The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-06
VOL. as.

WIS is.iohsaction, mat which has sharpened the
intellect Of the opposition, to discover dss-
frank exposition offacts, its grooming success
Mr.. McLane and Mr.. Van Bureu, under
General Jackson, succeeded in effecting an
object OF public solicitude. that Mr.. Adams.
and Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Gallatin and Mr. Bar
bour could not obtain. The country wss
Inundated by the preceding administration
withon, success. hence the charge against
mr. Van Buren, hence the overwhelming
anxiety to prove, that the success Of the late
negotiation has been purchased by humi,is-
! ton. The British Cabinet desired not 10
make the arrangement, Il interfered with
great local interests, and il ttey could, with.
out manifest and unjust distinction 10 our
prejudice. they would have declined admitting
the United States to the privileges granted
to the other maritime powers. Not satisfied
with his condemnation Of mr. Van Buren's
instructions, the Senator from Kentucky at
tempss to show us, by referring to snothev
letter OF instructions, how this affair should
have been conducted consistently with his
ideas OF national honor and dignity. The
letter from which he has read, 10 the Sensts.
extracts, is, think, signed II. Clay. VIII
the Senator tell US who is responsible for Il ,
II no is, then he exhibits himself in the sinQu-
lar position Of a man triumphantly contrasting
the work Of bis own hand, with that, Of "a rival
author. The Senator knows that there were
two other instructions, written by himself, OF
a subsequent date, one 10 mr.. Gallatin ahev
Congress failed TO lcgislate, and another 10
Governor Barbour, neither Of which 10 before
us, and therefore, not to be contrasted with
mr. Van Buren's work. am content to sbidc
by the rcsul, Of contrast Of the instructions
he has condemned, with those he has quoted
Let us see how tho gentleman's letter will
stand tho test Of examination. Mr.. Gallatin
no says, was not instructed to abandon Q
right we were TO be at liberty at more con-
} venient season to resume II. Mr.. Gallatin
was to give a strong proof Of our desire to
: concillate by temporary concession OF what
we had previously claimed throughout the ne
. gotiation. Was mr. Gallatin instructed to
Q say to the British Government, this is fem
:, pora'y concession No, Sir, no was author
ized TO waive the claim and make an arrange.
ment on the British basis. Put this into pIsin
language, and what was il /; strip IL of ito di-
plomatic drapery and vcrbiage, and II is neI.
ther more nor less than an abandonment 0fs
pretension which, though we had supported
by argument, we were resolved not to enforce
by power. Sir, this covering up Of plain
truth 10 the common trick Of diplomacy. IL
deceivos one, and had mr.. Gallatin pro-
aented theses sconciliatory concessions. they
must have been received az virtual and total
abandonment Of our pretension. The honey
ed words of right, waived from conciatory
spirit, and with the hope Of corresponding
| friondly dispositions, would have been re-
ceived with sneer lurking in the oficial--
artificial smile Of thorough bred diplomutist.
The Senator insists, however, il was right
and not pretenson. Ifit wasa right. why
was il waived or surrendered ?--For concil-
iation sake. Why, Sir, we were the offended
purty--Englsnd bad taunted US. England
| had refused once, twice, thrice to negotiate.
and vet 10 conciliato Cngland,we we're wniv-
| ing well grounded right. For what purpose
were we thus conciating? To place tho
trade on its present footing, TO the great in
| jury of the navigation and commerce OF ,he
United States. Such is the view now takcn
by several honorable Senators who have ta-
vored US with their opinion on this subject.
The present Administration wnived no right
for cancellation sake sacrificed no principle.
1t stood upon the truth only and Whatever
may be the custom Of others, and the ordina-
~ usages Of diplomacy, tho Administration
was rirht.--Nntions fold themselves in tho
robes Of falsehood, and swell and strut in vain
Ito preserve an air Of dignity and decorum.
No nation ever was just to its own character.
or preserved its dignity, that did not standst
all times before the world, in the sober and
simple garb Of truth. Sir, the character OF
our diplomacy has undergone a marked
and artifice all our wiles are facts, and res-
sons all our artifice, truth and Justice. The
Honorable Senator tells US thaethis instruc-
ton 10 false, or else il proves mr.. u. to have
been criminally ignorant OF wha, it was duty
10 know.
| How does he make this appeari ho alleges
that mr.. v. B. charged the latr admlnistra-
ton with being tie first 10 advance the pre-
tension il subsequently abaDdoned--and THE
he declares is untrue, tho preteDsion wssset
up before the late administration comc into
power. Now, Sir, Us read this paragraph.
mr.. v. 3. does not charge the late admins
tration with being the first 10 advance this
pretenson. The Senator will recolect this
is a letter to mr. McLano, whose porsonst
knowledge is appealed to, and who must havo
understood tho writer as alluding to fact OF
general notorety, the words - "hose Who
first adponced," &c. have subsequently sban-
doned. Can any man mistake the mesn'ng--
the meaning perfectly in accordance with the
fnct? The pretonsion was advanced by the
use Of the famous eIseichsre in our act OF
Congress. An act known to have been penn
ed by mr.. Adams, who had previously occ'i-
pied the ground claimed by IL, in his inslruo-
lions to mr.. Rush. Il was mr.. Adams who
first advanced and abandoned this ground.
The credit or the odum, whichever term be-
longs in Iustice TO the act, attaches to mr.
Adams, and so mr.. Mel, could only have un-
derstood II, and 30 must the Senator from
Kentucky. If he examines with desire 10 un-
dorstan nd Il in the spirit the author. There
are considerations connected with mr.. ". b.
| if deemed il consistent with his honor, that
| could present 10 those that hear me, that