Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-18


performs; what in fact did he perform; what, IN SO
short time, could be- pcrform We told by the
honorable Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations (Nir Archery and no man doubts his
caulor and correctness. that MIR Randolph did rot |
perform what he sent out to do. However |
mcritorious that might be when done, he surely |
does not deserve any compensation fo- not doing it,
How did this gentleman represent, when presented |
at that Court, the form and body of oYr national
character b. his appearance his manncrs, converse
tion and intercourse with the Imperial Family, the
Court, and Foreign Ministers, then and there repre-
scntng the various sOvcrcgntcs of Europe and Asia?
could give the history Of this ten days this, which
will, in Russian Diplomacy, be called the time
of Randolph could rive 1t from the most authen-
tic testimonials no: from rumor. bur from he voice
OF honorable intelligent mon, who being there tho
time, have since returned to this country and from
letters with which the Russian correspondence of
our Atlantic cities has been crowded All these
speak but one language, cypress but one feeling
the irrepressblc feeling of wounded and mortified
pariotisn All these, instead of finding merit in
this mans diplomatic achievements, look them
with unuerublc anguish. and leave no consolation
under the gihcs and jecrngs of foreign nations but
the memory of the past when the dgniiied charac-
ter of our Republic was represented in Europe bv
Franklin, Jay, Adams, Livingston, Jefferson, and
Pmkney. Nothing. sir, but national pride has with
holden this narrative from the of the world; Tor
who would give tongue to obloquy against his
own country | will, i'll silence, pass the do
lngs of this gcneman's ten days or diplomacy;
would have alluded to them, did not his friends
draw on these very doings fund os merit, emit
ting HIM to this compensation. The dnnus of ten
days! What sir, could he do in that time? WHY,
IN that time the disciples of the Russian taylor could
scarcely have reduced the rigid outline Of this man
into the exterior of diplomacy. He performed ser
vices, for his country in that brief period! Cesar
with the Eagle wing Of pursuit. and the lion strength
of conquest, overrun Bythnia and subiued The son
OF the great MIthridates in Il few wceks-'This con-
qucror might, in the confidence Of friendship yen-
ture with poetic ccncc, to write to his associate at
Rome, "Ueni, ridi, cici." Should Russia En-
voy write the history of his ten days, he might,
without poetry, place ali, for which he have
any claim on his country, in as f'w and almost the
same ords reni, rid, aJiri, would fill IN the whole
Gunntum merut of his mission.
If il be con,enlcd that this gentleman is entitled
tn pro rata compensation for the time spent in going
to Russia and while there treish, is appnr,oned
and paid, whrra cargo is, by casualty transported
part only oil the voyage, am ready to agree that
this alone is the ground which any thing can
be claimed. This however, will fail. if the Mis-.
sion be, in its inception, contgs jus geutium;
and therefore void If there be any part of this
mission sound and legal; If this gentleman has be-
leved he was in good faith in the public service in
the name OF justice let HIM be paid for all that ;ime,
although nothing effected beneficial to the Nation
On this ground am ready tn support, though can
not move to make my modification of the motion IN.
der consideration
I Last of all, come to inquire whether This soI,r,,
can be due, because this mission, and the conduct of
the Minister under IT. may be especially beneficial to
the Secretary of State. Was this gentleman appoin-
ted with any view, expectation that he could rem
der diplomatic services at the Court of Russia Sure
" not. For i'll the first place, the performance of
such services required his residence at the Huss,n
Court. This is evident from the u-c OF those SER
vices, rs may be from reading the ordinary in,
str,ctions OF all resident Ministers: Iyman's Diploma
d cy, vol. /, page Is, 10, II,
"Am0nS the most important general duties Of Miu
iser Of the United States in foreign countries is that
OF tran hitting to his government information
OF the policy and views of the government to which
he is accredited and of the character and vicssuIes
of its important relations with other European
To acquire this in'ormation and particularly to dis
lCTT, fnt,, fk,t II, l.,
which IS spurious Feq Tres steady and impartial oh
servation, free though cautious correspondence with
the other Ministers of the United States abroad anil
friendly Social relations with the members of the dip
ioma.ic body ut the court.
'fn your corresr ondence with this Department. be-
sides the current general and the particular politics
OF The country, where you reside, YOU will be
mindful SO far as You may find it convenient to col
fect and transmit information of every kind relating
10 the government, finances commerce, arts, sciences
ana CONDITION OF the nation, which is already
Known and may be made useful to own country;
Books OF travels containing statistical, other nror-
nation OF statistical Importance, historical works, not
before in circulation authentic maps published bv ALL
thorty OF the State, distinguished by extraordinary
reputation and publications of and useful discov-
eries-will always be acceptable acquisitions to this
department.
"Among the ordinary functions OF an American
Minister in Europe is that Of giving passports to the
citizens OF the United States who apply for them.
ihey sometimes receive applications for such pass
ports from the subjects Of other countries but as these
are not regularly valid, they should be granted only
iIhdeF special circumstances may sometimes occur
in the case OF f"reg ners coming the U. States"
DO not these labOTs require residence at the Court
OF his Imperial Majesty? Look into the published
diplomatic correspondence of your former Ministers
What treasures of information! What monuments of
ability, labor and diligence!
This gentleman could not reside at the Russian cap
ital Neither his health his constitutions his age nor
the climate, would permit such residence.-As we'll
might the Secretary have plucbed up one Of his pat
rmonial oaks, and transp aDted the banks of the
NeVa with any expectation that it might take root
there, and live, and flourish in the sumner heats and
j winter storms of Russia.
So utterly out of the question all expectation of
public service from the appointment of this gentle
man, that although If must have been known that such
service could not be rendered without residence yet
he received full permission to leave the court and
/ Empire OF Russia, and reside wherever he might
choose to reside.
! MIR. Randolph was, Of NIL men, the last which
wise and Judiciou5 policy would have selected To re
present the interests Of our nation at the Russian
Court Tic had publicly expressed opinions concern
ing that Court and the Imperial lmIy, most GeyoSr-
tory md 6eSrading- Suffer INC read these op,n-
ions, from ono Of his speeches, published under h,s
own corr"ct"ns and s1pervisal, in Gales s. Seaton's
Register Of Debates. vol. ?, part !, p. 392-3.