Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-25

,ro .evera, companiss. One of the compnnn e: nav
= mid the insurance, but the otter rom nseonancs
p;ai c,,oe had refused to do SO; and IN coha
nI had brought suit against IL iof 'he
acovoyy Of the money due for the insurance d9a's
> risk. capture, seizure, or deleh.'on u
y ma satisfied that this subject ihVo'eu tne question: "
j w. or yor between this country and Great Britain,
"a !, vas important that The matter should be taken
mn bv Congress and acted upon at once, so that IT
might be settled whether the British Government had
a right do what they who lived III The South denied
TO their own Cuyernment-and that was, The right oil
suppressng the slave trade between the States. he
therefore moved that the memorial be printed and re-
4 ferred TO the Committee on Foreign Relations.
i MIR. CALHOUN called the attention of the Senate
and the country to the importance OF tins subject The
Senate would we'll remember the Of the Enterprise,
with regard which he had moved series OF resolu-
TONS asserting the rights of nations, and which were
passed unanimously, with the exception OF single DIS
sentent voice. There was more sPecla case Vi the
seizure Of property on board the "Creoe, which was
the most dangerous subject that had come INTO confess
taon between the American and British governments
And yet, strange TO TELL in all the President iae Mes
sage the searching of vessels the coast OF Africa,
as well the Maine boundary, had received less aeii-
ton than any other subjects! II was tme however,
that this slave question should be settled, and The ma.
ton informed whether the Government would extend
protection its property or not AS iuil DISCUSSION
would up this subject, he would not pursue the
question at the present tme but he trusted that the
| Committee on Foreign Relations would give 1t care
full consideration, that they might know where they
stood.
Mr.. KING said that the British Government had
rome on step by step, refusing to be responsible Tor
the acts of her citizens who had been engaged IN cap
turing and liberating American property case late
occurred by which it appeared that slaves IN state
of muny sent to one OF the British Islands 10
pre vent their return TO their owners lie hoped that
tbe Committee on Foreign Relations would look into
the matter and ask the State Department Tor the cor
rcspondence which may have taken place between
the two Governments, III order TO ascertain how Tar
the rights of American citizens were to be protected IL
was by such acts these that the British Government
endeavored TO withhold territory; and unless that
Government should retrace her steps. the tim" was
not far oil when the question OF war mcst inevitably
arise.
Il Mr. PRESTON admitted the question TO be of great
IMPORTANCE and he felt the necessity OF looking at II
with the greatest attention but he could not say that
he considered il 10 be Tor serious collision be-
tween the two countries, for the reason that the die
tales of the law Of nations would almost forbid such
consequence and, as the British Government had late
ly fallen 10 the of new Ministry, he thought
that there 10 believe that the decisions
of the former British Cabinet with regard to the seizure
of slaves would be reversed nj least that some mo-
diication would be made that would avoid collision
between the two countries. Although he knew that
the temper of The nation exasperated he would not
pcrm, himself TO believe that the enlightened nation
of Great Britain, the destnes OF which were in the
hands of liberal ministers, would ever come into col
son with this country points not doubtful, and
points which could be reconced hostile collision,
in his opinion, very remote but while he desired
10 preserve amcabe relations between the two Govern
ments he should not permit these Impressions TO pre-
vent him from entertaining just view Of the entire
subject and he held it to be the part Of wisdom, as
well as of patriotism, to keep country always ready
Il MIR. RiV rs was opposed to this incidental and pre-
mature discussion He understood the memorial which
had been presented by the Senator from louisiana as
asking from the Government indemnity for the loss OF
slaves carried by pirates to the British West India is.
lands. Many cases of this sort had occurred and had
always created controversies between The L. States
and Great Britain He sorry his remarks yester-
n day had been taken grave as they had
been as he had not undertaken to be understood as
saving that collision between the two countries was
birhly probable. lie had only intended TO state the
present condition of the country, and assert that
a continuance Of peace imminenily precarious;
so much so, that the country should be placed in
an attitude of defence He meant to say nothing
more than that; and as citizen OF Tree country,
he could never consent TO have 1t held IN allegiance
10 foreign power The affair Of the Caroline
still unsettled; and, Judging from the reports from
the Executive Departments, 1t was IN very un-
promising condition. This, taken IN connection with
the boundary question: the seizure Of our vessels on the
coast of Afrca, rendered impossible for gentlemen to
suppose that they could rest in peaceful security and
this admonished them 10 make preparations Tor the
country's defence He wished it to be distinctly I'M
derstood that ne had had no communication with the
Cabinet on this subject but he had spoken from the
facts as furnished in the documents from the Depart
men,s The whole Of this question might come up
again and he would say TO the Senator from Louisiana
MIR Barrow) that this subject ought not to be agitaed
thus prematqrey He Lacked At the aa1 eo of bee9trf6
which the memorial referred He was willing, how
ever if it the pleasure OF the Senate, that the sub
iect should be taken up and examined, that il might
ascerained what the most proper course now TO
g pursue.
/ Mr. CALHOUN expressed his extreme regret that
80 much had been said about with Great Bril-
.;n Io had INIT into IN atgubi
but as gentlemen had delivered their views, lie would
give his He thought that there was, in both countries,
large peace party; but, if there should be war, it
would be because this country wanted due foresight
E 10 secure common respect The first step insure
this was TO reform the Administration. 1t was de-
claed on all hands, that the country was in no better
condition than il in 1872 and this too, after
cxpending millions upon millions OF dollars What
volumes did that speak /, He did not, however, be-
eve in reckless condition of the country, hut lie
[ believed one thing and that was, that much of the
T public money had been expended, and never account
ed for He believed that much might he saved without
particle of fraud; and that all the Departments ought
10 be held TO strict account The effect Of dstribut
ing the surplus which grew out OF the tariff OF
1898 was now coming upon them and he would here
o remark that he considered that part OF the Report OF
the Secretary of the Treasury in relation TO the tariff
as all slang and ignorance, which lie did not expect
from that He had great respect for that in
divdua and had read his report with much attention
He concurred with the Senator from Virginia IN his
statements about tall to, and complete-and
he had also the British accounts lie held this to be
the most atrocious outrage ever perpetrated on the
American people, and as soon as they should get full
information upon the subject they ought to demand
that those who committed the piracy be delivered 10
r this Government He wanted the country to be true
ITSELF let there be no dvlson and he trusted that
the British Government would come to some arrange
ment to guard the interests of this Republic; and if
they should obtain justice, he would look 10 every
man. with an American heart, TO raise his hand against
!, oppression. 80
Mr. BARROW said that the representative Of the
individuals who had addressed the memorial to Con-
gress, he was not willing that they should submit TO
the Injustice of foreign power. 1t was high time that
the people, through their agents. should express their
views upon the subject of debate and it was the duty
of the Committee on Foreign Relations 10 present to
the Senate and the people the true principles of inter-
national law, which they should maintain at all hazards
c .l.oS L. IL, SIll 10