Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-18

made, IN this iasdious mode upon their character
Mr. MLane and Mr.. Van Buren, cannot, under
such circumstances, DO surprised that warm and
honest indignation is reused by their conduct.
But, further, when Mr.. Van Buren, instructed
MIR. MLane to lay before the British government
all MITIGATING circumstances to palliate tho
conduct OF our country towards England; and when
ne chose TO ehumerate, the misconduct ofthe late
administrations; the sentiments of unbounded
pect cherished by new president, towards Great
Britain: his own part in opposition to Mr.. Adams;
the loss of Mr.. Adams election, and much
OF the same pattern; among the circumsta noes
to be pleaded In mitigation of British dsfavor he
could not have expected that the lesson he had
himself roci'ed in the senate, could be for
gotten.
That it is .'our duty" to present towards for
elgn governments unbroken front-that the
cause of government must be considered lin
respect to this very controversy as the cause of
our country-that the pretensions of the British
government were, charlottesville and unjust"-Such
were the sentiments recently declared by him.
self;-and could he expect, because he found
motive for dsregardng all this that therefore free
born Americans, sincerely and consistently anxi-
GUS tor the honor of their country, could witness
the unpatrotic, and abject spirit of his whole let
ter of instructions, without the blush of generous
shame, and the throb of indignant scorn?
1T, Judging others by himself-he couli think SO
meanly OF his countrymen to suppose it would DO
patiently borne--that nation should thus be
brought, by It's official organs into the attitude of
supplicant at the footstool ofthe British king, ask
ing fnttgdtion lSuCh is MS dlSgraceful word
of roy al or ministerial displeasure-and urging the
abject plea by the of considerations belonging
solely to internal party differences-if such be
indeed his opinion ofus, it is full time that he should
se undeceived--and that he should be made 20 know
and the WORLD should perceive, that he has
sniserably undcrvalued the spirit, the PRIDE and the
Just sensibity of the American people.
Let the words OF truth, then, be spoken without
reserve, or GOODNESS fear of being attributed TO
personal dislike. AS an American, | cannot in
;quire what language can be too str ong; too
vere what rebuke too sharp, for the statesman that
wlltully degrades the honor of my country.
But MIR. Van Buren, is in retirement. He
will probably remain there, for his own preposter
GUS nominations of himself as a candidate for
the Presidency at an election to be held six years
hence, is not apparently well calculated to
further its own object
1.-The should be at any time, brought forward for
offical trust again it will be proper to review his
trst course, much more extensively than 1 have
done.
If his name should ever be presented TO the SEN
ate for the confirmation of an appointment, that
august and patriotic body, guardians of the ma
toms honor, will surely investigate, with sui
table gravity and care, the whole of his perorman-
ces as secretary of state and will be withheld
by factious compact silly considerations of per-
sonal indulgence, from fixing the Deffaceabe stamp
OF their dsapprobaton upon the man, who faith
less to sacred trust has been willing for selfish
ends, to abuse the dignity of national character.
But he will scarcely venture to brave the ordeal.
Mr.. MLane is not retiring, like Mr.. Van Buren,.
He is advancing to higher employ nent;--his
merits therefore object of more present in
terest and his conduct has, thut account, been
chiefly the theme of these remarks.
If harshness and asperity have served to enter
into the criticism, it has been perhaps, because my
readers have not read as have the whole of the
correspondence.
Surely when MLane, at the secretary's bidding
undertook the task of putting in the plea of '.gu-
ty" tor the country, and adducng evidence in mlit
igation of the sentence of the British prde-he
must have counted and anticipated the consequent
ces to his own fame.
He may have foreseep a reward, and perhaps
thinks he has received it but he never could
have looked for the appropriation of his country
When in pursuance of the abject purpose of his
instructions, he told the British minister that Amer
can pretcnsions had embarrassed the negotiation
that he would not decide, whether the conduct of
the past administration towards England, was more
subject of regret or cenSure, when he volunteer
ed avowal that the conduct of the United States
would not be justified lin rejecting terms that Mr.,
Van Buren, had said were wholly inadmssabe-and
in refusing to meet the British government on
grounds, that Mr. Van Buren, had declared to be
indefensible and unjus-when, besides all this, he
conducted himself as l have shewn, and made so
discreditable finish Of the business-surely he
could not but expect to excite the dstrust of every
Intelligent and independent mind.
Whether his conduct be "more subject of regret
or eensurc"-whether he is to be pitied for sub
lection influence malign and blighting his rep
utation-er blamed for submitting to such infuen-
cess IN either event he ought not to expect, and
his trends cannot hope for him, that he will escape
the unreserved expression of decided, contemptu-
gus, scornful condemnation.
The length to which have allowed these gene-
raj observations to extend obliges me 10 defer to
another number my proposei examination of the
gains of trade by the late arrangement X. Y.