The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-23
SEIZURE OF AMERICAN PROPERTY.

Mr.. HENDERSON and Mr.. MOREHEAD. APP
peared in their seats
SEIZURE OF AMERICAN PROPERTY
Mr. BARROW presented a memorial from the
New Orleans Insurance Company. He stated that II
related to a matter OF much Importance, which must
necessarily create great excitement throughout the
nation. The memoriasts stated that last year yes
sci sailed from Richmond, in the State OF Virginia,
bound for New Orleans, and that they had insured
thirty eight slaves against capture seizure, or deen
ton of The property While the vessel was on It's
way it was Obliged, by stress Of weather. toput INTO
the port of Nassau New Providence, in the British
Colonies While mooreJ at that port, the vessel was
boarded by persons dressed in the uniform Of British
soldiers aud tic slaves taken away contrary to the
protes atoms of the and The passengers on board
Something like judi cal proceeding was there had,
which resulted in the liberation Of the slaves. hese
slaves belonged to Mr.. Templemah, who was remov
ing from Virginia to Louisiana, and were insured by
two several companies One Of the companies had
paid the insurance. but the other, from which this me
mortal came had refused TO do and IN consequence,
MIR Tempeman had brought suit against It FOR tho
recovery of the money due for the insurance against
risk, capture, seizure, detention of property. lie
was satisfied that this subject involved the ques ion OF
peace or between this country and Great Britain,
and it was important that the matter should be taken
mn by CONGRESS and acted upon at once, that It
minht be settled whether the British Government had
rrht to do what they who lived in the South denied
to their .Government-and that was, the night OF
sunpressnI the slave trade between the States. He
therefore moved that the memorial he printed and re-
errrd to the Committee on Foreign Relations, VS..
Mr. CALHOUN called the attention of the Senate
and the country to the Importance of This subject
The Senate would well remember the case OF the
Enterprise with regard to which he had moved a Sc
res of resolutions, asserting the rights otnations and
which were passed unanimously, with the exception
of single dlssentlent voice There was more spe-
cal case of the seizure of property on board the
Creole" which was the most dangerous subject
that had come into condensation between the Amer
lean and British Governments. And yet strange
q tell, in all the Presidents late Message the
searching of vessels on the coast of Africa, as
well as the Maine boundary, had received less at
tenton than any other subjects II was time, how
ever that this slave question should be settled, and
the nation informed whether the Government would
extend protection to its property not. AS luii
discussion would come up on tins subject, he would
not pursue the question ut the present time put ne
trusted that the Committee on Foreign Relations
would give it careful consideration, so that they
might know where they stood.
Mr. KING SAID that the British Government had
gone on step by step in refusing to be responsible for
The acts of her citizens who had been engaged u cap
turing and berat ng American property. case late
" occurred by which it appeared that slaves IN state
Of mutnv were semitic one of the British Islands To
prevent their return to their owners lie hoped that
The Committee on Foreign Relations would look into
the matter and ask the State Department torthe cor
respondence which may have taken place between the
Two Governments in order TO ascertain how FIR the
rights of American citizens We're TO be protected 1t
such acts these that the British Government
endeavored to withhold our territory; and unless
that Government should ctface her steps, the tine
was not far off when the question Of war must new
tlbly arise.
4 Mr. PRESTON admitted the question 10 be of
great importance and he felt the necessity OF looking
al it with the greatest attentlon but he could not say
that he considered it to be cause for serious collision
between the two countries, for the that the
dictates OF the law of nations would almost fofbld
such consequence; and as the British Government
had lately fallen to the care OF a new Ministry he
thought that there was some reason To oeeve thatthe
decisions OF tie former British Cabinet with regard to
the seizure OF slaves would be reversed, at least
that some modification would be made that would
av Did collision between the two countries. Although
he knew that the temper of the nation was exaspera-
Ted he would not permit himself TO believe that the
enlightened nation of Great Britain, the deslnes OF
which were in the hands of liberal ministers, Won
ever come into collision with this country on points
not doubtful and points which could be reconciled
hostile col lion, in his opinion, was very remote but
while he desired preserve cable relations between
he two governments, he should not permit tn Sc i'm
pfessions prevent him from entertaining Just We"
Of the entile subject and he held to be the part of
wisdom well as of patr iosm to keep our country
valways ready,
III Mr. RINES was opposed to this incidental and
tpremaure discussion lie understood the memorial
(which had been presented by the Senator IRON Lou-
V.iana. as asking from the Government indemnity for
IWest India Islands Many cases OF tins sort had oc-
Irred and had always created controversies between
L the United States and Great Britain lie was sorry
his remarks yesterday had been taken in so grave a
sense as they had been, he had not undertaken TO
be understood as saying that collision between the
So countries was highly probable. He had only IN
urnded to state the present condition of the country,
and assert that continuance OF peace was lnnnent-
prccarious; so much so, that the country should be
placed in an attitude of defence. lie meant to say
,bu hat md nc "a
tree country he could never consent to have 1t
#held in abryance to foreign power. The al
Gir ofihe Caroline was still unsettled and, Judging
Vmm the reports from tho Executive Departments, 1t
ENds}n very unpromlslng condition. his taken
n connection with the boundary question: the seizure
hi our vessels on the coast of Africa rendered im-
ossite for gentlemen suppose that they could rest
bn peaceful security; and this admonished them to
fnake preparations for the country defence lie
Hshed it 10 be distinctly understood mat ne had had
fO commu ncaton with the Cabinet on 'nis suoJcct,
lie had spoken from the facts as furnished IN me
Eocuments from the Departments. The whole oil this
n uestion might come up again; and he would say 70
Ithe Senator from Louisiana Mr.. Barrow that TINS
kubect ought not to be agtated thus prematurey 1t
oked at the affair Of the Creole as more grave and
mpoItant than the subject to which the memorial
eierred He was willing however, if II was the plea
sure OF the Senate that the subject should he taken W
and Examined So that it might be asceraIned wha
was the most proper course now TO pursue
Mr.. CALHOUN expressed his extreme regret
hat 30 much had been said about war with Great
rilain He had not intended speak upon that subject
ut as gentlemen had delivered their views he would
ave his lie though that there was in both countries
large peace party; but il there should be a war, II
would be because this country wanted due foresight
secure common respect. The first step To insure
MS was to reform the Administration. 1t was de
ared oil hands, that the country was In no better
)ndi,ion than it Was in 1912 and this, too, after