The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-08-10
DEBATE in THE U. s. SENATE.
CASE OF Mcleod

PRESIDENTS Message refers to our foreign rela. |
tons to the Committee Foreign Relations, being
taken up
Mr. PRESTON, who had the floor on Friday last
proceeded to address the Senate in reply to the no
marks of Messrs Buchanan and Calhoun
Our limits enable Us 10 present but brief gener
al outline of the interesting speech delivered by
Mr. Preston. He commenced by promising to show
how sincerely he concurred in the determination
which had been avowed on his side of the Senate
to save the public time by COMPRISING his remarks
into as short space possible. He could not
feel excused in giving silent vote, because the
principles involved were of the deepest importance
as we'll as the widest application, and their effect
must operate through all time. He was bound to
enter his protests against views which were not on
ly in contradiction to those laid down by the publ.
csts, but in opposition the dictates OF NOR
ality and the high and pure spirit of the Christian
religion. He arraigned the objections which had
been made to the course pursued by Mr. Webster
under four heads. First, that there was not prop
er tone in the reply which he had given TO de-
mand from the British Minister, accompanied by
a papabIe threat Secondly, that he had been too
hasty and too frank in announcing his concurrence
in the principles of National law laid down by Mr.
Fox. Thirdly, that he was mistaken in his views
committed an error in sending the Attorney Gener
al into the State of New York.
And first, Mr. p. admitted that the demand of
Mr. Fox had been made IN very peremptory terms,
and that there a haughtiness Eabout his refer
ence to consequences which was won't 10 character
ize the diplomatic intercourse of GreatBrtain with
other nations, and which they were not wont to
meet as they ought to do. He should not have
been indisposed TO lnfnse something of abrupt
ness and corresponding peremptory tone in our
reply, for il necessary that all sovereigns in
treating with each other, should assume the same
high port and employ the dignilied language.
naughty manner must be met with haughtiness
if ever il is hoped to exact that homage which the
proud never pay but TO the proud. Yet he thought
Mr. Websters tone had enough of this TO satisfy
the requirements OF q moderate though firm and
spirited people. Mr. p. treated the attack upon the
correspondence as obviously party movement di-
rected against the Administration. He then ad-
verified to the general appreciation with which Mr..
Websiers last letter wasg received throughout The
country, and pronounced an eloquent eulogum on
the paper as exhibiting noble stream Of argument
Clear convincing ssiible, and swelling at times
INTO strain OF sublime eoquence, such as had not
been exemplihed in our previous diplomacy the
subject. AS to the alleged threat there might be
some question to its terms bearing that character
although MrP. frankly confessed that in his ear
it sounded very much like a menace But Ian
guago ofthis sort not unireauent in diploma
cy. Mr. Rves had employed terms quite strong
in his late intercourse with the Court of France 81
Mr. Forsyth, language infinitely stronger in his cor
respondence with the Spanish Minister, Don Onis.
Yetthe use OF such language bypublic ministers had
not been considered as for True, the
- 60 n
from having been made IN the very words of Lord
Palmerston. But the demand Of Great Britain had
not been acquiesced in, and the invitation to look
at consequences had been retorted by our ownGov
eminent in terms quite ineligible and decided
as those employed by that of Great Britain. In
support of this view, Mr. p. appealed to three sever
al clauses in different parts of Mr. Webstcrs COM
munication, which he quoted with much emphasis
as evincing any thing but disposition to quail or
to yield under threats Of Great Britain.
AS to the avowal OF concurrence in the British |
view ofinternatonaI law being made with too much
promptude and crankness, he considered it as wor
thy of all praise. Dipomatiss had been defined
be hired lie for their country but the cor
respondence of Mr. Webster went honorably to |
show that, in at least, a diplomatst
a man not unwilling and not afraid either to
tell the truth to acknowledge the truth for his
country. Instead OF prev arcating and qub5ling,
he admitted at what he believed to be true;S
il position taken by the adverse party true
and sound position, the sooner we acknowledge it
the better. The straightforward course was not on |
ly the worthy of the morals of the country but
was on principles ofpolicy the very highest wis |
dom. Most of our difficulties and dangers had come
upon for want Of the adoption of such course
IN times past.
Mr. p. adverted with great severity to the con-
trast between the perfect supineness with which I
the course of England had been borne for more
than three years, with the sudden fit assumed by
the late Administration they had become
of the result Of the election which deprived
them of power. The outrage in the case of the
Caroline thrilled every fiber of their souls.
How much more might it have been expected. to
effect them while the blood of their slaughted fel
low citizens was yet smoking from the ground, 81
blazing fragments of our vessel not yet quench
ed in the Of that tremendous fall over which