Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-13
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JmcSdGY, min 8, ISL.
Mr. MASGUM, from the Committee Naval At
fairs TO which had been referred the correspondence IN
relation 10 the return O; the l. ) squadron from the
Medtcrrauean asked be discharged from the further
consideration If :hs
Nlr VI SAID the committee had looked carefully into
MI the rrespondsnce and had 10 the conclusion
that # any action necessary, IL ceveved properly
on ne Navy Department. The committee thought It
bat right "a state That the csurse pursued by the MI
Mister he Cont ~ $ James, there nothing in
TIE shape a. deparlorc frsro propre,y. The very
great excitement that p"rgaded the public mind IN
Enr.and vary naturally led "a The conclusion that it
would 40 well 10 put The Squadron an is guard, locked
10 ts It was IN narrow Fer TIE Minister to have
done snare, won.d have been improper 10 have done
lees, would havs been delinquency.
Nr KING expressed the sat,sic'iaa ac :elt that the
Minister had been Generated from blame. lethoughl
that under the peculiar Circumstances OF the case, any
diplomatic agent having conveyed the information
would not have done his duty. Nor, was there IN his
opinion, diplomatic agent any where that would have
ia'!ed to make the communication, 50 that the squa-
drou might be put IN position to escape from the mar
row strait where they might have been lemmed in by
superior force. 1t is we'll known that the conduct Of
ENGLAND was always 10 strike decisive blow before
any animation given. lie hoped that the Senator
from North Carolina would consent to take the papers
back, and make written report, not only generating
the Minister from any blame, but saying that he had
done his duty in conveying the inoEnaton So much,
at least due to justice, that officer had been GEN.
for the part he had taken.
Mr. PRESTON stated tina, the object he had IN view
in calling for the correspondence in relation TO tins bu-
sness was ascertain the of return OF por-
ton Of that squadron which had savored something OF
flight. MIR. Stevenson had written to advise the fleet
to leave the Mediterranean. One of the ships had re-
turned under circumstances peculiarly delicate and
painful, winch had excited both astonshment and re-
mark by every body at The time The correspond
ence had spoken for itself and the subject properly
coming under the supervisio Of the Secretary, ano-
Their officer had been appointed to take command OF
the ship. With regard 10 the inference of the Minis
ter, he agreed with the Senator from Alabama (Mr.
kng) that it there was good reason TO apprehend
attack, then the Minister behaved correctly i'm warn.
ing the fleet; but whether it duty, when no in
formation was in his possession admitted of very
great doubt From all the facts submitted in the case
there did appear to have been very great excitement
in London; but, standing in the attitude tue Minister
did, with the means OF communication frequent
and so certain between the two countries, it did
to him that he had shared too literally in the panic
which had been created BY the ministerial press of Eng
land. On careful survey OF the whole ground, he
was not disposed Judge MIR. Stevenson harshly. If
that gentleman thought within the bounds of
strong probability, his course in conveying the inform
alton was to be justified lie (Mr. ~ had never seen
the Minister assailed in the papers; but, the contra
ny, his conduct had been justified Certainly, he (SlF