Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-03-04

gratulations for the important agency which
the Senate had exercised in bringing about
this auspicious result If (said Mr. Clay
the Senate had not, at the last session, by a
unanimous vote, declared its conviction that
no Legislation whatever was necessary in re-
spect to our French relations at that time I;
aud if they had lent themselves to the pur-
pose OF the President to pass law author
zing Reprisals upon French property
does, can any man doubt that War, with all
its train Of horrors, would now be raging be-
tween two enlightened countries Or If
the Senate had yielded to the unconstitu
tional appropriation Of three millions of dol
lars, irresponsbly proposed at the very close
Of the last session, without any precaution-
AIRY specification of object, is there not cause
to apprthend that instead of now enjoying
all the blessings OF peace, we should be suf
ferng all the calamities of most unneces-
sary war;
will not Continued Mr. Clay) attempt
to diminish the qualification which all must
feel from the happy adjustment now announ-
ced, Great mistakes. in the negotiations
and correspondence between the two Gov
ernments. have been committed on both
sides but on all these shall not detain the
Senate |, may not, however, be without its
future use, TO advert, for moment, to the
chief obstacle which has INSTRUCTED the set
Element OF the difference That has been
the assertion OF the principle that when the
President of the United States. charged BY
the Constitution with maintaining our inter
course with foreign nations. sends public
message to Congress, publicly read in the
presence OF all the diplomatic corps assem-
bled At Washington. and given to the whole
world through the public press, no foreign
Power has ii right to complain, TO rcmon-
strutc, or to ask explanations Of any Ian.
guage used towards itself however offensive
that language may be. | am not about 10
express any opinion upon the principle;
but II II be true. all must agree that the
Chief Magistrate should use The utmost eau.
ton and circumspeciion in the official Ian
gnlgc Of such documents 4 must also
admit that the rule OF reciprocity and. con I
sequrnlly that, although the King Of France.
IN addressing the Chambers. or The King
OF Great Britain IN addressing Parliament.
should charge the United States with bad
FAITH, and the violation OF solemn pledges.
and should, pending peaceful and earnest
endcaVors TO settle controversy, threaten
an appeal 10 force. the United States would
be bound TO submit to the insult and indip.
mtg, without complaint. without remohs-
trance, without the poor satisfaction Of even
asking an explanation.
will not dwell upon the painful incidents
Of our late unfortunate controversy. Let
hem be absorbed in the general satisfaction
which lis happy termination will difin>e
throughout the land, or be recolec,ed only
10 guard hereafter against the repetition of
similar errors We have ,scaped-I thank
God we have escaped-irom all danger Of
war with France. 1t would have been n
war, II Il had broken out the scandal of an .
Enlightened age, and highly discrednable
o boih parties-a war, in which neither
'Ivll liberty. nor maritime. nor territorial
tights, nor national independence. nor true
rational honor was involved-a war. of /
which the immediate cause was an UNIFORM.
late message. and the ultimate object an in. S
considerable debt cancelled by the very act
declaring ia message which was regret.
ed oy the Senate, regretted by the House !,
u Representatives, and regretted by the :
whole country and which, whatever may +
ave been the spirit or patriotism which die t
i'td 1t. all viewed as rash, incorporate Il
ma dangerous 10 the peace of the country Fl
10 be delivered from all hazard Of being in. S
olved IN such a war, affords Just cause Of :,
eneral JOY and qualification y
Nor SIR ought we ever TO forget the no. h
Re part which Great Britain has acted in "
us unhappy dispute. Ii war had broken o
Ut between the United States aud France ;,
M mad continued any length Of time her c.
eulral position would have enabled her ST
realty to have profted by it. She would II
ave carried on the commerce, to loroe u
S'ent of both belligerents, and her marine q
INST have been highly benefited. Over. II
oAing all these advantages. with rare dis. e,
!eres'edneSs and magnanimi,y she tender. Il
ner friendly offices TO produce an accom-
odnton; and she well deserves the praise n
men the President has so appropriately i i
slowed
I -, el
nave SIR but one regret on this pleasing al
caslon' and II is, that we are not allowed nc
y time for repose and rejoicing. Our to
'od Old President has hardly terminated he
French war, before he declares new av
re against the Surplus Fund do hone w
al he Will now turn his thoughts on peace. ~
> II that be impossible, that his friends oi 10
iSt on this floor, cherishing its spirit and mi
principles will unite with us in an eoito. to
distribution upon the principles of the mt
ma Bill of liberal portion of that fnnd | Z
assure them of my thorough conviction on
At, even for the purposes of d.fenc. and %
IT. an investment of large part of that an an
~ rl use'ui IL provements, which will adj do