Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-15
SPEECH OF MR.. DAVIS,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
ON the clause Ia the General Appropriation, By
for the Salaries of Ministers to Engtahs0 ana
Russia, in the Hoasse Of Representatives, hp'ae
80, 1884.
ztn DAyIS of S. c., rose amidst loud cries
SO onestion! auestionM Mr.. D.-not yet, sir,
rot VET have the flOor-intend to keep 1t, and
will not be "questoned, questioned" out of it.
do net mean that this matter shall thus be hur-
r;ed over and smothered. As to the mere cost
ofthe mission, he said it was comparatively UNI
important but there were principles Involved
worthy of deliberate consideration. we are
asked for appropriations TO cover the outfits and
salaries of Ministers to the respective courts OF
England and Russia; neither OF which ofnces
are in existence-neither of which offlcerS nave
been appointed. But it is said, Gndeed we are
told by the chairman of the Committee OF For
eign Relations) that it is the intention OF the
President 10 send out before the adjournment OF
Congress ministers to these countries, and ne mas
Given us as his authority for this declarauon the
assurance of the Secretary of State SlT, we
have been asked for, and have accordingly
made appropriations for two successive years
for a Minister to England, yet one was not sent,
although the British Government had resident
Minister here Can you have forgotten slr, the
declaration and complaint OF the fresiueh''
which the administration presses rung IN pro-
lonped meals throughout the country on the oc-
casion of the Senate refusing to advise and con-
sent to the appointment of the late Minister 10
England? Do you not remember tnat 10 the
contumacy of the Senate, was charged the ar
rest and consequent failure OF most dehcate
and important negotiation! But deiicate, I'M
portant and pressing as the subject OF that apor-
tive negotiation was, no other minister, not
witbsta4ding we made the appropriation re-
onesfed. has ever been sent, and this very dell
cafe important, and pressing affair has not
since been heard Of Why is this2 What ex-
ouse has been made for this apparent neglect9
If there was a subject of dispute between this
country and Great Britain, there has been gross
neglect on the part of the administration from
its own showing. But am alta loss to conceive
what difficulty could have occurred since Mr..
McLane's treaty. We have heard OF none.
did to be sure, see something in the newspapers
about the subject of impreSSnlent; butt hope no
gentleman on-this floor will insult the moral
sense, the pride, the honor OF the people OF me
United States, by admitting for moment that
TO be a fit subject for negotiation. That IS not
an open question! and the Minister who should
dare, of his own mere motion, to make II SUD
iecf for discussion abroad, would deserve TO lose
his head on his return home.
Sir, would as soon think OF stpuatlng and
contracting with a man not to kick me whene-
yer he met me in the Pennsylvania Avenue as
TO negotiate on the subject of impresslng Amerl-
cans with any foreign power whatever. but
the honorable gentleman from Georgia, Mr..
WAYNE) states, by way OF excuse for the appa-
rent neglect of the President in not sending
Minister to England that the people of that
country were, during part OF the period ailu-
ded TO- i'm q state of great excitement and aglta-
ton: and the Government itself in q very I'M
ouiet and unsettled state. And what of that?-
What have we to do with the forms, or reforms
of foreign governments 1t with the Govern
ments de fdcto that we are to treat and hold
relations, and not to make any question OF their
forms of government, intestine dissentions or
even civil wars. What have we to do with the
internal affairs ofother countrieSE Nothing SIR,
nothing at all. Have we already forgotten, that
Mr. Pitt by acting on, and prylng INTO the form
of a FOREIGN Government, this very principle OF
intermeddling, and refusing to acknowledge or
treat with the French Directory, and Consulate,
poured tide of blood and fire over Europe for
more than quarter of a century? But, sir, was
there any revolution in England! Was the
Government unsettled? Sir, the deep founda-
lions of that government were mistaken: the
changes alluded to by the gentleman from Geor.
oia, were but a wholesome, salutary, and gorl-
Gus reform: reform that met the appreciation
and excited the sympathy and applause of our
whole country: A reform, that liberated the
conscience of whole people, and made every
generous heart beat high with joy for Irish Ca
tholc Emancipation: reform, that excited
and won our warmest salutations and gratula-
tons for q nation ransomed from the slavlsh
shackes Of religious intolerance, blgotry and
despotism.
If said Mr. DAVIS, our foreign intercourse
were new and original subject, untrameled
by precedent and usage, he would without hesl-
tation refuse to vote appropriations for foreign
embassies, on the broad ground that they were
not merely useless, but positively inexpedient;
and he could sustain himself on the authority OF
two names eminent for patriotism and practical
good sense, Mr.. Jefferson and Mr. Paine. Will
the hon. gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.. J.
O. ApAMs) who is an~advocate of these things,
or the chairmanof the Committee of Foreign
Relations, or any other gentleman, favor the
House with an explanation of the necessary du
ties and beneficial agencies four diplomatic
corps? Will they, or either of them, inform us
of what probable use any, or the whole of our
foreign errands are likely TO be to this country2
OF what use they have been for some years paste
Does quarterly letter from your minister to
Spain, informing the President that there IS no
thing new there, contribute 10 the interest or to
the honor ofour country7 Will gentlemen point
to the mission to England which consnmmated
treaty on the subject of the West indla tradef
Where, as Paddy says, We gained a loss. - -
Will they tell us of Mr. Rives'S French treaty!