Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-05-18

resurrection 10 the uirect trade, Mr. Clay says that it
to be only az an experiment and rcvocabc at In,
pleasure of our Government. But Mr. McI,nc
made no such reservation and if his compact has
any permanency or duration we are precluded from
renewing this restriction of our act of 1893, how.
ever injurious may be its omission.
Humiliation.
Having examined this negotiation with much at
tcntion, feel myself constrained, us an American
citizen, alive To the honor of my country; as a
Senator, bound to vindcutc its dignity and asscr,
ITS equality among the nations of the EARTH TO ami
madvcrt upon tho tone and manner in which it has
been conducted
Anterior to the year 1929, there has not been in
our NATIONAL history, more brilliant or unsullied
page tban that of our foreign diplomacy and espc-
c'aiiy with England. In the presence OF that ma
ton and lis monarch, all oar former national re.
representatives., from the first unbcnding son of Mas
sachuset's 10 the last high minded Virgnan. havo
stoou hrny eroct, III conscious, republican selfro-
spccs. They demanded rights but never solicited
tivors profering equal friendship, but never bend
ing the knac as suppliants. They met not arrocance
by humility; cncroachmcnt by submission and war
upon our interests by solicitations and cntroa,cs
Our fathers grapplcd with the British, lion but ne
yer fawnod or crouchcd before him. How it has
been recently, the negotiations of this arrangement
will exhibit.
They commenced in the autumn of 1929 by ycr-
bal conferences, in which Mr. McLanc made his
proposition accompanied by his solicitation that
1t might be taken into early and candid consj
deration, and depressing the anxious desire Of
nf,
response. he on the 18th December, addressed n
o"G letter to the British Minister, rcciIinr {" The
ANXIOUS desire NJ the Presidents rcpcatinp the ,,ro
position, renewing his solicitations" and making an
"dppcat to the cdndJr and ii5eralify of his mains
tvs Government" On the Nth, Lord Aberdeen
replies by barren note ola few lines, saying that
he will lay the proposition before the KIM Tho
month OF December passes by-no answer is rccci-
Vcd-Jnniary-no overwhelmingly answer
March comes, but no answer with it; and in this
state OF cold and naughty neglect what does our
munster lie writes a long, supplicatory episte
oil nearly ~ closely printed pages, in which he is
seen - praying for a decision" "Again solicits
-begs to suggest" recitcs his former offer in tho
following humble tone:
e" The PROPOSITIONS which the undersigned has al
Te"ay hdd me honor TO submit; namely, that the
u >. should do no,' that which they might hare
done IA lS25-:escind the measures which nav bo
allcdgcd to have contributed to the present er and
repeal the laws which have been matter of conn
plant and that England should assent no,c. to :,
measure ,rh'eh, but Jep gears since, she herself
proposed"
Not content with this, he int reduces to the En-
gsh Government the distinction of parties in this
country, admits ''thc failure of the past admins
r0f'on to comply" with the Act of 1926 and that
'whethcr II be Il subject more of regret or consure
IT ought TO be enough, that the claims, advanced
In Justification of it, have since been abandoned.
by those who made them" Regret or censuro.
from whom-the British Enough for what
atoncment to g. Britain He asks to be ucrcy
Sed" Sin making this, his LAST APPLICATION for an
early decision" He admits .'the injurious effects of
the existing regulations upon tho commercial and
navigating enterprise of the people Of the United
otateS-that his hopes rest, mot so much upon
the expectation OF peculiar favor to the U. States
as OF a liberal compliance of his Maicsty's Gov
ernment with its own regulations" Peculiar favor
l-"l6erGl compliancc."-to relieve our commerce
and navigation in which her statesmen proclaim,
US their "most formidable rival" He "begs to
OBSERVE" and "begs leave further to observe land
IN conclusion, exhibits himself in tho attitude Of
"RErGATINo for tho LAST TiME"-(again D--ms
DEEP soLcITUDE for the result :" and MOST EARN
EsTLY recalling the attention of His Mojestys
Minister'S" That should this point be unfavora.
bly, decided, the U. States, while disappointed in
ITS cherished hopes, would find nothing eoncilatinp
IN the retrospect of long of fruitless ne
EQUATION, and NOTHING CHEERING IN THE FUTURE
PROSPECT, DARKENED. as it would be- by possible
ty OF a recurrence by the two nations TO that sys
TEN of countervaling measures, which has alrea
dy prored so detrimental to their harmony and
,oelfarem
Had Engand's monarch his foot upon our neck
Were we begging for life AT the darkest peri-
DDS OF our revolutionary contcst-n the gloomiest
moments OF the last war-was there ever such SUD-
plIcations for recf-such sombre pictures of tho
future7 No. If there had been, VIC should not
speedily have been chccred by the beams of glory
and Of peace.
And what vas the response to all this ..icep So
hctude" this prostration, this 'rcaewed solicitn
fion," begging and entrcating Of his Britannia Ma
IJesty Not one word Utter silence supercili
Gus GOODNESS, and naughty neglect. How does
our Minister meet such contumclious treatment of
TINS h's LAST earnest and pathetic appeal ?-He
goes to the 'Forcgn Office" to renew again his
SOLICITATIONS. On the of April following,
he says, 81 have had conference with Lord Abb
erdeen to-day, which l SOUGHT fJr the purpose of
urging the dehnitive answer to my propositions"
He then speaks Of "prerious conferences ;" and ex
pectatiOns and adds
" have not failed to represent TO him the yery
serious injury and embarrassment, which must re.
suit from delaying the answer, until the Congress
shall rise, and OF what, fear, may be the insup-
cradle difficulties OF any prospective legislation,
with view 10 a future arrangement None of these
efforts haze get proved sufficient TO bring the an
sper."
The residue of April passes by-no answer
May-nO answer Juuc--no answer: July comes
but with /. no reply. And then Mr.. McIane
having received tho act of May preceding seeks a
verbal conference, in which It's provisions are dis
cusscd, and Lord Abcrdeen's objections obviatcd by
explanations and construction. He requires how
ever communication in writing, and our minis
ter p'akcs it under date Of the 18th of July in
which he characterizes the net as concedng all the
pope', nc. as before stated, and says that II has
been framed without any pledge, prospective
tberwlse, from Great Britain. Thus confcssinr
that he had obtained not one word of promise Nv
all his solicitations lie "rcpcdts his doep inter
es" and "renewed hoPe," speaks of the 'grace"
OF prompt and frank reply, and of " the duty of
his MaJesty's Government 10 quiet the public expec-
tations, and to mitigate far may be- in its pow
or, the injurious Effects upon the United States oc
unfavorablc reply.
On the 18th of August Lord Aberdeen deigns
to respond Passing over the previous communi
cations of Mr.. McLane, he comes to that of July,
as containing more satisfactory propositions -
and most Proyokingly repeats certain parts of tho
language of our minister, thus
VT tic character and object Of tho recent mca-
sure fthc American Congress, Mr.. McLane OBJ
serves, that it comedies IL its terms all tho pow
or in the regulation Of the colonial trade, and
taart h,Nrt