Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-21

DEBATE IN THE SENATE,
ON MIR. VAN BUREN'S NOMINATION.


ON MIR. VAN BUREN'S NOMINATION.
REMARKS OF MIR. wEBsrER-On the second day.
, MIR. WEBSTER said, i'm reply to some remarks of Mr.
Forsyth, that was, in his Judgment great mistake &c
say, that what called the American sspretenson
originated with Mr. Adams, either President, Secrc
ry oil State BY the way singular enough that the
'eean SIDE oil this question: called, i'm the instructions
before u.s. preesion too long persisted in; but the Br
sh SIDE oil 1t is called right long, and tenacious
~ by us. This courteous mode OF speaking Of
'ne Chains oil a foreign Government and this reproachfu
mode Of speaking OF the claims of own is certainly
somewhat novel in diplomacy. But whethert be called
respectfully claim rreproachully, pretenson did
ho originate with Mr. Adams. Ii had much earlier orr
gh ms Pre1ension now Abandoned, with so much
scern or this claim said reproachuy, to have first
SET up by the late Administration originated with George
ashington He put his own hand to il. He insisted
on IT. and he would not treat with England the subject
oil the colonial trade, without considering it,
In his instructions to Mr.. Norris under his own hand
in October 1889, President Washington says-"Lef IL be
strongly Impressed on yo, mind, that the privilege of
carrying Our productions reSses to their islands
and bringing i return The productions of those islands
10 our otcn ports and markets, regarded here as of the
highest Importance and you cH be careful not to coa
tendnce any idea Of dispensing ,cith ii in treaty
Ascertain, possible, their on this subject ron 1T
WOULD NOT BE EXPEDIENr TO COMMENCE EGoTIA-
TioNs WITHOUT PREVIOUSLY HAVING GOOD REA-
SONS TO EXPECT SATISFACTORY TERMINATION OF
THEM"
Observe Sir, that President Washington in these in
srucons not speaking of the empty and futile right
sending vessels schout cargoes to the British
est lndie but he is speaking of the substantial right of
carrying our products to the islands for sale s. consmp
uon there And whether these products were shut out bv
positive act OF Parliament, by a tariff of duties abso
utcly and necessarily prohbitoy, could make no dif-
The object was to provide by treav if il could
De done, that our products should find their way cec-
ally and Prohaby into the markets OF the British West In
dies This was General Westinghouse object. This was
the ',prefensiOn' which he set up.
Its well known, sir, that satisfactory arrangement
was made IN General Washingons time, respecting
trade with the British West Indies. But the breaking
out OF the French Revolution, and the wars which il oc
casoned were causes which, of themselves opened the
ports of the West Indies. During the long Continuance
OF those wars vessels with cargoes OF products
found their way into the British West India Islands under
practical relaxation OF the British Colonial system While
this condition OF things lasted, did very well without
particular treaty. But when the European wars and our
war, all ceased, then Great Britain returned TO her
former system then the Islands became shut against lis.
ana then 1t became necessary to treat the subject
And, Sir we proposed TO treat; ministers were sue
eessvey instructed to treat from that time forward And
Sir, undertake to say, that neither Mr.. Madison who
was then President nor his successor Mr.. Monre gave
any authority permission to any American Minister TO
abandon this pretenson and give up even to waive
it. or postpone il. and making treaty without provd;ng
THINK, we look through papers which have been semitic
the Senate that under Mr. Madisons Administration our
Minister in England fully instructed this subject
and expected press it. And as to Mr. Monroe have
means of ling Informed, in not liable to mis-
take, that he was, on this subject, always
lie would not negotiate without treating this branch of
the trade: nor did understand that in regard TO
ls matter there was any difference OF opinion whatever
among the gentlemen who composed Mr. Monroes Cabi-
net Mr. Adams, Secretary of State, wrote the des-
patches and the instructions but the policy the poll
cy oil the whole Administration, far ever under
stood Certain is it the settled and no.
icy of Mr. Monroe himself Indeed Sir so faris il from
being that this profession originated viii, Mr. Adj
that it in his Administration that the first
ime permission given, undervery peculiar circumsan
ces, and with restrictions TO negotiate treaty, waving
this part OF the question This has been already alluded
TO, and fully explained, by the honorable member from
Kentucky.
So them Sir this preesio asserted in the instructions
to have been first up by the late Administration
shown to have had President Washington for its author
and have received the countenance of every President
who had occasion to act the subject from 1889 down to
the time of the present Administration.
But this is not ALL Congress itself has sanctioned this
same pretension The act of the LIST of March, 1928
makes it express condition, upon which, and upon which
alone, ports shall be opened to British vessels
goes from the West Indies, on the duties
into those islands, toithOm paying any other higher
duties than shall be paid similar productions coming
from eisechere. All this will be by reference the
third section Of that act Now remember, Sir that this
act of Congress passed in March, 1923 years before
the commencement of MIR. Adams administration. The
originated in the Senate The honorable Senator from
Md, who has spoken this subject day, (NIr Smith,
then member OF the Senate, and tool part the dis
cussion OF this very b and he supported voted for
Ii passed both Houses without material opposition i'm
either Now, Sir, how is possible, after referring TO this
law of 1928 TO find any apology Tor the contained
in these instructions that this claim is pretesiOn first
up by Mr. Adams administration How is il possible
that this law could have been overlooked
ed? In short, Sir, with any toerabe acquaintance with
the history OF the negotiations the United States, their
legislation, how TO account for it, that such
seron these instructions Contan should have found
way into them?
lay all this to the charge of the Secretary, and the
charge of the President The is the Presidents
conduct not before We and become his
accusers il thought there thing in his
conduct which for accusation But the Secre-
tary is before Not brought before by any act
Ourse is placed before by the Presidents nominal
ton On that nomination cannot decline TO We
must either confirm reject H. AS TO the notion that
Secretary Of State but The instrument of the Pre
dent and responsible for these Instructions reject
at all such Defence excuse Apology whatever
else it may be called IL there be any thing in public
dispatch derogatoy the honor Of the country think
there is in this, it is enough for me- that whose hand
is to it, Iii be said, that the signer only instri-
ment in the hands ofothers, reply that concur
in comforting high diplomatic trust any who has
consented under any circumstances TO be instrument
in such case.
The honorable member from Georgia asks ALSO why we
have slept this subject, and why this late day. we
bring forward complaints Sir, nobody has slept upon
Since these instructions have been made public there has
been previous opportunity to discuss them The no.
norable member will recoec that the whole arrange
mcnt With England done and Completed before ever
the trade by his proclamation October $780, utthese
instructions not publicly sent TO Congress till after
wards that is till January 1881 And they not then
sent with any view that either House should act upon the
subject for the whole business already settled. For
one, the instructions, heard them read,
till January, 1881 did ever hear thea spoken of,
containing these obnoxious passages This then, Is the
first opportunity for considering these Instructions
That they have been subjects Of complaint out OF doors
since they were made public, and of much severe ami
madvcrsion, certainty true But until now there ne.
has been an opportunity naturally calling for their dis
srbe did Mr. Webstofs