The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-07-02

ruplcy. Mr.. Walker spoke earnestly in
behalf of speedy action on this BILL and
said it was looked to by the country as
one of the most important objects of the
special session. Mr.. Clay said he was
in favor of the bill, and the only reason
why he had not included it in the special
objects of this session was, an apprehen-
sion that it would not pass in the short
time to which the session would be limit
ed. The bill was referred to the COM
mitee on the Judiciary. ....
Mr. Rives renewed his motion 10 refer
so much of the Presidents message as re-
lates to our foreign relations, to the COM
ON Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Buchanan took occasion to discuss
the recent correspondence of Messrs.
Webster and Fox. lie criticised particu-
lary the letter of Mr. Fox and the instruc-
tons to Mr.. Crlttendcn. The letter of
the British minister, he said was haugh-
ty and overhcaring-lt contained distinct
" threat. in the sentence warning the
President to reflect upon the consequent
ces of not releasing Mcleod, which threat
should have been met with spirit instant
~. He then drew picture of the man
ncr in which the insolcnce of the British
| iunctionary would have been received by
the cold Roman" Would there have
been, he asked, any hemming and haw-
ing in that case---any shuflling, or dilato-
~ action; or would the indignant hero
have sent Mr.. Fox to his employers with
a reply in regard 10 which there could be
no mistake
Mr.. b. objected to Mr.. Webster's course
in sending Critcnden 10 Lockport, with
instructions that were derogatory 10 the
character of the general government and
impairment towards the state of n. York.
In the face of the British threat, he said,
THAT officer was hurried of to Lockport,
and instructed to employ counsel for Nc
Lcod. To think of concilating the Bri-
fish government by conserving TO her de-
mands is miserable policy. Submission
to one wrong is the sure iorcrunner Of an
other. Resistance checks wrong, but 10
yield once renders it necessary TO yield
again, and so on, until we have been com
pletcIy Frustrated before her power.
Mr.. b. condemned Mr.. Wcbster's in
depreciation of the laws of nations, and
showed, from Nattel, and other writers,
that the L. S. had right to hold Nc
Leod. Suppose, he said, Col. McNabb
had robbed the mail, would the justiica-
ton of the British government have ex-
empted him from seizure and punish
ment! Or, suppose party should now
be formed to rescue Mcleod, and they
were captured, would the subsequent APP
prevail of the colonial authorities take the
case out of the statutes, override the laws
of sovereign state, suspend the functions
of her most sacred tribunals Certainly
not; the doctrine were in in itself an abb
surdity.
He concluded by referring to our pros
poets Of success should war take place.
| The L. S., he said, was not weak ma
ton 1t was strong strong in its people,
strong in its principles, strong in its cause.
But he did not anticipate war, and would
not therefore indulge speculations as to
the result Of an improbable event.
Mr.. Rives replied to Mr.. b. He de-
Tended the document of Mr.. Webster,
passed hi eulogium upon his charac-
ter, and sustained the Interpretation he
had put upon the laws of nations. Re-
gardlng the invasion under Captain Drew
as military aggression, he commended
that persons in expeditions of that charac-
ter were mere instruments of their govern
ment, entirely irresponsible for their en-.
terprize. lie cited Vattel %. iii. C. lD in
support Of this view of the subject, and
also adycr,cd TO the attack on Copenha-
gen, and the promtitude with which Great
Britain sent squadron t. the mouth of
the Tagus to compel the r, lease Of British
subjects who had been detained by Don
Miguel. The Instruments, he said, en-
ployed IN these expeditions were not con-
sidered as responsible for the injuries
which resulted from their acts.
After Mr.. Rves had concluded his re-
HllTkS, MT. ciOdle lUUh lne llOOT, Dut
yielded TO a motion to adjourn, which
was carried.
IIouse-After several petitions and me-
MORALS on different subjects had been pre-
scented and referred, the Speaker annonn-
ced the first business in order to be the
motion of Mr.. lngesoll to reconsider the
vote on the DIST rule
Mr.. Ingersol having the floor, resumed
his remarks and addressed the House at
some length, when Mr.. j. G. Clark of
n. Y. moved the previous question, but
at the request of Mr.. Marshall withdrew
it, on condition that Mr.. M. would renew
it. Mr. Marshall then took the floor and
spoke for about two hours and half in
support of the motion TO reconsider with
great force and eloquence. at was his