diplomatic correspOn-
ocnce, IN reference TO subjects now in train OF
negotiation. the Committee have not felt authoriz-
ed to introduce your letter OF the 18th inst. into
ther report, on your memorial OF February 10TH.
1t appearing to me, at the time, that the language
oil MIR. Everett, who, from the nature Of his stu
alton as Chairman Of the Committee of Foreign
Affairs, was supposed TO maintain an intimate and
confidential intercourse with the government, was
to be regarded in some degree as the language Of
the Cabinet, made up my mind to abstain from any
act which might embarrass the government in its
negotiations, and to wait with patience, for that
Justice at a future period, which considered to
have been denied me at the present In my con-
struction, however, of the weight Of Mr.. Evereus
authority,I afterwards found myself mistaken, as
! will appear in the sequel.
| On the 25th of March, the day after the date of
MIR. Everetts letter, the Committee of Foreign
Affairs made report on my memorial, which, hav-
ing been published in the principal Gazcttes of the
Union. tits not now necessary to quote 1t is sufi-
cient to say, that it entirely exonerated me from
! all charges of unfaithful conduct, and uaeQuvo-
caly pronounced the language employed by the
President in his message, to have been that of APP
probation. The letter Of Mr.. RebeIlo, (the exist
cnce OF which was neither affirmed denied by
the Conmittee,) was considered Unofficial, and
the Executive had not thought proper to make a
communication to Congress on the subject, the
Committee did not think an insnuaGon thro' such
channel as meriting its notice.
with this report, the matter rested for month
and would probably not again have been touched
upon during the present session of Congress, had it
not been for the annunciation in Of public
papers, OF new aggress;ons upon American Com
. merce, committed in consequence of orders issued
| by the Brazilian Emperor, after the amica6le ad
D"sfmert made between his minister and our gov
| ernment was known TO him. These aggressions
were dctaiiedin protest dated on the llth of JAN
uary last, at Monte Video and signed by the mas
teT, supercargces, and agents. Of upwards of TWEEN
| ~ American vessels which had been detained at
that port by wholly at variance with that
| public law, which Mr.. Rebello had pledged as the
rule OF his masters conduct, and in complete yio-
iation OF those professions of aity towards the u.
States, gratuitously advanced by him in his
| respondence with Mr.. Clay. 1t was this protest,
1 which determined Mr.. Coulter of PENNSYLVANIA,
"a he stated in his speech, offer on the 18th of
April, resolution, which, after opposition from
MIR. Everett on the 29th, and Gcguiescence on
the SOth, was adopted the last mentioned day
| i'll the following words:
| " Resolved, That the President be requested to
communicate 10 this House (uniess, in his opinion
the eXigencies Of the Government shall require the
same to be kept sccretD copy of the Correspon-
dence between Our late Charge des .dGdires at
The Court OF Brazil, aud the Brazilian Government,
in relation TO the alleged blockade, by the naval
storce of the said Government, of any part of the
coast OF the Buenos Ayrean republic, and copy of
the correspondence between the said Charge des
Aidires aud his own Government OH the same
subject And also copy of the correspondence
between or said Charge des Afaires ard the Coy.
eminent OF Brazil, i'll relation 10 the imprisonment
OF American citizens by the said Governments
ana copy oil any correspondence OH file in
relation 10 the said Charge des Afaires, demanding
MS passports from the said Government; and the
cause thereof, except 80 far ~ the same may have
been heretofore communicated.
And ALSO hat the President be reuus .ted 10 com
nuDcate to this House any information that may
nave been recently received by the GoyeruIue nj .
concerning paper blockade of the whole coast OF
The Buenos Ayrcan Republic, by the Governments of
Brazil; and the consequent embarrassment to Ame-
rlcan commerce. And also to conInunic ito 10 this
House, what measures have been taken by this 90.
vernnent since the late Charge dies Aaires left the
Court OF Brazil to counerv all the illegal system Of
blockade attempted TO be enforced and to redress
anIi Of