Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-17

pre- ciSe.y aslt WAS. His exniap alton
asserts the same principle in different Iangu.re.
1t says the President is not to feel the effect and
weight OF what is to occur" say he does bear
this weight. The weight consists in the load of
infamy which would attach to any officer who
could SO far forget himself 20 furnish, in an
swer 10 eau IKE this, garbed and ,nutiiated pa
pers; the weight is in the olium which would
pursue such man into retirement and during
iife and II IL precisely this which, constitutes the
real responsibility Of all your officers. But here
again the fears OF the Senator ought TO be remov-
ed by the consideration that il any thing in refer
ence TO this matter be- left un,one bv the pre.ent
ExecutIve.his ''sixty hours" will bring into power
anew Executive, with dispositions to detect such
attempt, and to correct its influence, and to do all
Tue justice 10 the majority" which II Is to be hop.
numerical lorce, deny to the 'smnori,y"
Mr. berrien said, had not the slightest inten.
uon TO participate in this debate. I have. how.
ever, been required TO record my vote in favor Of
the motion TO lay this resolution on the table On
the question oil its adoption, I will again register
That vote against the resolution ITSELF and desire
10 state for myself, the easons which will inllu.
ence Iny conduct
DO not mean to question, in the smallest de-
gree the force or concusiveness of the argument.
which nave been urged by those with whom 1
act on this occasion, when saw that INV refusal
20 hcqniesce in the proposal of the Senator from
massachusetts,, will result from consider ations
whlch have not yet been distinctly stated to the
Seoate. 10 sustain that refusal, l do not feel
that Is necessary for me to discuss tho propriety
olcaiiing upon the President lat the moment when
ne is retiring from Office 20 furnish the evidence on
winch me American people are TO decide upon
ms own political conduct, to express an apprehen-
SION tha' m answering that CALI any portion of the
evidence which is contained in the Department Of
State would be withheld, or to suggest. what il
Father behoves the friends Of the present Execu-
i've to consider, how much more lit il would be
&c! 70 demand that evidence from his successor. With
a mn nat a.frr.. E.
ON this occasion, and without the slightest dispo-
sltion 10 conceal from them with whom IL il NV
fortune TO differ the reasons which influence INV
coh'uct, viii state, frankly and briefly, the
grounds or which rest my objections to this mea.
sure.
Sir. do no, see, either i'm the terms of this re-
solution, in the avowed motives for its
OF IN the history OF the transactions to which il re-
'ers' any sufficient reason for giving the sanction
% my Vo'e 10 me merely gratui,Ous act, which the
senate IS called upon TO perform
what is 1t which this resolution proposes to call
from the reeesses of the Department of Statc-,o
spread before the American Peop,e-and To en-
pose 10 the view OF the other nations of the world,
, ne Instructors OF the President of the United
States 10 the Ministers who were tohave r,pre
senied US in the Congress of Panama If tbcv cnnIl
nave found Ito revive the discussion of a trans
action, which was political experiment in II,
origin-a political abortion in ito resui,--vbch A.
gitated tho public mind in its progress-and nj
Ssise jui Stneaf pronounced by the American Peo-
PIE, on me project and it, projectors
Ano "nat, Sir, are the motives urged by the
senator from Massachusetts, to induce us to sus
.s', "'i' can! For moment let US consider
mem. Gentlemen are shocked by the terms ma
joTttY anu minority in the connection in which
'hey are used by the Senator from Virginia. Thev
depFecate the array Of parties on this floor. And
yer IN The very act OF presenting this resolution
and even still more distinctly in the motives which
are avowed to sustain il, thew Themselves 49,
raced win precision not to be mistaken, those
plate. " S'''''h-
they tell US that, in the progress of this mea-
"e' certain apprehensons were "fet or feiened,
mat the instructions which would be given nv ts
fFesiaen. TO our Ministers who we're TO eo in |
quest OF the Congress of Panama, would be inuri !
Gus TO the public interest They wish to have
aiese instructions made public, for the purpose OF
determining whether these apprehensions war.
realized by the event; il may be to enable item
III a1raish teir sincerity; TO discuss with the adj
vantage OF the evidence which the President shall,
iurhisi, the question whether, in point of fact
they were ''felt or feigned" we ASH VIII. hsn'
eiIcidi purpose is to be effected by thi, incu;rv,
The transaction to which it refers has gone hy
r1aPpiiy Tor US. the mission merely abortiye:
anu, III me course al events, and by Common con-
SEN, nus experiment IN diplomacy has been con-
signed To the oblivion which it meried. 1t is con-
necteo with 10 measure on which we arc called
TO act. Tue question whether these fears were
Illt, or ieigned, or fancied cannot influence our
condnct In the discharge of any duty which now
ueSoi'es upon US. 10 what purpose, then, shall
we revive this discussions. IL was one nj tho avii
of ibis Inflated measure, that il served in ito L.
20 agita'e the public mind; to distract the councils
oil the nation. Is il desirable for gentlemen AGAIN
to hight up The torch Of discord! DO thew seek bv
means OF thiS resolution, to furnish themselys.
M, weapon OF attack! lie il so, Sir--for NY. (
SELL 90 not invite the controversy and will not
shrink from it. They will find that weapon IA |
poweriesS Tor the purpose of assault as il was fes
bile Tor that OF defence. But WHY are we calIed
10 Their assistance: Does any man venture 10
question the sincerity of the apprehensions ,yhh
were expressed on.this floor. No. Sir W.. |
then! Does he require us to furnish him with !
ue means ny which that sincerity is TO be arraion
Ell, before the tribunal OF the public. Such n al,
imposes upon me no duty Senator and adj |
repeiled. s"J
30 gentlemen desire TO prove the correctness Of
Ueir own course and that of the projectors of this
measure, by exposing these instructions TO the
public view: What then? Is the action of the |
Senate necessary TO the ACCOMPLISHMENT nj ,,sir |
object? Shall we perform merely rrstni,ors 90,
10 enable them to attain ip What is there in the
history oil THIS transaction, which invites us In as
sumo The responsibility which belongs 20 those |
VINO propose TO themselves benefit from this inca |
sure! III the publication of these instructions be
necessary, and wouid be available 10 the ;us,i6 |
cation oil the Executive Government. what hin. |
ders them tfon assuming the responsbility which
will attach TO their publication Does any one de- |
ny theIr power to do so' Will any one assert that
they VIII not and, ia their own brief ad,inis,ra
ton OF The Government, precedent for the ACT, |
why. then, appeal TO us? TIE Department ofI
State IL get under their CONTROLLED them avail
themselves o. their power, and take the RESPONSE
bility which belongs TO its exercise.
The opponents Of this measure are 70 be err.;cr.
edits projectors are TO be vndicateG-by a re-.
terence TO these instructions. Recnr. for mo.