Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-19
CONGRESS on SATURDAY.
HOUSE or REPREsENTArIv
DEBATE ON Ma. PICKENS' REPORT FROM
Mu,rAsY ConntrrsE.

M. EVERETT suggested the propusty OF col
iecting and printing together, IN one pamph'e'' a
the documents upon the subject.
Mr.. HALVES objected to the reception oil IN
retort unless IL was IN order to make II.
The SPEAKER said the report could not be re
eeived, unless by consent OF all parties.
Mr.. HALVES then objected.
Several members suggested that It was now to-
late 10 make the objection, the report was actual
ly before the House, and motions had been mad
and entertained respecting It
The SPEAKER here decided that the objection
should have been made when MIR Pickens proposes
10 submit the report that, not hearing any obiec'
ton, he had received the report and proposition
were entertained respecting It; and that II was nov
too late to raise the objection.
The reading Of the report was called for, and i
was read accordingly.
Mr. EVERETT renewed his proposition to in
elude in the printing all the documents upon the
subject, n list OF which he furnished.
Mr. GRANGER rose and moved division of tho
question-hrst, on the motion TO lay on the table
and then, on the motion to print.
And the motion TO print being debatable-
Mr. GRANGER said that he considered this re
port, il acted upon and adopted by the House, a,
approaching very nearly, in Its consequences, 10
declaration Of war, If the British Government shoulc
desire so TO consider it. He would take occasion iC
say, ss a member OF the Committee on Foreign Az.
fairs that the report did receive his assent Anc
he felt constrained to detain the House for few
moments whilst he assigned, very briefly, his rea'
sons for this conclusion.
What continued Mr G was the opposition Of
the Committee on Foreign Afirs when they enter
ed upon the consideration OF this question: My
colleague (Mr Fillmore) had called upon the State
Department for the correspondence which had IA
ken place in relation the demand for the liberia
ton Of Mcleod. That matter, and that alone, was
referred 10 the committee Foreign Affairs. " is
not my purpose to censure the conduct OF this Ad-
miuistra,ion, for, so far as my judgment can now
determine, approve fully the course they have
taken. That opinion may, upon further reflection,
lie changed; but, rs at present advised, consider
the course of Mr. Forsyth TO have been such as wss
due TO his high official station and due to the char
meter snd dignity OF this nation. But so consider
ing, and representing section Of country deeply
interested in this question, as ready 10 meet lis
consequences the people Of any other section Of
this Union, stiil dissent from the report.
What does II embraced A report upon matters
referred othe committee on Foreign Afflirsl No;
nothing, as have stated, was referred TO that
Committee bat the correspondence in relation 10 the
6emsnd for the liberation of Nc Leod. Does That
committee upon a call Of the Executive of this
nation, made upon this House, TO place before the
country, and the world, the condition of things be.
tween the United States and Great BRITAIN No.
The Executive, mindful, we bound 10 believe,
ofthe honor OF the country well as ofthe character
of his own administration, has not thought proper
TO call upon either House Of Congress for advice
IN regard TO our relations with great Britain. What.
then, is the position Of that committed Travelling
beyond the record, they come forward and pre-
sent by the votes of n bare majority | will say
II IN order n report which, TO say the least OF IT,
rs not pacific in its character, and which is based
upon complaints against the British Government,
not one Of which has been referred to that commit
tee. When, or by whom, have the Committee on
Foreign Affairs been called upon consider seizures
upon the high seas this alleged right of searchl
which, agree with the committee, is which this
nation Is not likely tolerate in the manner in which
exercised. WHEN hu trhnn, ,ka
other matters of controversy which that report
embraces referred TO the Committee on Foreign
AfiIrs, that they might make report upon theml
And, II so, what have they reported Have they
sent here document setting forth the alleged grie-
vances OF this country, complaining Of injustice
done on the part of Grea: Britain, and cal ing for
the action of this House upon those matters7 Has
the chairman OF the Commute Of WAYS and Means
come forward TO say that he is prepared 10 recon-
mend appropriations to put the country in proper
state OF defence 10 meet the emergency which such
report as this may creRie7 Is your COMMUNE
on Mtary Affairs ready 10 recommend the de-
fences which should be provided il such a report is
20 90 forth 10 the world under the sanction Of this
Housed Has your Committee on Naval Affairs
sent iE acquisitions TO put your ships in commits
sion, that you may be prepared to meet on the
high seas the power you have before met and Grip
pear No. There has been no such recommen-
datlon. And the Committee on Foreign Affairs
without recommending any action, without even
W oIlg as u seems 10 me, except
that Great Britain is the greatest Power on earth.
