Litchfield enquirer., 1831-02-10
: C0NGREssTONAL.


,Speeek of Mr.. CGNtTefteNg ~ p.g5y % we fe- /
marks Of Mr.. Burgess, PHbstasea t0ss sOsek.
Mr.. CAmnRELENs expressed his regret that
NJ SO late an hour, he should be obliged to |
fresuass on the attention Of the House. He
regretted, too, that any circumstances should
render It necessary for him to notice any re-
marks that might fall from the gentleman
from r. Island tMr. Burgess.) II was imPos-
sibie, however, to let them pass without some
notice. The Hon. Gentleman, said Mr.. Z.
has given az an elaborate and minute account
Of our treaty with the POrte-~assumIng his
own facts, he has discussed its merits and an
imadverted on its imaginary imperfections.-
l shall not, Mr.. Speaker, travel out OF my
wav and violate rule Of order, by eMteiing
pOtv into that discussion, by examining the
provisions Of the Turkish treaty. Whenever
do, Sir. my facts and my arguments shall
be founded on something mere substantial
than newspaper rumOr more uOquestlOna-
bile than the statement ofAn unprincipled par
tisan more unimpeachable than the evidence
of perjured SenHtor. The gentleman has
introduced other matters into this debate
We heard something Of the willy policy of a
Maehiaval; Of the deep and designing mo
ives of distinguished Member Of the Cabi'
net; of sour Minister to Russia, and his mas
ter tine Secretary Of State;" even, sir, endor-
.
press. Mr.. Speaker. I disdain to engage in
such debate with the gentleman from Rhode
Island. | condescend to notice has remarks,
only nu repel and to denounce his unworthy
insnuatiens. No, sir, shall not contend with
him-ags cannot dignity the slanderer-a
hoary head, though =" crammd with Ktna.s
fires" cannot purify calumny, or sanctlty 1t
to the touch Of hoporable men. have done
with the gentleman from Rhode Island.
Let US turn for moment, sir, to this ex-
traoYdinary motion TO strike out the salary Of
our Minister to Russia. feel, Mr.. Speaker,
a proud Satisfaction that amidst all the angry
and violent collisions Of our late political con-
test, the party with which have the honor Of
acting never disgraced itself by motion sim
liar to that proposed by the gentleman from
Ohio, and sustained by the gentleman from
Rhode Island. Here the Speaker called Mr.
Cambreleng to Order.] claim, sir, the priv
ilege Of reply claim the privilege Of vindi-
eating my party-and have only to lament
that Othera have not better appreciated their
own dignity. In all that angry war. sir. we
had no instance so degrading as motion to
strike out the salary of Minister on account
of absence or indspOsition. When our late
estimabla Minister to France visited the wa
tiers Of AK Ia ChapelIe-did any one ON our
side Of the house humble himself and his
cause by inqniring whether he had the per-
mission Of his government to 60 there Did
any member Of this house disgrace his coun-
try by motion to strike out his salary be-
cause the same Minister had visited the lake
nf Geneva No, sir. When the late admin
istra.ion appointed an aged invad-a veneer.
able. distinguished. and highly respectable
gentleman--Our Minister to Great Britain
When that venerable gentleman, notOriously
in rapid decline. was appointed to the most
important and urgent mission within the gift
OF the Ex:cutive--was any member of our
side SO lost 10 deceney ana humanity, AZ 10
inquire whether he had the permission OF his
government to visit the waters Of Chelten-
ham After that distinguished gentleman had
visited the Court of St. James. had resided
there and returned an invalid, physically and
unfortunately incapable Of discharging any
sne Of the important duties assigned him by
the late Observation-Disclosures there, sir, one SD
poor among us, as to move to strike out his
salary! No, sir, no. We played a nobler
game, and won 1t. Mr.. Speaker-lt is the
fortune--nay the high privilege Of illustrious
men TO he calamniated and pursued with bit
ter hostility. Our Minister to Russia cannot
escape; for he has occupied high station in
the political annals Of eur Countrywide has
obtained for himself an illustrious rank in our
parliamentary history. have listened. sir,
with delight and instruction to some Of our
distinguished rivals for parliamentary fame
to the simple, but persuasive aud fascinating
reasoning Of Lowndes-tO the melodiOus and
impassioned eloquence Of a Clay--to the lu-
cid, commanding, and solid argument Of
Wsbster-but for combination and profa-
sion Of all the weapons Of parliamentary war
--of wit, irony. sarcasm, imagination. and ell
oquence-he was surpassed by none-nay,
cir. as a parliamentary orator he was unequal
led. He combined all the skill of debater--
the genius Of a poet-with the patriotism and
sound philosophy IF a statesman. The peo-
pie of this country owe him q large debt Of
gratitude. He was ever the vigilant enemy Of
power, and the devoted friend If our ancient
and excellent constitution. With a political
foresight and sagacity. beyond any Of his dis
tinguished rivals for parliamentary honors. he
detected in the embryo. and resisted with
prophetic wisdom, those measures which laid
the basis OF that gigantic accumulation Of fed
eral power and TAXATION which we are now
30 zealously endeavoring to check aud mode
rate.
Such. sir. 10 the distinguished man-with
thirty years experience in the public service
with familiar knowledge Of all our nation
nj concerns. foreign and domestic-sMch the
man to whom the President assigned the
charge Of our mission 10 Russia. With a
frame constitutionally inRrlns he departed up
ON his mission, and was necessarily left at lib.
-rty to leave his station, should his health re-