Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-03-09
III IL IL A LID OF TIL ID I'll vi E =.

J..
and we are bound to make the approprla-
ton, because he has performed services
at Russia for which he deserves to have
this compensation. What services was
it intended he should; what in fact did he
perform; what, in SO shOH time, couid
he perform We are told by the honor
able Chairman Oft Committee on For
eien Relations, (Mr. Archer) and no
man ever doubts his candour and cor
rectness, that Mr.. Randolph did not per-
form what he was sent to do. However
meritorious that might be when done, he
surely does not deserve any compcnsa-
ton for not doing it, How did this gen
tlenan represent, when presented at that
Court, the form and body of our national
character, by his appearance, his man
ners, conversation and intercourse with
the Imperial Family the Court, and For
elm Ministers, thenpnd there represent
ing the various sovc,cignties of Europe
and Asia? could give the history of
this ten days, this, which will, in our
Russian Diplomacy, be called The time Of
Randolph; ! could give it from the most
authentic TESTIMONIALS; not from rumour,
but from the voice of honorable intelli-
rent men, who being there al Me time,
have since returned to this country, and
from letters with which the Russian cor
respondcn,c of our Atlantic cities has
been crowded. All these speak but one
language, express but one ieeling-the
irrepressble feeling of wounded and NOR
tilted patriotism. All these, instead of
finding merit in this mans diplomatic a
chievemcnts, look on them with unutter-
able anguish and have no consolation un-
der the gibcs and jcerings of foreign Ma
tons, but the memory Of the past, when
the digniiicd character of our Republic
was represented in Europe by Franklin,
Jay, Livingston, Adams, Jefferson and
Pinkney. Nothing, sir, but national
pride has withholden this narrative from
the ear of the world; for who would give
a tongue to obloquy against his own
country? will, in silence, pass over the
doings of this gentleman ten days OF dI-
Iplomacy; nor would have alluded to
them, did not his friends draw on these
r0y doings as a timd Of merit, emitting
him TO this compensation. The dOin@s
OF ten days! What, sir, could he do in
that timc; Why, in that time the dsci-
piRr q! the l,ussiln taylor could scarce
" have rod0ceG the rigid outline, OF this
man into the erte,i0r Of diplomacy. He
performed services, for his country in
that brief period! Cesar, with the Ea-
gle wing of pursuit, and the Lion strength
of conquest, oyerrun Bythinia, and sub
ducd the son of the great Mithridates in
a few weeks. This conqucror might, in
the confidence oi'triendship,venture with
poetic license, to write to his associate al
Rome, "rcni, rid, rici." Should oul
Russian Envoy write the history of his
ten days, he might, without poetry, place
all, for which he can have any claim on
his country, in as fm, and almost the
same words; redi, rid, aLiri, would fill
up the whole quqntum mcruit Of his Mis-
sion.
If it be contended, that this gentleman
is entitled to pro rata compensation for
the time spent in going to Russia, and
while there, as freight is apportloned and
paid, when cargo ls, by casualty, trans
ported part only of the voyage, ! an
ready to agree, that THIS atone is the
ground on which anything W hatevcr car
be claimed. This however, will fail, il
the Mission be, in lis inception, contra
jus gentiun; and therefore void |
there be any part Of this Mission sount
and legal; if this gentleman has beiiere6
he was in good faith, in the public serrice
in the name Of justice let him be paid 70
all that time, although nothing was eflcc
ted beneficial to the \ alton. On thi
ground am read y to support, though
cannot move to make any modification o
the motion under consideration.
3 Last of all, ! come to inquire, whcthc
this salary can be due, because his mis
sion and the conduct of the Minister un
der it, may be especially beneficial to tho
Secretory Of State. Was this gentleman
appointed with any view, or expectation
that he could render diplomatic service
at the Court of Russia? Surely not
For in the first place the performance o
such services required his residence a
the Russian Court. This is evident from
the nature of those services, as may b,
seen from reading the ordinary instruc
tions to all resident Ministers; Lyman
Diplomacy, vol. |, page ID, l6, II.
Do not these labors require residence
at the Court of his Imperial Majesty
; Look into the published Diplomatic cor
respondence of our former Minister'S
What treasures of information! Wha
monuments of ability, labor, and dill
gcnce!
This gentleman could mol reside at tn
Russian capital Neither his health, hi
constitution, his age, nor the climate
would permit such residence. As we