Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-02-23

Senator
The gentleman has introduced other
matters into this debate. We heard
something of the willy policy of Mach
laval; of the deep and designing motives
OF Il distinguished Member ofthe Cabi-
net; Of sour Minister to Russia, and his
master the Secretary Of Statc;" even
sir, endorsing, by nsinuation, the stale
ISLANDERS Of the press. Mr.. Speaker,
disdain to engage in such debate with
the gentleman from Rhode-Island.
condescend to notice his remarks, only
to repel and to dcnounce his unworthy
insnuations. No, sir, shall not contend
with him-age cannot dignity the SLAM
derer-a hoary head, though "cramm'd
with Etna's fires" cannot purify calum-
ny, or sanctify it to the touch of honora-
bic men. have done with the gentle
man from Rhode-Island.
Let us turn for Il moment, sir, to this
extraordinary motion to strike out the sal
airy of our minister to Russia. | feel,
Mr.. Speaker, a proud satisfaction that
amidst all the angry and violent COLI
sions of our late political contest, the par
ty with which have the honor of acting
never dsgraccd itself by motion simi-
lar to that proposed by the gentleman
from Ohio, and sustained by the gentle
man from Rhode-lsland. Here the
speaker called MIR. Cambrcleng to or
der. | claim, sir, the privilege of re-
ply claim the privilege of vindicat-
ing my party-and have only to lament
that others have not better appreciated
their own dignity. In all the angry war,
sir, we had no instance so degrading as
a motion to strike out the salary ola min
lister on account of absence and indispo-
sition. When our late estimable Minis
ter to France visited the waters of AK
la Chappelle-did any one on our side of
the House humble himself and his cause
by inquiring whether he had the permis-
sion of his government to 60 there!
Did any member of this House disgrace
his country by a motion to strike out his
salary because the same Minister had
visited the lake of Geneva? No, sir.
When the late administration appointed
an aged invalid-a venerable, distin-
guished and highly respectable gentle
when that venerable gentleman, notori-
ously in rapid decline, was appointed
to the most important and urgent mission
within the gift of the Executive-was
any member of our side so lost to decen-
cy and humanity, as to inquire whether
he had the permission of his government
to visit the waters of Cheltcnham? At
Ter that distinguished gentleman had vis-
tied the Court of st. James, had resided
there and returned and invalid, physical
ly incapable of discharging any one of
the important duties assigned him by the
late administration-was there, sir, one
so poor amongst us as to move to strike
out his salary? No, sir, no. We played
a noble game and won it,
MIR. Speaker, it is the fortune--nay,
the high privilege of illustrious men, to
be illuminated and pursued with bitter
hostility. Our Minister to Russia cannot
escape; for he has occupied high sta
ton in the political annals of our coun-
try-he has obtained for himself ali il
ustrious rank in our parliamentary his
tory. have listened, sir, with delight
and instruction, to some OF our distin-
guished rivals for parliamentary fame
to the simple, but persuasive and fas-
clnating reasoning of a Lowndcs-to the
melodious and impassioned cloquence of
Clay-to the lucid, commanding, and
solid argument of a Webster-but for
combination and proiusion Of all the
weapons of parliamentary war-of wit,
irony, sarcasm, imagination, and elo-
quence-he was surpassed by nome
nay, sir, as parliamentary orator, he
was uncqualled. He combined all the
skill of a debater-thc genius of a poet
with the patriotism and proud philoso-
ply of a statesman. The people of this
country owe him large debt of graft
tude. lie was ever the vigilant enemy
of power, and the devoted friend of our
ancient and excellent constitution. With
a political foresight and sagacity, beyond
any of his distinguished rivals for parlia-
mentary honors, he detected in the en-
bryo, and resisted with prophetic wisdom,
those measures which laid the basis of
that gigantic accumulation of federal
power and taxation, which we are now
so zealously cndcavoring to check and
moderate.
Such, sir, is the distinguished man
with thirty years experience in public
service-with a familiar knowledge of
all our national concerns, foreign and do
mcstic-such the man to whom the Pres
ident assigned the charge of our mission
to Russia. With frame constitutional.
~ lniirm, he departed upon his mission,
and was necessarily left at liberty to-