The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-21


also ask Of the Representatives Of the State Of New
York. of the Representatives OF the State of Penn
yyana the Representatives Of the State of Ohio
and of the whole Inc of those States which more
liable to the ncnrsons which would take place by the
enemy without any declaration Of war who would
some and butcher your people, and burn and destroy
your property and return Immediately and take their
places in their deences before you could raise and
ganize force to save them, What would you do !
Would you offer resolution 10 inquire whether an
officer OF the army had been there or whether
the Attorney General had been sent there whether
any concession had been made TO the British Govern
rnent2 No such question would be asked. l have,
indeed no doubt that after the country had been ra-
vaged there would be vgor and bravery enough in Il
to raise and array an avengng host to invade IN turn
the enemys country, and burn their property and des-
troy their wives and children too and what satsfac-
ton would that be 10 you
IL nntemen would look into the history Of Scot
land and England, they would there find numerous
accounts Of the rghtfu and disastrous border wars
that were carried between the Scotch and the En-
glish Gentlemen would there what might be the
consequences here if this resolution to be carried
into effect.
Ii is but a few days since heard gentleman from
New Hampshire mr.. Eastman) say, with some pain
and Distress that if the present Secretary of State
manned in Office there would be no wM-no war with
England and there great deal meant by that
remark. And the gentleman seemed to think this a
| anne ntable condition Of affairs | firmly believed il
was true but have very different feeling from that
gentleman and say, God be praised if il be so, to
preserve peace between the two countries, And how
ever long short the gentlemans career may be, he
will any improper concession to Great Britain
sanctioned by the present Secretary of State whether
in peace or With respect to the present question:
l have doubt the gentleman alluded to would show
as much frmness as any member Of this House And
one of my reasons for troubling the House at this last
expiring moment Of the session Is, that might vind-
cate the conduct Of that gentleman and do him JUS
tee for great injustice has been done him in regard
TO his remarks and correspondence. Now, do not
know that there is word in his part of that cores
pondence but that would en- iorse And say, if ii
is concatory, if it has any tendency to soften the as
perities and that may exist between the two
countries, much the better; and know il has had
that effect. What did you hear when you saw re-
port of different character2 Why your minister at
the Court Of st. James was panic struck, and sent
message to your squadron in the Mediterranean to
run awayto fly as fast as the winds could blow them
for John Bull was at their heels lLaughterl 1t
is very much the fashion to say, He did nothing
more than his duty" The gentleman from Pennsyl
vanis Mr. Ingerso) spoke Of this transaction, the
other day, just would speak of it in general terms
but he did not at all question the proprety Of the con-
duct Of that gentleman. say, not so. say that he
has dsgraced this nation than we have ever been
disgraced since the affair of the Chesapeake frgate
What will the Germans, what will the Italians, what
in short will all the great nations Of Europe say Of
the People Of the United States That, upon a pa
mic terror of their minister at London, they showed
the white feather and their line Of battle ship in the
Mediterranean warned to seek refuge by flight
from the thunders Of Biain
And there is another point of view in which | do
not approve his conduct The gentleman has been
at London four five years. do not believe there
was at London Charge from any country in Europe
but knew better what was done and doing in the
Pnvy Council. What is the business of foreign
minister abroad but to find out what is doing2 will
venture to say that if Christopher Hughes had been
at London as our minister, he never would have
written such a letter. He would have knonn that
there order of Council TO authorize hosttes;
and there cannot be hostites without order OF the
Pnyy Council. speak from experience when say
that Mr.. Hughes would have been informed of such
orders in Council had they been issued and ofcourse
would not have been frightened by every newspaper
explosion Unpopular wrath into belief that the grave
and responsible Council Of the nation had resored to
such an extremity at such moment.
There was one memorable case Of the address of
Mr. Hughes in procuring documents Of the Profound
est secrecy. Mr.. Sratford Canning came to one
day, and said that he had permission to read to
paper Of great Importance cmanating from his Gov
eminent in their negotiations with the European ai
ance lie read the paper accordingly, and when he
had finished asked him if he would let me have it
for half an hour that might lay it before the Prec
dent, Mr.. MONROE, for his perusal. lie said he was
forbidden to let j, go out of his hands; but that
i desired he would go with me to the Presidents
tented myself with making, from memory verbal
statement Of its contents to Mr.. Monroe, and within
three days after received copy of that same paper
from Christopher Hughes. The next time Mr.. Can
ming came to the Department, said to him that he
needed not TO have been straighlaced about that
despatch which he would not allow to take for
half hour to the President for his perusa for we
now had copy Of it. He was amazed. A copy of
a said he lie clapped his hands on his two waist
.oat pockets took the key Of his desk out Of one Of
her, hcl.t - - ,L II
ock and that paper has been under that lock and
Key every moment since received it, except when in
my own hands. said do not suspect any one about
you. We are not in the habit Of purchasing secret
papers from domestics or secretaries. We have got it
from great distance.
Yes had copy of that document, perhaps the
most secret well the most efficient of the dipo-
matte papers which passed between the parties to the
Holy Alliance and il procured with many others
~ MI. Hughes, by no improper arts and at cost of
ecrct service money but by the art Of making friends
" his social qualities wherever he goes. mention
his TO show what ought 10 be the qualities of public
minister abroad. Ii a minister is in the habit of
rendy, social intercourse with the other members of
he diplomatic corps at the court, with ordi
,ary portion of sagacity he has the key all their
ecrcts say it from long knowledge and experience,
How was it when this panic letter written TO the
OF the American squadron1 What did the
American minister know of the system Of policy, for
ign domestic, Of the British cabnetl The letter
tself proves that ne was ms blind to II as beetle
hat he ignorant Of the first letters of their alpha
,ct IL he had known any thing of it, he would not
,ave disgraced himself and his country by the expo
sure of his ignorance say this not from any per-
onal feeling towards that gentleman although have
not been an admirer of some of his diplomatic exhi
,itions heretofore the journals Of this House may
show; but have looked to this transaction entirely
upon its merits Alone and say that those letters writ
ZEN 10 the Commodore Of the squadron in the Medi-
and their consequences, have been dis
graceful to the nation; and !, for one, hold the man
rNponsblc for it, and say he not doing his duty
Or that he neglected of the most important parts
Of his duty public minister But this is somewhat
ofa dgresson and yet intimately connected with this
Mcleod question of peace and war: for what must
The privy council and her Majesty Queen Victoria her
self who, dare say, all woman she is, has more
FIRE in her heart than ever TO have sitten down and
laaia= H.