Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-18
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Patriot.
wAsurseros, June IL, 1911
UNITED STATES SENATE.

Memorials favor oil bankrupt law pr,
scented by Mr. EVANS, Mr WRIGHT, and NJ
HENDERSON
The resolution offered by MIR Benton, calling 70
'chodule Of the payments out of the Treasury 10
the last three months, was taken up for eons'dera
tion.
MIR WOODBURY. moved an amendment, ma
king the call more specific.
Mr. CLAY moved TO lay the resolution on the Ia
ble-yens %. nays 10.
Mr. BENTON gave notice that he should ask tn,
consideration Tomorrow.
Mr. WALKER submitted a resolution, instruct
ing the Committee on the Public Lands to inquir,
into the expediency OF making modification of th,
bill to provide for the distribution OF the proceeds Of
the public lands, TO make 1t law for genera
pre-emption system; which was agreed to.
The resolution submitted by MIR Woodbury., call.
ing the President to inform the Senate If any D.
plic,tion has been made him TO buy State stocks
was taken up and agreed to.
The resolution offered by Mr. SEWER calling on
the Secretary of War state the OF the con-
tractors for the removal OF the Indians in the South
west who made exorbltani profits, SC. taken
M.
MIR MOREHEAD suggested the postponement OF
the subject until the charges OF the Secretary War
shall have been investigated.
Mr. SEWER reiterated what he had before stated
on this subject. lie feared that the inquiry about TO
be entered into was 10 be sort OF star chamber in
vestg,tion; and would he conducted IN er pdrie
manner He wished to know also how the mlsra-
ting Scminoles were provided with food, whether
they are fed by contract or not fed at all. He
would stand by the Secretary of War in ierretng
out ony real abuses, and he wished to know the
names Of the parties.
Mir MOREHEAD said he would 60 with the Sc
nltor at the proper time but he thought il would be
better suspend the call for the present. He had
called on the Secretary Of War, and had conversa-
ton with him on the subject, and he assured the
Senator that call at this moment would but en-
barrass the inquiries Of the Secretary. The Secre-
tpry the present state Of the inquiry would be
able 20 furnish any satisfactory answer 10 the call
because the proceedings were lncomplctc.
Mr.. MOREHEAD moved to lay the resolution on
the table.
Mr. SEWER asked for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
The question was then taken and decided in the
athrmnuve-yeas %, nays %.
SPECIAL ORDER-CASE OF M'LEOD.
The unfinished business OF Saturday then
tokeuup and
Mr. PRESTON resumed the debate, declaring,
tia; lie would not have said word hut Tor the
cCSSty OF replying the constructions OF the inter-
national Jaw, which had fallen from some Senators
and which could not be justified by any authority
entitled to any weight Il hrd been alleged that in
Mr Wehs,sr's letter to Mr. Fox there was defect
OF tone, 2Iy that the construction OF the law Of
Nations by Mr. Webster made too hastily; and
Sly, that The despatch ofthe Attorney General was
unwlse. IL q United that Great Britain had IN
her usual diplomacy, eylrced too much haEteur and
on ;ht account he would have been willing TO meet
her with equal 1brupluess. But he wa. satisfied
with the course of the Secretary ofState. He con-
sIiered his .e,'er a sublime strain OF eloquence
rushing 20 the heart, He asserted that there was no
difference n the public opinion 10 the tone OF this
Letter, which WAS worthy OF the high character OF
is author, and calculated TO enhance the character
OF our Diplomacy.
MIR PRESTON referred to the course of our ne
goc.lion with Spain, when we had recourse 10
threats and vliuperauoni wilhou: dreaming that II
would cad to any hostile results. II had been said
that the latter OF M5 Fox contained the language Of
Lord Ptlmersou; and he asked whether the lam
guage of our d plomatisis was not equally signif.
as TO consequences equally firm and patriotic IN
presenting our view OF the case. There as
much peJempt0rness in the style OF MIR Webster, as
in that OF Mr. Fox. 1t eyinced no distrust on our
part OF our own power TO secure redress of the
wrong We have suffered. such acts must lead TO
bloody and cNaspcraling war" These were the
words of Mr. Webster. They were brave words
and they were sustained in two other sentences OF
the letter.
