Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-07
envy his success. may Ieaen wisdom from his cx'

envy his success, may earn wisdom from his ex-
ample.
Having disposed Of the catalogue OF the Sena-
tor from Mississippi, let advert to the grounds
occupied BY little army Of objections on me
other side Of this Chamber. How many sacrln-
ces Of feeling to duty, are we not about to WIZ
ness it all; the honorable Senators OF MARYLAND,
Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts,, Ohio,
and Kentucky, are constrained by duty to vote
against his nomination--and all on public grounds,
no private feelings; Oh no! nothing like 1t: pup.
lie duty against private feeling. IS the order OF
the day. And what is the dreadful public crime
he, Mr.. Van Buren,, has committed! Hear, SIR,
hear. He has degraded the country by giving
instructions to the late Minister 10 Great Britain,
| Mr.. McLane, about the West India trade
What instructions? Can it be those on which
the act of 1880 passed-those which have been
among our printed documents for these twelve
months, forming part of the Presidents comnu-
nicarion to Congress Of January, 1881? Have
| those honorable gentlemen, whe are now so
shocked at the public degradation, SO eager IN
punish the author of this national disgrace. been
sleeping at their posts--nO one to cry out, BRING
the alarm at the dangers to which the public no.
nor was exp0sed--DO one to Interfere to prevent
! the United States from being placed at the foot
stool Of the British thrones Quietly witnessing
| the contamination Of the crime, passing an act
with the knowledge Of these instructions. to Sc
cure the boom, which they no,c see was begged IN
the name of party from the British crown; we
are now electrified by bursts Of indignation at
this first act Of degradation in the history OF
| American Diplomacy. Whata spectacle IS here!
! How long il it since he who was the instrument
| to bow US down before Great Britain was unanl-
mousv confirmed toa post of honor and impOr-
tant trust? But the instrument by whom he was
ordered to act. is to bear the punishment. The
author of the instruc tons, he BY whom they were
given, is too high to BE- reached 1T present; the
author of the crime, he who ordered il, escapes:
! he who commits it. by order. goes free; he who
CONVEYS the order, answers for both, and upon
his head falls all the Indignation Of these incens
ed Senators, acting upon public grounds, and
reluctantly performing PAiNFUL-PAINFuL-
duty!!!
Well, sir, to this degradation. 1t is found in
! the instructions to Mr.. McLane; and to make
| out their ase the Honorable Senators from Mas
sachusetts and Kentucky have gwen us a sketch
Of the history Of the West India negotiation. n
Both brought down their narrative TO the tauntng
reply of Mr.. Canning to Mr.. Galatn, given du-
FIRING the late administration. From this point.
both these honorable Senators found it convent
ent to side-no, sir, to leap-over all inerven-
| ing events, to the instructions to Mr.. McLane.
| With permission, will fill up this little unim-
orfanf chasm. The terms of the British act OF
Parliament not having been accepted by the Uni
ted States, American vessels were excluded, by
an Order in Council, from the British West In
dia ports. Why this important interest was neg
lected. we have been just tod by the Senator
from Kentucky, " The tate Administration were
ignorant of the act of Parliament until it vas Ca
sually seen by them" g II was nSf OFFICIALLY
communicated by The English Government to cur
| Government" - Even when we we're colonies,
we were not bound by British acts Of Parliament,
| unless specially named IN them y Indeed: is II
possible that the late Administration did not
know an act of Parliament affecting important
mterests7 Where were all our accredited Min
listers and Commercial Agents in Great Britain,
that this Government was not informed of this
measure, known to all Europe. aud taken adj
vantage Of by most of the powers interested IN it,
Blu. il was not officially communicated to US
Well, sir, was it officially communicated to any
Other Government, interested III its contents as
we were?
The British Government, apprehend. would
have considered such communication gross
reflection upon our accredited agents. IT would
have compelled them to say. in effect, we com
munica,e to you an act, surprising your agents
are too negligent of their duty to send it 10 you.
What were our Ministers and agents about; how
were they employed, that they did not send to
their government this important information?
But the last excuse is worse than all, even
when Colonies. We we're not bound by acts OF
Parliament in which we were not named special
~ What discovery: andit is concluded from
this wise recolet lion. that we are not noU bound
to take na,ice of arts Of Parliament not specfeay
and officials communicated to as. imagine
we are not bound hy them communicated to- or
not, but We are bound to know all those touch
ing our interests. and any administration is Sc
T verely reprehensible for ignorance of them, and
for failing to attend to those that bear injurious
ly on the interests Of the people. The act was,
however, at last known, and when Mr.. Gala
tin presented himself to negotiate with instruc-
tions to waive all claims that were formerly pre-
sented, and had prevented an arrangement, he
: was tauntingy told, you have lost your day in
court.-the privilege. the boon offered had not
been secured by accepting the conditions; we
have ken mr. cOurse. NEGOTIATION not plan.