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

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though that spirit has been touched, and
nut to sleep by the caduceus OF the State
Department-may we not call to our
aid so much of the sober watchiuness OF
the best DAYS Of our Republic as may
enable IA, with due diligence, to exam
inc such question of appropriation as
this item of this bill has brought before
us; II relates to no mission to an infant
nation, or some inconsiderablc state, but
our long established Legation to Couit
among the most lllustrious of Europe,
and involving relations pre- cmlncntly in-
terestinp TO our country. Innovations
relative to this distinguished mission do,
above many others, place our national
interests in jeopardy. Our relations with
Russia have hitherto been cherished,
and sustained by Minister Plenipotcn-
tiary residing near that Court. IN that
Court, in the royal city OF ST. Peters
burgh; and withn the political and So
cial circle Of the Emperor himself, the
high dignitaries of his government, and
the diplomatic ENJOYS Of all the nations
Of Europe, and many otthose of Asia.
/ What, then, is the question before the
! committee under this item of approprla-
ton? The gentleman from Ohio, (Mr.
/ SrANBERRY, has moved to strike from
the bill the $4,000 proposed to be apPro-
! priated for payment oithe current years
salary to the gentleman said to have been
dispatched as Minister to Russia. lie
has ably though briefly, sustained his
motion. trust the committee will indulge
me in a few remarks on the same side OF
the question.
Il The item itself bears no marks distin-
gushing it from others Of the same kind,
or giving us any warrant for rejecting
this while those are allowed. We must
look to other documents for information
concerning this mission, and our obliga-
tons 10 furnish the money for supporting
this minister at the court of St. Peters
burgh. The paper which ] now take
from the desk before me contains that IN
formation. 1t purports to be the annual
message from the President Of the l nj
ted States to Congress at the present
session. 1t certainly bears his signature
and was sent to this House by that high
! digni,ary. Notwithstanding these facts,
the document must be received and con-
sidcrcd entirely as the production Of Cab
| met Ministers. No literary gentleman
| in this Hall mean no member of this
| Housewife reads and examines this
| communication, made to US so much at
length, could, think, say, without haz-
ard of their reputation, that he believes
one sentence of it was composed by the
distinguished gentleman whose name is
placed at the end of it. This, sir, is not
said .or any purpose of derogation from
the eminent official character of our first
Magistrate; but for n very different, a
much more important purpose. Are
gentlemen aware of the extent of our I'M
poriation of European politics? Have
we not brought home, and put into use,
the high tory maxim of their monarchics,
that the King can do no wrong: Was
there ever a time in our country when the
friends of any administration, other than
the present, believed and practiccd this
article of political faith with more unscru-
puIous devotion? The cabinet Of minis
tcrs of our executive have taken artiul
council from this fact. As European
Ministers, beng answerablc with their
heads for what the King, their master,
may from the throne communicate to his
Lords and Commons, will not suffer any
speech but of their own cOntflvlng to be
thus communicated; SO the adroit minis
ters of our Cabinet, taking shelter under
the executive subscrvlcncy of the times,
have not only put upon the nation this
message, but the President, a man who
/ if he moved at all, always marched
straight forward to his object, they have
/ BETRAYED into the crooked councils which
may by dIligent examination, be found in
this message, sent TO Congress by them,
while they lie sheltered under the impos-
ing name of the first dignitary Of the ma
ton. Ifthc King can do no wrong, thank
God ministers may, even In these times,
be made accountable for the councils
which they have given him. "The right
divine in man" to rule, "the enormous
faith of many made for one" comprc-
hends in its creed no permanent provis-
ION for any crafty sycophant to skulk and
screen himself behind the throne, and
play the little tyrant with security.
That part Of this message, from which
we learn the character of this mission to
Russia, is all of it which now it concerns
MS to examine. Cur foreign relations
are branch of the Department of State
and this mission was contriycd, and the
account OF it contained in the message,
has been given to us by the secretary OF
that Department. The gentleman from
North Carolina, Mr.. Carson has read
this account for one purposc-suilcr me 10