Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-03-03


wisdom TO receive it as such. She had taken
false position in withholding payment OF
ius. and uncontested debt until supposed
stain. inflicted upon her good faith and honor,
was effaccd. The best vindication OF her
good faith would have been the payment OF
the debt; and, when paid. she would have
been in a fair and dsintercsted attitude tor
demanding satisfaction TO her insulted honor.
FINALLY. the principle alluded to was violated
in the terms in which the British mediation
has been accepted. Whilst the President
will not. he declares, make France directly
any explanation all the means are put ny
I him in the hands of the common Mediator To
afford the most ample and satisfactory ex'
planation. =,
But will not lohg dwell upon the painful
incidents Of our late unfortunate controversy.
Let them be absorbed in the general salts
faction which its happy termination Will d'f.
fuse throughout the laad, or bo recollccted
only TO guard hereafter against the repetition
of similar errors. We have escsped--i thank
God we have escsped-from all danger oil
war with France. II would have been war,
l if it had broken ont, the scandal of an enlight-
ened age, and highly discreditabie to both
parties-a war, in WHICH neither civil liberty,
nor maritime, nor territorial rights, nor ma
tional independence, nor true national honor
was involved-a war, of which the immediate
/ cause was an unfortunate message, and the
! ultimate object an inconsderable debt, can
ceIled by the very act declaring ia mes
sage which was regretted by the Senate, re-
! gretted by the House Of Representatives, and
re GREETED by the whole country; and which,
whatever may have been the spirit or patriot
ism which dictated il, all view as harsh, IN
temperate, and dangerous to the peace OF the
country. TO be delivered from all hazard OF
being involved in such a war, affords just
cause of general joy and graduation.
/ Nor, sir, ought we ever to forget the noble
part which Great Britain has acted IN this
unhappy dispute. If war had broken out be-
tween the United States and France, and
had continued any length of time, her neu-
tral position would have enabled her greatly
to have profiteJ by it. She would have car
ried on the commerce to a large extent, OF
both beligerents. and her marine must have
been highly benefited. Overlooking all these
advantages, with rare disinterestedness and
magnanimity, she rendered her friendly OIL
ces to produce an accommodation; and she
well deserves the praise which the President
has so appropriately bestowed.
| have, sir, but one regret on this pleasing
occasion, and it is, that we are not allowed
any time for repose and rejoicing. Our good
old President has hardly terminated the
French war, before he declares new one
against the Surplus Fund. ] do hope that he
will now turn his thoughts OH peace; or, if
that he impossible, that his friends at least on
this floor, cherishing its spirit and it's princi-
ples will unite with US in an equitable distri-
button, upon the principles of the Land Bill,
of a liberal portion Of that fund. assure
you OF my thorough conviction that even for
the purposes of defence and war, m invest
ment of large part of that fund in useful
improvements, which will admit ofrapid trans.
portatjon and concentration of our means and
our strength, will be far better and wiser than
profusely to waste it on unnecessary fortih-
cations.
Mr.. Clay concluded BY moving to lay the
Message on the table, and to print it.