Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-11

cation OF The species. Why, then, would gentlemen,
under an imperfect and doubtful! state Of iniormallon,
on grounds Of acknowledged passion, rather than Of ripe
political consideration, Insist upon rn.tiiis 1iiei1 country
in 4 false position:
iu.. Nj. M. went On 10 observe, lrc7c had been j
cause much deeper than the seizure nj this ste'muoa'
Caroline, 10 Produce the existing state OF excitement
among cur people. The Gov, rnmant Of the United
States had, BY indireclioa, forced On the country the dill
ticultirs under which il was now labo'ing.
Mr.. 81 now held here in bis place, and the whole ci"i'
lied world would hold this Administration accountable,
10 a mast alrocious extent, far whatever consequences
should grow utl. OF what had happened on The frontier.
For what had been lis course in regard 10 the Govern.
ment of Mexico, with whom, as with Great Britain, this
country was AT peace: 1t was an ungralelul task 10 i
man who lived his country 10 Prove that Il was IN
fault: hut truth demanded it. lie Charged the Go.
rcrnment Of the Jailed States with hg:ing, during The
las, four years been guilty of The InISl tiscredlta5ie and
cowatd!y non.rnforccmsnt of the neutral relations Il
owed to i foreign Governnrn! to be found IN the h:j'
tory Of civilized nations. Scarce Il village was there
in the whole Western and Southwestern portion ui
the Union in which the enI!stmen; Of men, or soEc
other hostile prrparatiun, had not been going. on with
q view 10 the invasion OF that country, aud n turcih!e in.
reference in her contest with Tie rcvUlteC province oi
Texas. IL was very true, that, in word, in inrm, the
thing WINS discouraged, orders were issued prohib!lingi H.
Yet, the officers of the Government had not only con-
nived al, but almost become, themselves, parties 10 such
a cnlrse q! conduct. Now, if this conduct, on Tie part
of The American Government, could terminate on those
who were It's authors, hF. NJ. "OulI say, Ict III 81
down 10 rnerited infany lie had no tcais To shed over
their fall hut it was not so: the nation, its honor ana
lis interests, were involved. Instead OF observing, WIN
scrurulous care, the Gligations Of our neutral position.
obligations which The very weakness ns that infant nc
public entrusted 10 oar honor, as much as TO our duty,
the Government of this country had encouraged a lQw.
less spirit among our own People, which awaited ltse!t
of that which ought 10 have addressed our pagnanimlly
rs the means Of violating the sacreGnrss OF treaties, anu
tramp!ing on the rights OF a nation with whom we were
in profound peace and unity.
The renlIcnau from South Carolina had laid all The
blame Of the present difficulty on the people OF The 10.
alone but Mr.. NJ. contenGed that much "f the blame
was Justly due TO the IMMUNITY, and even indirect en-
enlargement which they had met with at the lanGs u
their own Government in open breaches OF the law OF
nations and the sacred obligation OF treaties. But Tue
time was now come when these violations OF neutrality
must have an end. And, MIR. Nj. had as llcf that th!s
should be effected by a regard TO the dignity and The
power of the British Government as in any other way.
We were nov likely to he brought TO our senses. we
had met with an equal, and that equality would be so
presented 10 our consideration rs to iorce US 10 look At
our own course of action. IL was better, better iur U.s.
that the inlamy of our conduct towards n Government
on our South. western frontier should al once be openly
exposed, than reluctantly confessed alter The national
strength md resources should have been iriltcred away,
by a proftlcss contest. On this Administration must
rest The responsibility of having violated all lhat Was
stalesman.like and all that was moral.
