Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-03-02
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
On MIR. VAN BuRuN's NomINArIov
REMARKS OFMR. WEBSTER.
ON THE SECOND DAY.


marks of MIR. FORSYTH, that i, was in his
Judgment, great mistake, TO say, that what
was now called the American apprehension. -
originated with Mr.. Adams, either as Presi-
dent or Secretary of State By the way, il
IS singular enough that the Haaerican side of
TINS question, is called, in the instructions be-
lore us, PretenSion, too long persisted in; but
the British side of it is called a right, too
long, and too tenaciousy resisted by us -
lhis courteous mode ofspealling of the claims
Ola foreign Government, and this reproach-
1ul mode of speaking of our own, is certainly
somewhat novel in diplomacy. But, whether
1T be called, respectfully, a claim, or reproach.
1ully, aPretenSion, it did not originate with
Mr. Adams. 1t had much earlier origin
This ''PretensiOn," now abandoned, with so
much scorn, or this claim, said, reproachiul-
ly, to have been first set up by the late adj
ministratlon, originated with George Wash
ington lie put his own hand 10 it. He in
sisted on it; and he would not treat with Eng
land, on the subject of the colonial trade
without considering it,
In his instructions TO Mr. Morris, under
his own, hand, IN October, 1899, President
Washington SAYS
Let 1T be strongly impressed on YOUR
mind, that the privilege of carrying our
productions, in our vessels, TO their islands
and bringing in return the productions OF
those island TO our own ports and markets,
is regarded here DIS of the highest impor-
lance; and you will be careful not TO coun-
"tenance any idea of our dispensing with il
Gin treaty. Ascertain, if possible, their
views on this subject; FOR IT WOULD NOT
BE ExPEDIENT TO CoMMENcEN EGoTI-
'ATIoNS WITHOUT PREVIOUSLY HAVING
GOOD REASONS TO EXPECT sATIFAc-
Tony TERMINATION OF THEM"
Observe, sir, that President Washington.
IN these instructions, is not speaking of the
empty and futile right of sending our own
vessels, without cargOtS, TO the British West
Indies; but he IS speaking OF the substantial
right OF carrying our own products to the ISL
ands, for sale and consumption there. And
whether these products were shut out by
positive act of Parliament, or by tariff of
duties, absolutely and necessarily prohibito-
ry, could make no difference The object
was TO provide, by treaty, lift could be done
that our products should find their way eff
fectually and proftably, into the markets of
the British West Indies. This was Gene
raj w ashington's object. This was the "prs-
tension" which he setup.
1t is well known, sir, that no satisfactory
arrangement was made, in General Wash |
tngton's time, respecting our trade with the !
British West Indies But the breaking out
OF the French Revolution, and the warswhich !
1t occasioned, were causes, which. OF them |
selves, opened the ports of the West Indies
During the long continuance of those wars.
our vessels, with cargOes ofour own products
found their way into the British West In
ia Islands undera practical relaxation ofthe |
British Colonial System. While this con- |
dltIon OF things lasted, we did very well with !
out particular treaty. But when the Eu- |
ropean wars, and our wars, all ceased, then |
Great Britain returned TO her former system: |
then the Islands became shut against us: and
thenlt became necessary TO treat on the sub
Ject. And, sir, we proposed to treat; our min
listers were, successfully, instructed to treat
from that time forward And sir / undertake
to say that neither Mr. Madison, who was
the President, nor his successor Mr.. Mon
roe, gaze any authority or permission TO any
Amerlcn minister TO abandon this preten-
sion, and\give tup, or even TO waive it, or
postpone r, and make treaty without pro-
Vidlng for 7. No such thing On the con
trary' TWIN aPpear, think, five look thro'
papers whl0 have been sent TO the Senate
that under MI. Madison'S administration our
minister IN EAgland was fully instructed on
this subject, ard expected TO press il. And
as to Mr. Monpe, have means of being in
formed, IN q Enapner not liable TO mistake.
that he was on Ills subjectalways immoyea
BILE. He would lot negotiate without trent
ing on this branch of the trade: nor did |
ever understand, tat in regard to this mat
ter, there was any difference ofopinion what
ever, among the getlemen who compose6
Mr. Monroe's cabine. Mr. Adams as Sc
Cretary of State, write the DISPATCHES and
the instructions; but tlg policy was TIE poll
cy of the whole administration. as far asI
ever understood. CertSn it is. il was the
settled and determined p6icy of Mr. Mon
roe himself. Indeed, sir so far is if from,
being true, that this pretusion ORIGINATED
with MIR. Adams, that it wa in his admins
tration that, for the first tine. permission
was given, under very peculnr circumstan-
ces, and with instructions TO NEGOTIATE trea-
ty, waving this part of the quetion This
has heen already alluded to, all G1llv CIV
planned by the honorable memberrom Ken
lucky.
So, then, sir, this pretension, asserted in
the instructions 70 have been first sd I'M Inv
the late administration, is shown TO hive had
President Washington for its author and fo
have received the countenance ofeveryPyes-
ident who had occasion to act on the srniect
from 1889 down TO the time of the presenS adj
ministratiOn.
But this is not all. Congress itselflas
sanctioned the same 'pretension The az
OF lst of March 1923, makes it an expres
condition, upon which, and upon which a
lore, our ports shall be opened 10 British
vessels and cargoes from the West Indies
on the same duties as our vessels and car I
goes, that orr products should be odrniHsd
INTO those islands, without pnUing anu other