But 1t was also stated that the Secretary OF State
had been 100 hlsty IN expressing his acq ulescence
IN the construction Of National law He differed
from this opinion. IL The British view Of that law
was correct, II was due to our character to acknOw
ledge at once, without hesitation equvocation
Sucn a course was due 10 our morals, 10 our repu-
tllion for truth and candor. And he complained
that, from the commencement, cur proceeding in
this matter had not been marked by similar spirit
We had been calm and quiet that the British
Government had supposed we had gone 70 sleep or
the subject, and now VIC complain suddenly and for
tbs first time that there is want OF tone in
respondence.
Inc gentlemen or inc Othcr Slde were quiet
enough, and the negotiation went on calmly enough
unit. after the Presidential. election last autumn.
And after that the late Administration woke up and
its friends produced report which at once caused
panic shook our Minister IN England in his seat
and caused the sudden movement OF our MeCleTTa
mean Squadron In reference the propriety OF the
mission OF the Attorney General and It's Instructions
he differed from the Senator from Pennsylvania.
That officer was the proper person TO proceed on a
mission, the object Of which was TO save innO-
GOD IL % control M
disposition which broke out among the people to
acts Of violence twas not proposed by sending
HIM there to do any thing contrary TO law, or ncon-
sisten. with the rights of States. II only De -
sired 10 remove him from the muncipa. jurisdiction
& that of the treaty-making power He reciied the
various modes by which this might have been ei-
igc,ed, but without any desire to take exception TO
that course which had been taken.
lie concurTed in the declaration Of Mr.. Fox that
after the acknowledgment of It's responsibility by
government, an individual could not be made liable
IN his person for carrying out the purposes of such
government He gave his cordial consent 10 this
construction. IL was borne out by the practice Of
a.. civilized nations, and II there any nation
WI ch refused TO act 10 accordance with IT, he would
not hesitate 10 pronounce that Nation Unciyl.ized-
y either the law Of nations nor Oi christianity per-
mued nations TO wage this kind Of against sin
gle individuals for the purpose OF vengeance. On
the other hand, the punishment Of the individual
would cOnrayene the ends OF Justlce, and the doc
thine which would justify an opposite conclusion,
was one which he would not contemplate.
MIR. PRESTON read from the authorities to show
that they fully sustained the ground Of McLeod's
irrcsponsibiily 70 a civil tribunal. He did not see
whether this matter would be productive Of war or
whether IL would be treated as the case Of a spy.
This point he illustrated and enforced by reference
tp variety Of cases which he put with much inge
nuty and effect. lie admitted that the subject " IS
one Of embarrassment. But he hoped that We
Should be able so 20 conduct our negotiations as %
establish our own reputation. But Il a dIiisren. re-.
suit should cnsue, he would not shrink from the
contingency.
Mr. BEN TON rose and took a view Of the course
nj the British government, and Of the Iudi-lUus
manner 10 which they had been met step by step by
the late Administration.
lie went on to dsafirm all that had been done by
the present administration, and 10 predict that the
arrogance Of England would lead her TO make fur.
Their enctoachmgnts our territory and conc'udu inc
by saying that he always foreto.d that ENGLAND
would not relax her hold; and he had set IL down
that w should have q war with Great Brtsio. Sbs
will keep goading us on, interfering with our black
population, and urging us on To war. She e1Icua.
ted a war Of few years, but II he knew Lr,
countfymen she would not find Il 80 easy To fpst
the war in few years. The American neon.
nfe brave and will hight, and the present Admins
trauIon have nothing 70 do but 10 give up their 10
puIanty hunting schemes and put the money inf,
iorhcauons and cannon and SHIPS.
Mr. BUCHANAN then rose and moved that IA
Senate adjourn.
The Senate then adjourned.
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