Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-01


circumstances, and with instructions to
Inegoiate a treaty, waving this part Of
the question. This has been already al
Ind, to, aud fully explained, by the hon.
member from "rnlucky.
So, then, sir, this pretensiOn, asserted
in the instructions to have been first set
mp by the late administration, is shown
I" have had P,rsidcnt " ash'ugt"n for its
auliior aud to have received the cOunte-
nance of every President who had occa-
sion (, act on the subject, from 1889,
down to the present administration.
P. But this is not all Congress itself
has sanctioned the same "prete Bsion. -
: ] hc act Of the st of March, 1923, makes
II IN express condition, upon which, and
upon which alone, our ports shall be
opened tn British vessels and cargOes
Il,m she West Indies, on the same du-
ties as our vessels and Cargoes; that our
products shouh be admitted into those Is
lmds, "ihom paying any other or higher
duties Than shall be paid on similar pro-
d"ctions coming from eisr'rhers. All this
will be seen by reference to the third
So, ton of that act. Now, remember;
Sir, that this act of Congress, passed in
March, 1898, two years before the COM
nencemrnt OF Mr. Adams administra-
ii n. The act originated in the Senate.
The honorable Senator from Maryland
who has spoken OH this subject to-day,
Mr. Smith. was then member Of the
Senate, and took part in the discussion
o! thus very bill; and he supported it and
voted for it, 1t passed both Houses,
without raterial opposition in either
Now, Sir, how is it possible, after refer
ing to this law of 1923, to find any apOl-
ogy for the assertion contained in these
inSiru, tons, that this claim is a preten-
sion first set up by MIR. Adams admins
I Ira,ion. How is it possible that this law
could have been overlooked, or not re-
! uembcrcd? In short, sir, with any toll
cradle acquaintance with the history OF
= The negotiations oi the United States or
their legislation, how are we to account
for il that such an assertion as these III
f., structions contain, should have found its
way into them!
!. But the honorable member from Geor-
oia asks, why we lay all this to the
charge of the Secretary, and not to the
/
the Presidents conduct is not before us.
We are not, and cannot become his ac
cuscrs, even il we thought there were
/ any thing IN his conduct which gave
] cause for accusation. But the Secreta-
" IS before vs.. Not brought before Us
hy any act oi nurs; he is placed before W.
Nv the Presidents nomination. On that
nomination we cannot decline to act
. We must either confirm or re jeCt it.-As
to the notion that the Secretary of State
as bur the instrument of the President,
aud so not responsible for these instruc-
tinns. ! reject, at once, all such defence,
/ excuse, or apology, or whatever else it
may be called. II there be any thing in
IL public despatch dcrogEory to the hon
ur of the country, as | think there is in
this, il is enough for me, that see whose
hand is To it, If it be said, that the sign
er was only an instrument in the hands Of
, others, ! reply, that ! cannot concur in
/ couierring high public diplomatic trust
on any one who has consented, under
any circumstances to be an instrument in
such Il case.
/ The hon. member from Georgia, asks,
I also, why we have slept on this subject,
and why at this late day, we bring for
! ward complaints. Sir, nOboCy has slept
upon it, Since these instructions have
been made public, there has been no pre-
v,ous opportunity to discuss them. The
hon. member will recollect, that the
whole arrangement with England was
done and completed before ever these in
structions saw the liuht The President
opened the trade by his proclamation, IN
October, 1880 but these instructions
were not publicly sent to Congress till at
tcrwalds, that is, till January, 1881
And they were not then sent with any
view that either House should act upon
the subject, for the whole business was
already settled. For one, l never saw
the Instructions, nor heard them read, till
January, 1881; nor did ever hear them
spoken of as CONTAINING these obnoxious
passages. This, then, is the first oppOr-
tuuity for considering these Instructions.
I That they have been subjects Of COM
plaint out OF doors since they were made
\ public, and OF much severe animadyer-
sion, rs certainly true. But, until now,
there never has been an opportunity nat
urally calling for their discussion here.
The hon gentleman may be assured, that
il such occasion had presented itself, il
would have been embraced.
| entirely forbear, Mr.. President, from
going into the merits OF the late arrange
mcnt with England, as measure OF COM
mercial policy. Another time will come,
I trust t,nro s,iitahle for that d,actiss