The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-07-15


affirmative vote ON this proposition. MIR. {
Forsyth has been attacked by nobody, and
therefore needs no defence. What has
Mr.. Webster done in this matter, since {
the honor and interest Of the nation have !
been conflded to his care, 10 draw down
upon him, directly and indirectly, the cen
sure of this House Why, sir, on the
18th day Of March, lsAl, Mr.. Fox, I'm
the name OF the British Government de
maaded the immediate release Of Mr.
Alexander Mcleod"
Now what should have been the course
of Mr.. Webster, IN the name of the United
States The rule TO govern him, 1t strikes
me, was to place his Government IN the al
titude and assuming the bearing OF noble
minded, generous, gallant man, conscious
Of his own dignity, weight OF character,
and power Of sci.redress, when approach. I
cd by another man 10 any doubtful or am /
I biguous shape Of peace or hostility. The 7
only exception to this rule should be that-a I
nation may be more slow to anger and re-
t sentiment, more pacific in its temper, moro !
concillatlng ard forboaring in its conduct
and correspondence, that an individual 10
La personal quarrel. Mr.. Fox's demand
was doubtful and ambiguous. lls meaning
was either arrogant aud oyerbearng, m
tending to demand something which Meth
er the laws of nations nor our own peculiar
state and federal relations could allow; or
ii was urgent only in demanding what was
due under our own laws aud the laws Of
civilized nations, without disrespect TO the
Government Of the United States or rs
constituted authorities. The Secretary
tells han that its doubtful character "oc-
casioned, with the President, some hesita
tioa," aud thus lntmaled dolieaely that
our Government was 1ot in.easide 10 ITS
own self.respeci; and, as best comporied
. with that sclf-reSpect and a conscious Dig
) nifty and generosity which true greatness
always feels, very properly eayse 2 con.
: s,ruo This dealad as intcndedto bc respect
! full aad TO be a demand oalv Of What was
/ lawfully due-nothing mere.
In this the Secretary was very conl.
I mendab'y ri Int. He leaGtoa daEdy dig.
. nj, and cockney- knighilood II +" flare
, up epon a point Of nero etiquette and
: panciilIo, % rage about nothing and get
: nothiog for is rage and he rightly as.
summed, against The letter iiyou please. ihat
! Greol Britaa Ia addressing tst jsbcd
7 States IF America, could Dot mean other.
e wise than to Ne decorous, respectful, and
5 just il Ter demands. This was almost
!, a matter Of course; quite matter OF
) course, unless gruss and paIpable haOghiy
b insult was hurled, which could not be
brookcd without instant and indignant fc.
! sentiment. u was due % ourselves NJ less
: than TO Great Britain, whom we had taught
: TO respect Us, TO gcy " You eauuo; posi-.
: biz mean disrespect to Us, or 20 demand
!. more than what YOU think law.u..y right
: and We viii, therefore, respectfully examine
i your claim and proceed to dispense justice
e 10 YOU" This course was marnlying
: ourselves, and be-haling the mightnc.s o.
l. Mr.. FoN il was truly patron,2ug BIZ
G wrath, and vel, very well, done.
0 But, IL ;ha second place, NJ. Wcb7;si
tells ilr. Minister that # the demand o
= Tier Majesty Government meant more
TO require The Federal Executive to uurI
/. JUDICIAL power, TO interfere with the courst
Of municipal )udicaturcs, 70 interrupt jus
IS tice il the forum, 70 obsifuct the aI,hou
tics 81 lie courts Of law under criminal O
o civil process, or 10 violate The rights 81 tht
J. state Of NeS Xork-it meat something
j. which could not have heoa expected
e from either Government, aud something
,e " 10 Irhtch this GoU,ramruf cannot dccfft.
e And this Government has MOI accelcd q
J. ans such demand. The ProeiJcu' calm
e " tells ia bis message, datrI long si1c,
the letters both Of Nr. Eos and VI, Web
IS stcr, !. !. may bc proper to state tlai Alex
Mcleod las been heard IS Che Suwom,
$, Court Of the State Of New York, oa ht
&c motion 10 be discharged from mpus5n
meui, aud that me decision IF that court ba
s. not yet been pronounced" The demand
III then, IN any AMI every offensive sense, ha
s. been both theoretically and practically re
fuad.
An3 thirdly, sir, 50 FAR from crouchu.
or succumbtng. IN way to tempt aoures
SION on, when Nh. Fox ayous il was FL
IN gland, Mr.. Secretary, and not Mr.. Ne
le Leod, MIR. Webster does not, liae COW
OF ard, select the weaker adversary, the poo
c individual, but replies; Al very well
Mr.. Minister now understand you. /
ns England assumes tie responsibility, ! real
q IL admit that individuals ought not '--h,
- does not say shan not be- oygh not t.
d, he holden personally responsible aud IL,
he President presumes that It can hardly b,
ct necessary 10 shy that the American People
, not disfruafui ofthrr abtiuyio redress pub
nc uro7gs By public mens, cannot dcsri
f. the punishment Of indtrlduais, when III,
> act complained Of is declared to have beer
an act Of the Government ITSELF" w,
i, therefore take YOU at your word, Mr.. Min
1 istor, and hold England responsible. W.
will leave the courts Of justice to deal will
Mr.. McLcod--ay, even send our Attono,
" General, as dmicuS cnriG, TO advise til,
al court 10 discharge him, if you choose
n The United States will dealwllh EnglaadP
* Nothing coI.d be more proudly caIlan,