Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-18
MR. BURGESS SPEECH,
On Tie mission 10 Russia.

Mr. BURGESS resumed his Speech on the Russian |
Misson-irom which make the following OK |
trJcs:-
(Aftcr n number of quotations from trertcs upon
the laws of Nations, establishing that a Minister |
resident could not be admitted, and was no Min
istrr in fact, Mr. 3. costinucd:)
SIR what is the mission inrenied in this case by |
Mr.. Secretary Van Buren,; ond what the diplomatic
character of the Minister now under consideration?
This gentleman was, by order of the Executive, !
carried out from Norfolk to Russia in national ship,
with every circumstance of high respect, and at
cost of not less than 100000 for his passages He
arrived ut St. Petersburg presented TO his Inn
pcrlsl Majesty, the Emperor OF Russia exhibited his
credentials; accredited MS EuvCy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotrntary of the United States ut
that Court; retired and took his departure from the
RUSSIAN territories, all in the short space of ten days
1t cOn;endcd By gentlemen, who support this appro
priation that nc is minister. II he must be
minister resident at the Court oil ST, Peters
burg; for Is too much To say, that stopping 10 days
1T that city, would make him, in legal accrptation,
TSient hore, bnt that six months residence Eng
land will render him legally n non-resident at Pc
tcrEbur9h. H. then, he can be minister ut all,
he must be resident Minister. He has been
st Peersburgh, TO be- accredited there by his I'm
rGra Majesty; and by form of being tbuS accredited,
gravely told by the Secretary of State, that
he has acquired the rights, and powers of Minister
OF the United States, ,rhererer he choose to
side. SIR, will nations admit this kind Of resident
this migratory mission, this diplomatic gossippng?
This doctrine of no iocdhy,' essential the Sc
crciarys constitutional creed to the existence of
DnttOrdf TOGd, ne VIII flnd does not belong the
charter of a resident public Minister, and really has
no place among nations, out of the cabinet adroit-
" conducted by himself. *
Hat ,h's gentleman two se.s of credentials, two
cnu'tnlssons, and did he exhibit them both TO the
Lmperot'-Did he in fact tell his Majesty, Your
sImmer is too hot; your winter will be too cold. The
fur which has warmed bear may warm z Russian
monarch, but 1t can never warm me My constitu-
ton is out in The public service. shall be sick
y am sick. must resi- :e elsewhere, any where, in
England, in France in genial climate than
that of your macstys capital" 1t is too much to be
supposed, even of Mr.. Randolph. IIr presented his
Al credentla is and commission. His EI.SEW 1ER Il
credentials aud commission were retained for use
when he should arrive, know not wnere, but Ger
tanly elsewhere.
Sir our law has been cvaled; the Constitution has
been evaded the laws of nations have been cvated;
the President, the Senate and our imperial Friend
have been deceived 81 the Minister himself suffering
himself to be made party to this imposi'on has tall
en- into the dgcces OF the Secretary has been by him
got out of the country mission, Illegal void and
nugatory; and IS now, the deplorabe dupe of State
nitifce cruising about Europe like some contraband
trader, der double commission and with f,co sets
Of papers.
VIII it be coutended b. the supporters of this
appropriation, that this gentleman WILL after months
OF recess from the pubic service at the Russian Court
return thter, and by wears of efficient iabour cfce
all memory Of this interval of idlcness and neplec3-
What cause, sir have we to believe he will ever re-
turn to St. Pciersburgl? Observe what the Secre-
tary has told in the Message elf as it is to be no.
ped, the improvement OF his health should he such az
10 Justify HIM III doing he Will repair St. Peters
hmrgh, IL the discharge OF his official Gi,ee
This does not affirm that lie w,l return; il affrms
That 1t is to be hoped he be well euon1h to do
So According 10 the Mnsfapn. 4 want OF heatJ
took HIM away from that Court. Different reasons
were given for those facts by the official papers
by the Richmond Official the summer heat compelled
hts departure; by the Official III this CITY, the an
preaching cold Of the then coming winter drove him
to seek genial climate In Russia summer is
said TO burst from the frozen bosom of Winter like
sheet OF flame from Mount IIeca and to spread ITS
warming, blazing, burning influence at once over tho
whole region. At times immense is the TEMPER
allure, that the pine nsress take fire from he hea,
OF the atmosphere. I have read Russian travel
ler VINO says vegetation is rapid, that on a soil
tlaWed not more than one foot deep tho rropnd is
plonghrd, the wheat sown, grown, ripcncd and har-
vested in SIX werks. Winter conns on the country
a. snmmnr caIne, Distinguishing at once the heat OF
the ar md earth, by throwing down and sprca ding
out one vast sheet ofsnow, from CronsfaGr to Eon,
tschaIkg. The genial and Joyous airs of Sprinr the
sober and gladstone snnshnes and shades of Autumn
known under the Italian skies of NIrrina have ne
yer visited, and never visit Russian climate.
. Dn"ss tferrinrG, this gentleman can visit Russia I'm
Sn;nnrr, when be has been compelled to- leave il; or
III Winter, when he dareS not approach 1T, he cun-
not return ngaiu to st. Petersburg Oh. What reason
had The Secretary for The hopes EXPRESSED in tho
message. that the renovated health of Nh RandoIpl
might induce him 10 return? Permit me TO ,1noe
frIn onn Of his speeches delivered on .his floor little
more than two years aGo:
Sir, what can the country DO Cor nc? Is for
nowrr, what charm can it have for one like mo-
II power had been my object, mus, have been less
s1gacIous fIan my worst enemies have TCprcscutnd
me to be, it had not obtained it, j
W as 1t Office: What sir, to drudge in your labora
tories in the Departments be at the ,nil of your
Corps diplomatic in Europe' (Exed to Siberia. y
Nias Sir IN my condition cup of cold water would
be more acceptable. What can the country oioe mo
that do not possess in the confidence of such con-
si1tuents rs no man had befores can retITe to
my old patrimonal trees where may see the sun rise
"hd sht IN peace | shall retire
upon my reson,cea-I will 90 back to the bosom Of
my constituents And shnlI 7
give mp them and thts' And for WHAT For the
hearfirss nmuscmcnts and vapld pleasures and tar
ntshcd honors of this abode of splendid misery. of
shabby snl"ndor? For clcrbship IN the War Office
nr Il FOREIGN MISSION, 10 dqnce aiIcndance
ABROAD if,Sfcad IF IT HoME-or even FIR a Depart
foeht ITSELF Sir, thirty years make sad changes in
man feel TINT ]
tonng 10 existence by single hnr-hat the sword Of
O1mocIcs is suspended over mo-"
VIII this gentleman, think you, return TO RUSSIA
hanging to existence by single halr3 VIII he travel
from region to region OF Europe. with this sword Of
noInncl"s dangling over his bead by tie cqnnllv