and we the humblest, bring here a report calculated
TO lnhame the whole nation; and 10 let IL 90 forth
TO the world that we are making an issue with
Great Britain, which we voluntarily tender TO her,
and winch IN my opinion, she has right to take
up on the instant.
But, Mr.. Speaker, there are considerations con.
nected with the honor and dignity ofthe State of
New York, and with the administration of Justice
within her borders. that demand our attention. On
former occasion stated on this floor that the per.
son whose life was in jeopardy would receive Al the
hands OF jury Of New York The same fair and I'M
partial trlai which would be secured to any citizen
Of that State who might be arragned for violation
OF It's laws; but mourn now to say that from pre-
sent Indications, there IS excitement on the ives.
tern border of New York, growing Out Of the arrest
OF this man and Of MS liberation for the moment.
which IS already Sufficiently great 10 make thoss
who regard the lives and the liberties Of the people
OF this country pause before they act By this time
suppose, the grand jury of Niagara county has
closed its investigation. The current runor t6ropgb
Tue newspapers OF the day ls that Mcleod has been
indicted. The people Of that section have been
greely Incensed by recent transic ions there Send
forth this paper to the world, recommending moth
ing and bring nothing but detailed account of
grievances against the British Government with
lew hits at what may be presumed TO lie
the arrogance Of her course, and no man can
answer Tor the consequences upon the life Of
tnis man. felt Il 10 be my duty TO endely or
10 postpone this question until the trial sbould
nave passed. believe that the power oftbis coun.
icy could never be exercised with higher glory IN
llsei than when showing TO the world that whilst il
look the position which its honor demanded. uill
mat the humblest individual Of this or any other
country whose foot was upon our soil shouid bs
sheided by the mild, the just and the impartial on
efalion O: ITS laws. ] do not think thai Uitbout
any call IRON the Executive, without any Thing hay
ing been lard before the Committee on FOREIGN Az
lars but the pipsrs relating 10 the liberation of m
man say, do net think that the honor or die
ntY OF THIS nation required that we shoad send forth
aoeelarauon, not only Of the proves OF Great Bri
tahunu OF our humihty but oil our readiness 10 meet
het AZ any moment, when no necessity existed for
such threat; and when the voice Of tbis Houss ,ot
Ing potentially 70 the nation, might he eonsidsred
Wa'eh-"Ord oy which every man on the Nortbern
irOnuer was TO guide himselfin hurrying on IN Yse
ton ms suspected foreigner. 1.-The should be tricd
and iound guilty, let the penalty Of the law be yc
tedi and LEI the people the frontier Of New Vol
hna the people throughout the widest extremies nj
ms lana he prepared - meet the consequence
Nheh NOSE consequences shall present themselves
not only will the State o. New York he re,dv IN me-
Them but feel sure that patriotic feeling With
bupefsedes all local questions and merges all noj,
toai diherences, will rally this whole nation 10 The
rescue ltWill then be time enough TO nct. but in
,e name OF justice, let not anticipate that event
ny inhamng the public mind, and adding 10 The
io''ofs o. war the consciousness that We have inter
.eSl WIN TIE impartial operation of our laws o,
H'heo WIN theH supremacy.
ADINsss Son, eetsaNon took place between Messrs
AbaiHos fiChtNS, and GRINNEII ~ ,,h;et
the Reporter could hear NOTHING 49,, 80. ~
suited IN q motion by ~ 0NS' ~ 'n"' re-
Me-. GklNNELL 10 amend The c,o,;,, n Al
Pickens, (which was, that the repo,t III ~. W ~
taole and printed, % above stated 90 AZ to H., @