Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1831-02-03
,NrHRksT,Nc DEBATE.

The Debates in the house OF 'nePtcSeuta-
lives on the Russian Mission. as reported in
the National InteIligenCer, are OF an extreme
~ interesting nature. Mr.. Burgess cOannen-
ced his speech by stating that the debate was
not Of an unusual character as had been init
mated. He had often Witnessed similar dis
cussiOns 10 that House, which had ever claim
I'd and exercised the right tn deHneFate, to
dAlTate, and, under sound discretion of ats
own, to decide and determine all CLAIMS t"r
appropriation, by whOmsOever or for whats0-
ever purpose they may have been made
Mr.. Burgess said .. ...-.s.
"Our relations With Russia have hitherto
been cherished and sustained by a Minister
PlpnipOtcntiary residing near that Court-Gt
that Court, in the royal city Of Petershurgh,
and spithin the political aud social circle Of
the Emperor himself. the high dignitaries of
his government, and the diplnmatic envOys of
all the nations of Europe, and many of those
Of Asia"
He alluded TO the motion Of Mr.. Stanberry
To strike from the appropriation bill the $4,000
proposed to be appropriated for payment of
the current years salary to the gentleman
said to have heen despatched as Minister to
Russia He then proceeded thus:
"The item bears no mark distinguishing 1t
| from others Of the same kind, or giving us any
! warrant for rejecting this while those arc al
| lowed We must lock to other documents for
information concerning this mission, and our
obligations 10 furnish the money for support
| ing this Minister at the Court Of St. Peters
burg. The paper which now take from the
desk before me contains that information. 1t
purpOrts to be the annual message from the
President ofthe United States to Congress at
the present session. 1T certainly bears his sig
nature, and was sent to the house by that high
dignitary. Notwithstanding these facts, the
1 document must be received and considered
entirely as the production Of Cabinet Minis
tiers. No literary gentleman in this Hail.
mean, no member Of this Honsc--who reads
and examines this communication, made to
us so much at length, could, think, say with
out hazard of his reputation, that he believes
One sentence Of it was composed by the dis
tinguished gentleman whose name is placed
at the end Of it. This. sir, is not said for any
purpose of derOgaiiou from the eminent off.
cial character Of our First Magistrate. but for
) a very different, a much more important pur-
pose. Are gentlemen aware of the extent Of
our importation of European politics! Have
we not brought hume, and put into Use. the
high tory maxim Oftheir mOnarchies, that the
: King can do no wrong! Was there ever time
in our country when the friends of any admi-
nistration. other than the present, believed
|
more unscrupulUus devotion! The Cabinet
Ministers of eur Executive have taken artfnl
counsel from this fact. As European Ministers,
being answprable with their heads. for what
the King, their master. may, from the throne,
communicate to his Lords and Commons,
will not suffer any speech bnt of their own
c0ntriviDg to be thus communicated, SO, the
adroit Ministers of our Cabinet, taking shelter
under the executive sulserviency of the times,
have not only put upon the nation this mes
sage, hut the President, man who, If he mo-
we'd at all, always moved straight forward In
his object, they have betrayed Into the crook
ed counsels which may, by dilisent exanina-
tion. be- found in this message, sent to Con
: grrss by them. while they lie sheltered unde,
; the imposing name Of the FIRST dignitary ut the
nation. Ii The King can do no wrong, thank
: God ministers may, even in these times, be
: made accountable for the cOunsels which they
I. have given him. 1.-THE right divine in man.
to rule, "the enormous faith of many made
for One." compr-herds in its creed no perma
{ nent provision for any crafty sycOphant Il
: sknlk and screen himself behind the throne
= and play the little tyrant with security!'
e Mr.. Burgers read that part Of the message
: nf the President which relates to the illness o
= the Minister To Russia, land proceeded to com
. ment upon il thus:- So
= " AIN NOT cOffpct IN saying lHat tnlS IdOfl(
/, was Wrought in the Department of State
Who hut Mr.. Secretary Van Buren, wo"Ic
u have devised such mission, or selected such
( Il man 10 ill it. or caused such printed paper
= tn he sent 10 this House? We are told by il
= that our long established Legation to Russia
: has been totally changed; aud that, in plac.
of permanently resident Minister ut thai
: Court. regardless uf the public service. mis-
sion has been invented to suit the talents, the
, health, habits. and disposition of the dstin.
guished individual for whom il was designed
By the very terms Of this mission. this indivi.
dual is required To repair Ia Russia. but is au'
thorised 10 leave that Court and that Empire
whenever his health land of that he alone is
the judge} may require it. Who but the Mi.
chiavelian politician at the head Of the State
: Department would have advised the President
to sucha mission, or dared to place on do
. cIment, prepared to be sent 1" this House,
sucl a statement Of its commencement, pro-
gress and present condition In what part al
the Constitution, or the laws of the u. States.
or ot the usages If this government, does he
ma any thing in support 0f the measure II
WI nat be hazarding very much TO say. that
th's house was never. before this time, called
upon to pay such salary tor such services"