The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-02-03
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE or
REPRESENTATIVES, ONTHE
RUSSIAN MISSION.

out OF the annual appropriation Bill the q
mount proposed for tho salary Of Mimi
Ter to Russia Mr.. Carson. Mr.. Stan
berry, Mr. Archer, and Mr.. MalIary having
expressed their views on the swb3ec&
M. BuRGEs rose and sddssssed the
Committee a. follows. n
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The present il. L be-
lieve no unusual discussion. In the short
term Of my service iD this Hall Il have wit.
ncssed sitting after sitting Of ConSmitte4
Of she Whole House on the State orEtI
Union, where the quantam Of saInIyk "A
pared with tho service Of fioteigu y
was the subject of most stirrl1 81 3
When has the cdmpetenSy W a. I|l
10 move such debate been Qno1I "a
Never, until tho present. sitting QF
committee. II | am mistaken, 4st ne
Chairman Of the Committee on FoScI0p
Relations Mr.. Archer TO tell me whta
that question was made by the friends OF
the last Administration The question Is
put to him because Of his proximity 10 tfe
Executive Department. and because, il he
will not give it candid answer, such an
swer can be expected from no gentleman
in this Hail.
What call, then, can, by any usage, be
az this time rhade. on tbis branch Of The
Government 70 throw itself q: the very
foot Of Executive subserviency DO the
people expect this from iis? They hnts
placed the National funds at our control,
but with full confidence in our fidelity
and diligence, and under no fear that we
should unlock the tfeasnry, unless para
mount public interest call upon us to turn
the key. We cannot do this merely be-
cause required to do il by Cabinet Minis.
viscment. This House has ever claimed
and exercised the right to deliberate, TO
debate, and, under sound discretion OF
i,s own, TO decide and determine all claims
for appropriation. BY whomsoever OF for
whatsoever purpose they may have been
made. If missions or minor importance
were, in years passed, questioned under
'he vigilance of spirit OF retrenchncnt.
without fellow in former times, may We
not now Although Mat spirit has been
touched, and pu, 10 sleep oy the caduceus
Of the State Crpirtmcil inlay we fiot call
to our aid so much Of the sober watchful.
ness Of the bos, days of our Republic as
may ennJle VS., with due diligence, 70 ex.
anime sach question ct appropriation a.
this isea, OF this bsls has b~sssxts hsfsetss
I II rclstes 10 no mission TO an infant nslsou,
OF some incousiderable state, but our long
established Legation to Court among the
most illvstrious Of Europe, and Involving
/ relations pre- .eminently interesting to our
country. Innovations relative 10 this dis
iingIshed mission do, above many others
place our national interests in jeopardy
Our relations with Russia have hitherto
been cherished, aud sustained By Minis
ter Plenipotc ntiary residing near that
Court. III that C5urt, III the royal city Of
ST. Petcrsburgh; and .riihin the po'itica
and social circle Of the Emperor himself
the high dignitarics Of his government
and the diplomatic envoys ofell the pation
uf Europe, and many Of those Of Asia.
What, then, is the question before th'
committee under this item OF appropriation
The gentlcmnn from Ohio, (Mr. SrANBER
RY,j has moved to strike from the bill tn
$4,000 proposed 10 be appropriated IpgpA5
ment oil the current years salary to IN
gentleman sdid TO have been dispatched a
Minister to Russia. lie has ably thoug
briefly, sustained his motion. trust IN
: committee will indulge me in a few rs
marks on the same side oi the question.
Il i
). gushing it from others of the samo kline
Q or giving us any warrant for reJecuDg th
q while those are allowed. We must loo
d 10 other documents for information col
.cerning this mission, and our obligatisr
Il 10 furnish the money for supporting th
b minister at the court Of st. Petossburg
The paper which now take nom ii
desk before me contains that iniormatio
II purports to bc the annual message fro
the President Of the United States to Coz
gross at the present session. II certain
bears his signature, and was sent 10 III
House by that high digaiAssy. hotwts
standing those facts, the docursent m'
be received and considered entirely a. u
is production of Cabinet Ministers. No i
s. crnry gentleman in this Hail. mean
o, member of this Housewife reads n
IN examines this communication, made 10
20 90 much at length, could, think, %
,e without hazard Of their reputation, that
93 believes ono sentence Of il was compos'
nd BY the distinguished gentleman who
J. name 10 placed at the end Of II. This, 2
N, is not said for any purpose Of derogati
from the eminent official character OF
6rs. Magistrate but for very different
e. much more important purpose. Are &c
tacmsn aware Of the extent Of our imps
e tation Of European politics? |? Have We
brought homo, and put into use, the hi
r. tory maxim Of their monsrchiss. that
King can do no wrong Wes there %
on timo in our country when the nveoee
re- any administration, other than the p
sent, believed ard psactised thie erei'
70 Of political faith with more uueesupold
he A. >.ox;or ? rVhs rakinss of rni0in1nnn ~ &