Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-01-21

accrued previous TO lis destruction
Continuation of the Debate on Mr. Stan
bcrry's motion to strike out from the APP
preparation bill, the salary Of the Russian
Minister.
Mr. burgess rose, and addressed the committee
10 lrws:-Mr. Chairman: The present is, believe,
no unusual discussion In the short term ofmy
vice in this IL, have witnessed sitting after sitting
OF Comnit'ec Of the Whole House on the state nf
the Union, where the qianUm of salary compared
with the service Of foreign Minister'S the subject
of most stirring debate. When has the competency
of This House 10 move such debate been questioned
Nev"r, until the present sitting of this committee. IF
am mistaken. ask the Chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations 10 tell me when hat question
made by the friends fthe last administration?
The question is put to him because Of his proximity
the executive d parment and because, if he will not
give 1t candid answer, such answer be expected
from any gentleman in This Hall.
What call, then can, by any age be at this time
made on this branch of the Government to throw it,
self at the very foot OF executive subservency? Do
the people expect this from us? They have placed
the na'lonal funds at our control but with full cor
idence in fidelity and diligence and under fear
that we should unlock the treasury, unless para
mount public interest call upon TO the key
We cannot do this merely because required to do it
by Cabinet Ministers. by the Executive under their
Amusement. This House has ever claimed and exer-
cised tie right to deliberate to debate, and, under
sound discretion OF lis OWL to decide md determine
whalsocv" purpose they may have boon made. II
nlissi"nS of minor Importance were, in years passed
questioned under the vigilance of spirit of retrcnch
ncIt, without fellow in frmrr times, may we not
now-ai Though hat spirit has been touched aud put
to sleep by the caduccus of the State Department
may we not call to aid so much of The suber
watchfuincss OF the best days our Republic may
enable us, With due diligence, examine such Il
question Of appropriation this item of this
bill has brought before US: 1t relates TO
! no mission to an infant nation, some
nconslderab!e state, but long established f.nra
ton 10 a Court among the most ilus,rn,fs of En
rope, and involving relations preernnrntly I'M crest
ing to our country Innovations relative to this dis
tnguisiiHd mission do, above many others, place our
national interests IN jeopardy. Our relations with
Russia have hitherto been cherished, and sustained
by Minister rnpotnniary residing near that
Court. 1T that Court, in the royal city OF St Pc
tcrsburgh; and ,cin the political and social circle
of the Emperor himself, The high dignitaries of his
government and the Dip matic ENJOYS of all the ma
tons of Europe, and many of those of Asia
what, then is he question before the committee
under this item of appropriation? The gentleman
from Ohio (Ir. Stanberry,) has moved to strike
from the bill the 10000 proposed be appropriated
for payment of the current years salary to the gen.
tleman said to have been despatched minister to
Russia. He has ably, though briefly, sustained his
motion trust the committee will indulge me in a
few w, remarks on the same side of the question.
The item itself bears mark distinguishing it
from others Of the same kind giving us any war
rant for rejecting this while those ure allowed. We
mus, look to other documents for information con-
corning this mission, and our OBLIGATIONS TO furnish
the money for supporting this minister ut the court of
st. petersburgh. The paper which now Ia Ike from
the desk before contains that information 1t
purports to be the annual message from the President
OF the United States to Congress at the present
sion 1t certainly bears his signature. and was sent
to this House by that high dgnitary. Nulwlths; and
Ing these facts the documen, must be received and
considered rely Us the production Of Cabinet Min
listers. no literary gentleman in this HALL mea
no member OF this iinuse-wlo reads and ex mines
this communication, made to much at length,
could, think, say, without hazard of their reputa
ton. 'int he believes one sentence CT It coInpo-
sed By the distinguished gentleman whose name is
placed at the end of it. This. sir, is not said for any
purpose of derogaIon from the eminent official cha
acter OF our first Magistrate; but for very different
much more important pose. Are gentlemen
aware OF the extent of importation of European
politics? Have we not brought home, and put into
use, the high tory n AKIN 6f their mnnarchies that
the kIng can do no wrong? Was there time
in country when the frieads of any administration
other than the present, believed and pracised this
article OF political faith with more inscriptions de-
VotIon? The cabinet ministers of our executive have
taken arfu council from this fact AS European
Ministers, being answerable with their heads for
what the King, their master may from The throne
communicate 10 his Lords and Commons, will not
suffer any speech but of their own contrivnG to be
thus communicated; the adroit ministers of our
Cabinet taking shelter under the executive subser-
viency of the times have only put upon Tie ma
ton this message but the President man who if
he moved ut ALL always marched straight forward to
"iS t"ty nave betrayed mo the crooked
ellis which may by dilgoni examination, be found III
this message, sent to Congress by them, while they
lie sheltered under the imposing Of the first
dignfary Of The nation. If the King do no wrong,
thank God ministers may, in these times, be
made accountable for tho councils which they have
given him The right divine in man" 10 rule s.the
enormous faith Of many made for one" compartments
III It's Greco no permsnent provision for any crafty sy
coPhant sknlk and screen himself behind the throne
ana play the little tyrant with security
nat part of this message, from which we learn
the character of this mission to Russia all of il
winch now 1t concerns us to examine. Our foreirn
relations are branch of the Department of State
and this miSsio was conrived, and the account of
u contained IN the message has been given to lis bv
The Secretary of that Department. The gentleman
from North Car lima, (NIr. CarsoD.) has read this
account for one purpnse-suiier me to read it for
another
"Our relations with Russia are uf the most stable
character. Respect for that efnpirc and confidence
IN its friendship towards the Unitcd States have
been so long entertained on our part, and So care
inly cherished by the present Emperor and his illus
irlors predecessor, to have become Incorporated
With the public sentiment Of the UuiDed States
sincerely regret TO inform you that our minis
nIeiV ucrr1r r,,If a.,