Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-02

T.
pressed by the only earthly tribunal to chich the
late administration dmenabte for its acts"
Now, sir in tho first place, there is very little
reason to suppose that the first part Of this para
graph is true, in point of fact. mean that part
which intimatcs that the change Of administration
was brought about by public dsapprobation of Mr.
Adams's conduct, respecting the subject of the CO.
ionial trade. Possibly, much was then said on
subject which few understood, some Jeuree
OF impression may have been produced by it, But
DO assured, sir, another will be found by fu
turc historians, for this change; and that cause
VIII be the popularity of n successful soldier, uni
ted with feeling, made to be considerably extern
sive, that tho preferences of the People in his be-
hall had not been Justly regarded, previous
occasion There is, sir, very little ground to say
'that the only tribunal to which the late admins
tration was amcnablo" has pronounced any judg-
rnent against it for it's conduct the whole sub
Ject of the colonial trade.
But, however this NAV he, the other assertion
IN the paragraph is manifcstly quite wide of the
Facts Mr.. Adams's administration did not bring
forward this claim. i have stated, already that
1T had been subject, both of negotiation and 10.
glsiation, through the whole eight years of Mr.
Monros's administration. This tho Secretary
Know, orwas bound to know. Why then does no
speak OF 1t as set up by the lato administration
| revivcd7 ~
But the most humiating part ofthc whole fol.
iows:-"!o set up the acts Of the late adpinistra.
ton, as tho cause Of of privileges rchieh
,ooutd othertose be srtended to the People of the
united MATES, ,oouid under eristing circumstan-
ces, be unjust in itself, and could not fail to er-
cite their deepest sensibility."
So them Mr.. President, we reduced, are we,
TO tho poor condition, that minister of this
great Republic instructed argue or to intorcede,
with the British minister lest he should find ~,
to haze forfeited our privileges; and lest fhese nri
U'feges should no longer be extended to us! And
wo have forfeited those priuileg es, by our misbe.
haviopr. in ehusing rulers uho thought better Of
otrn claim, than Of the British. Why sir this is pa
tiently submitting to the domineering tone of the
British Minister, believe Mr.. Husksson-1Mr
CLAY said, emo, Mr.. Canning."l-Mr. Canning,
them sir, who told us that all our trade with the
West Indies was a boon, granted to us by the in.
diligence of England The British Minister calls
it boon, and our Minister admits it is privilege
and hopes that his Royal Majesty will be too gra-
cIous to decide that we have forfeited this priv.
lege. by our MISCELLANEOUS, in the choice of our
rulers Sir. for one, reject all idea of holding
any right of trade, any other rights, as a pri-
uitege or boon, from the British Government,
or any other Government
Attic conclusion of the paragraph, the Secreta-
ry says "You cannot press this of the subject
TOO earnestly upon the consideration of the British
Ministry. 1t has bearings and relations that
reach beyond the immediate question under discus
sion.
And advertng to again, the same subject towards
tho close of tho Dispatch he says, 81 ,oiU add
nothing as to the improperly Of suffering any feel
,ngs hat nd their origin in the past pretensions of
this Government to haze an adperse influence upon
the present conduct of Great Britain"
ask again, Mr.. President if this be States
manship7 If this be dignity? if this be elevated
regard for country Can any read this
whole DESPATCH with candor, and not admit, that
it is plainly and manifestly the writer's
(HIArUs1
Lest should do the Secretary injustice I will
read all that find, in this letter, upon this OBJ
} noxious point. These are the paragraphs:
"Such is the present state of our commercial
relations with the British colonies; and such
"the steps by which we have arrived at it. In
reviewing the events which have preceded, and
"more or less contributed to, a result SO much
''to be regretted, there will be found three grounds
"uPon which we are most assailabe, LIST, in our
''too long and too tenaciousy resisting the right
'of Great Britain to impose protecting duties in
"he- coonies;" 2nd, &C.
"The opportunities which you have derived from
"a participation in our public councils, as
well as other sources of information, will
"enable you to speak with confidence Gas
star as you may deem it proper and use
so to do) fthe respective parts taken by those
"to whom the administration of this Government
sis now committed, in relation to the course here
"tofore pursued upon the subject of the colonial
trade. Their views upon that point have been
submitted to the people of the United States;
'and the counsels by which your conduct is now
Corrected are the result of the judgment expressed
by the only earthly tribunal to which the late adj
minlstraton was amenabe for its acts. 1t should be
sufficient that the claims set up by them, and
(which caused the interruption of the trade in
question: have been explicitly abandoned by those
'who first asserted them, and are not revived by
''thcr successors. IF Great Britain deems it adj
''verse to her interests to allow to participate
''In the trade with her colonies and finds nothing
''In the extension of it to others to induce her to
"apply the same rule to us, she will, we hope be
sensible of the proprety of placing her refusal
ION those grounds. To set up the acts of the lato
administration the cause of forfeiture of pri-
''yieges which would otherwise be extended to
'.ho People of the United States, would, under ex-
listing circumstances be unjust in itself and
"could not fail to excite their deepest scnsbility
| "Ihe tone offecling which course so unwise
sand untenable is calculated to produce would
doubtless DO greatly aggravated by the conscious.
mess that Great Britain has, by order in council
"opened her colonial ports to Russia and France,
notwithstanding similar omission OH their part
"to accept the terms offered by tho act of july
"lS25. You cannot press this view of the subject
'too earnestly upon the consideration of the
"British ministry. 1t has bearings and relations
''that reach beyond the immediate question under
| discussion"
II will add nothing to the improperly of
| "sufforng any feelings that find their origin in
'the past pretensons of this Government to have
san adverse influence upon the present conduct of
"Great Britain"
Sir, 1 submit to you, and to the candor of all
Just men, IT am not right in wing, that the per-
vadng topic, through the whole, is not American
Rights, not American interests, not American de-
fence, but denunciaton of past pretensions Of our
own country, reflections on the past Adminstra
ton, and exultation, and loud claim of merit for
the Administration now in power. Sir, would
forgive mistakes; would pardon the want of in
formations: would pardon almost any thing, where
L saw true patriotism and sound American feeling:
but cannot forgive the sacrifice of this feeling
to mere Party. L cannot concur in sending abroad
public agent who has not conceptions so large
and liberal, to feel that in the presence of for
c'gn Courts, amidst the monarchies of Europe, he
| &c nclar Il &. L.