Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..

IA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Extract from the Speech Of Mr.. GUSHING, on
the Mcleod case, delivered in the House of Re
personalities on the Path June.
There is another remarkable thing which appears
on the very surface OF the speech OF the gentleman
from Pennsylvania. The point from which he
starts, and at which he closes, the idea which he
ngain and again presents 10 the mind is, that in this
despatch contained the seeds OF between the
United States and Great Britain. Now, for one,
deprecate war between the United States and any
Government, and most OF all between the United
States and England; but in deprecating this de-
clare, as have again and again done before, that
would cavil with England to the thousand,h division
>rt hair, on any question of tho rights on honor OF
the United States. And | woull do so not only
because she is competitor on the seas, not only
because she has colonies contermInous with our
country, but for the very reason that she Is great,
strong and powerful, and the worher 20 be the an
tagonst of the United States; and for these
1 would meet her with the spirit, aud ZEAL and feel
ings which become tho defendants OF the men of
the Revolution.
When look around me to inquire from what
quarter these remarks come, calling in question the
patriotism and spirit Of the foreign policy OF the pre-
sent Administration, am astonished to see that
they proceed from friend Of the last Administration
and an opponent of the present.
MIR lngerso was here understood to intimate
some di,senson from the latter part OF the proPo-
stion
MIR CUSHING continued. Well, the present
man in the country. But, at any rate, the remarks
come from friend of the last Administration. Yes !!
il is friend OF the last Administration who imputes
TO the present want of due spirit towards Great
Britain and critcises what he tnuntngly calls the
coup d'essai OF q new foreign Secretary entering
into Office unlike Il believe the gentleman sadly all
his predecessors without the advantage of previous
training in diplomacy. And upon these points l
have something to say to the friends OF the last
Administration, and (whether the two things be
identical or nop the members of the present OPpo-
sition.
Was the last Administration distinguished for its
zeal in this particular thing Did 1t prosecute with
spirit the claim Of the United States against Great
Britain for PREPARATION account OF the destruction
of the Caroline Did ii not, on the contrary, allow
that claim sumber for three yearsl And for
aught that appears, MIR Van Buren, would have al
lowed il TO sumber TO the end OF time, If the Incl
dental question involved in McLeods arrest had
not arisen, and by converting England into the
claimant party, thus compelled him 10 resume the
discussion of the case of the Caroline.
Nay, more, the gentleman from Pennsylvania
has enterta ned with what seems TO be very cap
tious comments on the coup dressai OF MIR. Web
ster ia diplomacy. lie is quite mistaken in saying
that MIR. Webster is the first Secretary of State,
by many who had no previous diplomatic expert
ence. To say nothing OF others, what diplomatic
training was possessed by the first Secretary Of
State under General Jacksonl And when the gen.
tlcman from Pennsylvania is considering the frs,
great negotiation OF MIR Webster, how does he hap
pen TO forget the famous, or rather Infamous, first
great negotiation undertaken by MIR. Van Burenl
And is it not act Of mere madness, on the part
of the friends OF Mr. Van Buren,, to compel us to
compare the two2 Here is despatch before us nd
dressed in n controversy between the United States
and Great Britain, containing one OF the ablest vim
dications of the honor and integrity OF the United
States that ever was written. Mr.. van Buren, be-
gan, also, with the discussion of the question be
and Great Britain. And IN what spirit?
that of patriot. man of honor, and an AmerI-
CAM Is that despatch, on the contrary, a mo-
nument OF gnomny in the history OF the United
NJ M m al
country, did not Mr.. Van Buren,, on that occasion,
utterly sacrifice theml Did he not dictate, in that
despatch, disposition of the great question Of the
colony trade between the United States and Great
Britain, which, from that time to this has proved
most disastrous in its effects the commercial and
navigating interests OF the United States? And
pernicious was the object OF the despatch, was
not the spirit of IL infinitely wOrse2 In which, for
uSSs FIRST time party quaTres Of the People Of the
1liSS-Yere carried mo our foreign affairs
ing Administration was implicitly
the zeal with which It had defended
.-in which 1t was proclaimed that the
sncW administration started in the world with set
purpose Of concession towards BEiIaln-in which
the honor of the United SAFES was lad PROSTATE at
the foot Of the British throne, and the proud name
of America, sustain which fathers had carried
on FIRST and second war, us we may have 10 do
thrd-that glory which the arms OF our enemy
could not reach, was, in this trucking despatch,
laid low for the first, and, trust in God, the last
time, before the lion OF England.
Nor was that despatch solitary act-it was the
true index of the purposes which, under the Insp.
of the last Administration toward Great Britain.
For long series OF years. prior to 1929, my col.
league, (Mr. Adams,) either as Secretary of StIte
President had conducted the foreign nee otia.
tons Of this Government He was not the man to
sacrifice our interests No right Of the United States
was ever impaired or lost IN his hands But the
moment he was driven from power, a change came
over the foreign policy oil the country. That claim
of the United States to an equal reciprocity with
England and her colonies. which he had strenuous
ly maintained, was abandoned at once. The title
OF the United States to the possession of the vast
region watered 10y the river Colombia, which he had
defended, was left TO it's fate, and for the twelve
years that ensued under the last Administration not
despatch or a word was addressed TO England on
the subject. Mr.. Adams had been pursuing the
rights of the United States, also, on the long line of
disputed boundary, from the Neebsh rapids, at the
foot OF Lake Superior, north and west to the Rocky
mountains. But that question, also Mr.. Van Blu
rem and his party allowed to go TO sleep for ten
years. until they were driven to take it up by re-
solution which ! offered in this House. And then, !
OF ALL the series Of blundeTs and concessions
made during the last twelve years the question Of
the Northeastern boundary-it having taken one. !
half of that time to raise up the question by dis
cussOn in Congress and otherwise, from the point
of depression 10 which il had been sunk during the |
other half of II by the mpolcy and mproyldenCe Of
the then Administration; which had too much to 10 |
of petty party warfare to give due attention 20 high
and more national interests. And might refer |
TO other great questions which mark, in the same
way, the spirit OF concession towards Eng land in all
things, which pervaded the foreign policy Of the |
last Administration; the friends Of which come, at
length, TO be seized with splsm of patriotism in |
this matter just when they begin TO be an Oppos |
ton.
And now let me address a single consideration TO /
the members of the Opposition, whether friends or |
not Of the last Administration, in reference to the
party tactics they disposed TO pursue on the |
questions pending between the United States and /
Great Britain. IL is impossible not TO observe the I
course this thing is about TO take. Whether we
read the newspapers Of the Opposition or observe |
the discussions in Congress- It IS alike apparent that
they are undertaking to stimulate a war feeling IN
the United States IN the hope of thus injuring the
present Administration. ] am aware that there ex
lists throughout the United States at the present
time a vivid jealousy Of the all encroaching the ra
pacous, and the morcenary spirit Of the foreign po-
Icy Of England. ] am not unconscious that the idea |
is daily gaining ground OF an approaching necessity
on the part Of the United States withstand the ng-
gressive conduct OF England at the hazard of the /
not improbable event Of u.tlmile war; and do not |
regret that the people Of The United States thus
vgiant in relation to the acts Of the only European
Power in contact with the United States. But do .
most deeply regret to see that party spirit is seek
ing 10 possess ITSELF for sinister purposes Of the pu-
trioiic feeling Of the country; and say 10 the Op-
position that they think TO IKE any thing ofthis in
n party point Of view, they will find themselves de-
pOrably mistaken Gentlemen Of the Opposition |
rgiII voIf undertake. ~ gueenhee here tnurnrhfng