Brt MIR. NJ. lad no purpose 10 enter into 4 discussion
Of this matter now let us first have all The facts, we
were not prepared 10 act with understanding, ana he was
unwilling 10 hare the nation ptec; plated INTO 4 laiSe Po'
silion either by the friends or the enemies OF Tie AdHii.
nistration. lie dpsited 10 have the national homo! stand
like Il mighty mountain, with its peak above the clouds;
but never would this he if its foundation, Instead OF rest
ing on the everlasting rock Of justice and truth, was
based on The quicksands and the Hoods OF passion, anu
Of rash and hcadlong excitement. He lonHcd 10 see n
lola! regeneration of the Administration OF our country
in lis whole course Of conduct towards i"reIIn Powers.
hr. Wuddy Thompson rose in reply. lie believed
that he had heretofore given some evidence 10 the House
that he was not over anxious to hurry the country INTO
a war. and some evidence of firnness in daring to pro.
test against what he believed To be unj lust. And IN The
few remarks he had made when last up, he had endea'
vored to say, in as strong language rs he knew how 10
use, that none could look with more earnest depreciation
toward q war with England, as infinitely injurious 10
both nations: We, he held that there were alternatives
which would induce him 10 submit 10 c1termlnatl"n, ay,
To the destruction Of the world, before he would consent
to dishonor. lie had been as,onshed to hear the gentle
man from Kentucky (,Mr, Meneiee) say that IN ih's case
there was no principle involved. Great God! were
they TO be told on that floor, that American citizens,
within the lines of American jurisdiction, might be muir
dered in their sleep by foreign mercenaIies, and yet no
principle involved?
MIR. 6enefee asked whether the gentleman knew such
10 be The facts of The case:
Mr.. T. said he had spoken, from the FIRST. expressly on
the hypothesis that the account which tho House han re-
ceived (Of the outrage at Schlnssrrl was n true account.
He trusted in God there would he no necessity lor war:
he prayed as devoutly that it might be averted as any
other member Of that House; but if the alleged ousragrs
had actually been pcrpelraled, then we had Dut one a.
tentative, redress or war. lie should hold himself us
lost 10 every principle Of personal honor, could lie holo
any other sentiment. The statement, such as 1t was, had
been sent TO that House from the Executive Department;
i was prina lacie evidence: but he trusted 1t would turn
out not TO be true; at least, not 10 the full extent. Inc
conduct of our own people, how blameahle soeVer, cou'u
furnish no excuse, scarce an eStenualion OF conduct SO
OUTRAGEOUS. Gentlemen had reproached the AGmInis-
iratlon as being chargeable with this unhappy stale oil
things BY its neglect Of the frontier. God knew thal
amidst the perpetually changing phases OF the times,
he little expected 10 become the apologist Of the Admin.
istration: but he felt that as great a change must pass
upon himself before lie could fail 10 defend this Admins
tra,ion against a fnIeign Power. ,
Mr.. T.. never would consent to surrender the national
honor. lie never could use a question OF national
WONG as an instrument 10 break down even this ADM;
nistralion. He believed the charge Of having neglected
the frontier 10 he unfounded. All had been done by the
Government which, with lis means, could be done -
Letter on letter had been addressed to the District AT.
torncy, urging him 10 be vigllant in the application OF
the laws against all violations of neutrality. Had the
Executive any preventive power? He was glad his col
league (N1r. lthelL) had mol laid this charge at the door
of the administration, but Mt that Of The People on our
Northern frontier; and in this he agreed with him In
opinion. As TO the dercliction Of the Government IN
not enforcing our neutrality with Mexico, the same citti'
Guilty occurred. Who could forbid a mans expnt'intIng
himself, and going 10 reside in Texas, II such were ms
pleasure; Or who could forbid him TO carry win nm
whatever he pleased? II was very true that treaties were
the supreme law of The land, and it was the duty Of all
to observe them with the most sacred regard. But there
was no such thing as executing a law against The PubIc
will. All had been done by the Government which
could be done; hut where there were neither Iai"riners
to lodge a complaint, nor grand juries 10 bring IN a bill,
how could offenders be brought to punishment
Mr.. T. regretted the conduct Of persons on the iron,
tier it had been undoubtedly criminal il had produced
a state of things which had been we'll summed up by a
speaker in the other end of the Capitol, who said that
the People were at war while their Governments were
al peace. Blu, how was The right Of cSpat1iailon, and OF
voInntPering'n the Service oil another nation or a Por-
lion of it, as had been done by De Kalb and Lafayette,
in our own r. Revolution, 10 be put down: But allowing
all this 10 be ever so wrong, Great God what a differ
cnce was there between such a state Of things and the
case Of q band Of armed men attacking a helpless, un,
armed company in the unsuspccting hours of sleep, and
massacTeing them amidst cries for quarter? lie trust