Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-02-16
DEBATE IN THE SENATE ON
MIR. VAN BUREN'S NOMINATION.,
CONTINUED.
REMARKS OF MIR. CLAYTON,
Of Deia,Ddre.

which he owed to the Senate and the
country on this question. lie owed it to
himself, to the people whose representa-
tive he was, and to the body of which he
was member, to state briefly the grounds
upon which he should render n vote with
holding his advice to the President to
make this appointment. !
agree, said Mr.. c., with my friend
from Maryland, (Mr. Chambers,) in the
view which he has taken of the instruc-
tions given by the late Secretary of State
to our Minister at the Court of ST. James.
| consider the late negotiation respecting
the West India trade with the English
nation, rs the most humiliating to our ma
tional pride, that has occurred in the an
nails Of our diplomacy. The Minister
was sent with instructions to iawn and
beg as boon, at the footstool of u TO
reign power, what we were entitled to as
right, and to abandon and denouncc,
as untenable "pretensions" what had
been always before insisted upon as n
matter of justice to our country. lie
was positively directed to consider his
own Government, as justly GssailaJie for
too long and too tenaciously resist
ing the rights ofGreat Britain" and par
ticularly for emitting to accept the terms
offered by the act of Parliament Of July,
1926. lie was directed to speak 'riM
confidence "of the respective parts taken
by those to whom the administration of
this Government is now committed" to
lay before Europe the state of parties in
this country, and to degrade and disgrace
all the former Administrations of Our
Government, during which this right had
been insisted upon, by entirely and un-
condtionally Withdrawing all our claims
for Justice on that country. lie was told
in substance, to pross upon England the
state Of our domestic and party difleren-
ces at home, and he was admonished that
this subject had bearings and relations
which reached beyond the immediate
question under discussion. Sir, this
Minister did as he was ordered to do
He "entreatcd," and appealed s. "bcg-
gcd," and "prayed," "regrettcd,' and
"solicited," and "hoped to be excused" I"
and confessed rc had been IN ihe 'cron9',
instead of rcpeIing with dignity the in
solence and sarcasm of the British min
istry, until the contemplate boon was
"granted," and the national character
eiiectually degraded. Let him take his
place in the Treasury for this; but let not
him who gave these instructions, succeed
him at the Govt Of st. James, again to
"bcg," and "solicit," and degrade us IN
the eyes Of Europe, by laying before the
world the state Of our domestic diferen-
ccs at home. Let us say to the British
Government this day by our vote, that we
never consented to the disgrace which
has be(allen us, and that we prefer to re,
call the Minister who has dishonored US
to all the pretended benefits of this mise
: rabe negotiation. On this ground alone
l will this day condemn this appointment
so far as my vote will 60 to effect 1t; ant
in so doing, as an American Senator
say to Engla that we will never con
sent to crouch for favors; and to all on
>, Ministers, now, and forever! that we vii
), condemn every attempt to carry our fam
lily divisions beyond our own household
Sir, the gentleman from Maryland
:, who last addressed us, Mr.. SMITH re
piled to similar objections made by hi
colleague, that the President was alon
responsible for these instructions, an
not the Secretary whose name was sign
cd to them. Such has been the prctcnc
!. for generating from all rcsponslbll't.
other persons charged with maI-adm'nls
tration of the Government. Either b
preventing the disclosure here OF in
pcachablc matter, or by presenting tn
President as a shield to the party chars
cd with it, the responsibility otcvcry IN
fcrior public agent is melted away
nothing. The gentleman, without dc
Tending the Secretary or the Minister
this negotiation about the West lndl
trade, feels safe if he can intcrposc tn
, President as the party chargcablo wit
I the whole matter. But / will do tn
y President the justice to say, that ] car
e not believe that he had read these IL
structions when they were given and
hold the Secretary answerable to u
country for every public act periormc
by him while he remained in office.
., There is another topic closely conncc
:" ~ cd with the honor and interest of this n;
i. tion, upon which the nominee before I
has been strongly charged, and in rcl'
ton To which | confess the wish that a
r. investic alton, instituted before l took n,
W scat this session, had been prosecuted
No its termination before this day. ref
i TO tho causes which produced the disruI
,ion oc the late cabinet / view that