Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-02-10


Abordeen, the delegated but humble per
sonation of the British Monarch Yes. sir,
the unheard of, unparalleled. and most re
voting experiment was to be made, (o.her
supplcatons having failed to move the roy
al sympathy how far AN unsparing Condcn-
nation Of ourselves would disarrn British
throne OF its naughty, supcrcilious disdain OF
ajust and an honest demand. l say, sir, il,
was novel and unheard of. / repeat it
Aet the past history ofthis proud Republicbc
infinitely Undergraduates, in the many
political changes of its agents, which by the
terms Of its organization, it must witness,
let 1t be sought; let the days of Adams, of
Jefferson, OF Madison, Monroe, and the last
Adams, be diligently inquired Of Sir, no
voice responds 10 countenance this degrad-
ing, this disgraceful operation by which the
Government is humbled into a penitential
confession of its transgressions TO appeaso
foreign King or to moderate the wrath or
conciliate The favor of foreign Power.
Not only, Mr.. President, do the fair and
unadulterated pages OF American Diplomacy
refuse countenance to such miserable self-a-
basement, but, sir, the history of all the CIV
ilzed nations of the Earth stamp upon il the
indelibe character of a gratuitous prostitu-
tion. unaided by precedent, unwarranted by
any parallel. Sir, il adds to the deep con-
domination which belongs TO this subject,
that it was as useless and unproductive Of
gain as it was disgraceful in itself. Can the
Imagination conceive how benefit could pos
sibly arise, from an abject confession of
wrong" by repudiating the claims of the
governmentas' American pretensions" Eek
plicitly abandoned by those who first asserted
fhem," "not revived by their successors"
who are directed by counsels that care the
result ofthe judgment expressed by the only
earthly tribunal to which the late Hdminis-
tration was amendable for its acts" what
possible advantage, Task could beanticipated
by the position of PROSTATE suppliant, who,
from the depths OF degradation q abascment,
should thus beseech foreign Diplomatist,
that would not be accorded TO civil and
high-minded application, based upon the sug
gestion, that however the American Govern
ment was convinced Of its claims 10 higher
and other terms, it was yet willing, in a
spirit of frankness, and in an anxious desire
to terminate oldand agitated questions ofdis-
agreement, to waive the further prosecution
of those claims, and thereby to cvnce the
sincerity ofits desire for an amioable adjust
ment? But, sir, come now TO that consid
Grafton which stamps upon this subject lis
peculiar character, which sets itoff in colors
ola still darker shade, and which must leave
us to infer, thet no mere want of manly,
stern republican feeling of self-respect, moi
the unobserved prostralion or careless disre-
gard OF national dignity and character, not a
lone cold and Callous insensihility TO those
feelings of cherished pride, or nice and deli
cate honor which kindles into active resis-
lance at even the appearance OF rebuke, but
that some latent motive of proposed effect,
hac far tlo
lions history and its fame. Sir, as if il
were not enough 10 bow down the knee and
'supplicate forgiveness in terms of doleiul re-
.grets for wrongs, and anxious solctude 10
repair them, as lift were not enough TO open
TO Foreign Power the history ofour inter-
nal disputes and political divisions, and TO ask
them to consider one party here as more
kind in their feelings, more reasonable in
their demands, more conciliating in their
'tOno, and, therefore, more entitled to hope |
Tor tho favorable notice of England,--as if
tho measure Of our degradation was not 10 be |
accomplished bya gratuitous concession OF
acknowledged injustice of "American pre- !
tensions" abandoned" the Secretary has re-
sorted, in the absence of other provocations,
to misstatements offact to create condition |
of things, for the purpose of giving color 10
the ferceness and uncoyert wrath which he |
aims at his political adyersaries,
Sir, | say, and the diplomatic history Of
the nation will prove, that the statement
made in this particular charge ef the Secre
tary is false in fact,-yes, sir, doubly false. |
What is it? "The claims set up by them,
and which caused the interruption of the |
trade in question, haze been explicitly ADAM |
doned by those who first asserted them.
Now, the first branch tho position is ut
terly without foundation we all know. The
last Administration explicitly abandoned no
claims which it SET up, nor did any claimsset
up by it cause the interruption of the trade.
The last Administration was willing TO ne
gotiate on the subject of the trade, but the
British Government refused to meet their
proposal, although made in tho most extend
ed and liberal feeling of compromise. Let
the correspondence Of our Secretary State,
and the Message the President prove this.
But unfounded as is that branch of the asser-
ton, how manifestly and obviously more so,
how profoundly destitute of even the shadow
ofcorrectness, is the other which declares
that the miscaled "American pretensions"
were first asserted by the last Administra
tion. Why, sir, does not every one know
that in this respect the last Administration
did but pursue the settled and fixed purpose
of theAdmnistration that preceded it, & that
these "pretensons" did not even commence
then? Sir, all Administrations had indulg
ed these pretensions-The last administra
ton the first to assert them! Truly, this
must have amused the intelligent diplomatist
to whom the Envoy was directed TO make the
communication.
No; am wrong in this conjecture, for ]
believe from my reading Of MIR. McI,ane's
letters 10 his Lordship. that the experiment
was not made upon bis ignorance ofwhat ev-