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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, SERrEMBea A. lS4i.
Mr.. BoARDMAN, of Connecticut, after call OF the
House 10 which l65 members had responded, called
for the yeas and nays on a motion yesterday made by
him To lay on the table the following resolution
Rssolrsd. That the President of the United States
be requested TO inform this House. II not Incompatible
with the public interest, whether any omcer OF the
Army or the Attorney General Of the United States
has since the iih Of March last been directed to visit
the Stale of New York for any purpose connected
with the Imprisonment or trial of Alexander Mcleod
and il So 10 communicate the House copies Of the
instructions TO- and report Of such officer and whe-
ther by and Executive measure correspondence the
British Government has been given to understand that
Mr. Mcleod will be released or surrendered.
his motion. He (Mr Al had not expected to al
dress-ihe House the resolution, but as 1t appeared
that the House had nothing else 10 do Just now, ne
could have opportunity he would submit ms views
upon some Of the topics which bad been in'rocucca
into the discussion He therefore asked ms n''"u
from Connecticut TO Withdraw his motion.
MIR BoARpMAN said he had yesterday made the mo
ton to Law the resolution upon the table, because
had occupied the morning hour from the commenI \.
ment of the session. and he was OF opinion that Tue
discussion had been continued long as was prohta
MI, fr The House or the country But since he found
that the honorable gentleman from Massachusetts
mir Adams) desired TO address the House, he had
changed that opinion, and he would with great plea
sure withdraw the motion, under the expectation,
however, that the honorable gentleman would, upon
concluding his remarks renew the motion to lay the
resolution on the table.
Mr.. ADAMS was understood TO make conditional
promise so to do if no gentleman desired To reply to
remarks which he (Mr, Al nigh, make.
The motion to lay the resolution on the taoe was
Of length Withdrawn.
Mr.. ADAMS said Mr. SPEAKER: l have been Of
opinion that this resolution has occupied far more o
the time of the People in this House than it ought
and had fully determined not to add to this superiority
of discussion word Of my own But after som
ing into the House this morning, finding motion
pending to lay the resolution on the table, and the
yeas and nays called uron that mo,ion--perceiving
also that the House have nothing else to do, sudden
impulse urges me- all unprepared, 10 ask the indul
gence Of the House to present Of my views upon
the subject and if they should prove desultory and
disconnected, TO overlook that nfrmty without hold
ing me to rigorous adherence to the resolution ITSELF
but allowing to touch occasionally, at least, upon
topics collateraIly connected with it.
And first, observe, that have great and
most formidable issue Of peace and war pending be-
tween and Great Britain; and the first question
which occurs to me is what is the object OF TINS reso
luton for what purpose was II offered and Tor what
purpose has the House been agitaed with II from the
very commencement Of the session to this day The
gentleman who offered the resolution disclamed all
party purposes-he breathed in lofty atmosphere,
elevated high above that Of party; but what sort OF
had both the friends and the oppo-
nents of the resolution put upon II No party COM
plexion! oh no! Laughter No; il was patriot
ism pure patriotism patriotism pure and undefled
Renewed iaughterl Well! he was disposed TO
give gentlemen, all sides OF the House credit for
whatever patriotism they protested but sure II was
that patriotism coat of many colors and suited
TO very different compilations; Ilaughter;l and if il
had not been for that unqualified profession Of patriot
ISM and party which had rung through this House
from every gentleman who had supported this resolu-
ion he should have felt bound to believe it the rank
cs party measure that ever introduced into the
House. IA laugh.] For what is this resolution
The United States at this moment in critical stu
ation their relations of peace and war; with the
most powerful nation the face OF the globe-a ma
lion ag by the gentleman smed at by tins resolution,
was most strikingy said the tap of whose reveile
irum beginning with the rising sun, travels with him
round the terraqueous globe. With this nation we
have already great and formidable question Tester
ing 10 an ISSUE and in which we are clearly right,
and she is clearly wrong. Now |, for one, am not
disposed to multiply issues with her. and most espe-
,iay not for rendering 10 her an issue upon which
We ourselves are wrong; and upon which she is far
,eleI prepared for immediate aggression or defence
han we are or can be. For upon that very border |
where this resolution tends to provoke hostile invasion
he is armed up to the eyes, while we are all but de-
enceess She has stationed there in military array |
IN army nearly double in number to the whole army
Il the United States--an army well appointed and
eady TO strike at a word And you have line OF
States and populous border with nothing but iveI
between them and that British army, who at signal
rom theif commander, could sweep through thou. |
and miles of your country with fire and sword and
and fall back into their srongholds beyond
he river almost before the knowledge Of their incur
hon could reach this metropolis Of your country.
Now, with regard to the Northeastern Boundary,
he right is all on our side and the wrong wholly on
he side Of Great Britain. We can concede nothing
Dur right must be niaintaned--peaceaby II we can,
trciby if we must. For ! say 10 this House, that
rom the bottom of my soul believe we ought y
,aed upon and required, TO put forth our whole
strength and sacrifice the blood and treasure Of this
nation to maintain rights upon that issue. With
regard TO the other question, would say that am
not disposed TO make unnecessary additional issues
upon matters which have no immediate connexion
with that for believe that the award of impartial
Judges would be against US. What is the object OF |
his resolutions II is To make an issue with Great
Britain IAN issue of right or wrong upon the affair oil
he burning of the Caroline. No, sir; never shall
ny voice be for going to war upon that issue hold
I, in the first place, as MAXIM that American
statesmen ought, before engaging their country in
with Great Britain to be extremely careful not to
multiply issues with that country. We have now
which is full enough TO Exercise for years TO
.one and the cost is much more than am willing to
speak of at this time, and that issue must come, as
believe. certainly would not avoid il by any sacri-
ice of any kind. Blu, while | say that, will not
multiply the issues and more especially will not add
that issue other Issues upon which, when we go to
third Power to arhitratc upon it, they will say we
IRE wrong Go war and the fair fields of the State
Of New York may be deuged in blood. The State
,f New York may be ransacked by foreign enemies,
and irreparabe injury will be done to its people,
And il the issue must be terminated with peace, as
must be, either by negotiation between the parties
or through third Power, the issue will
be decided against We shall be told by any other
nation that is not the thing for to quarrel about
have not the tme IL were possessed of the infor-
and il il known much to every member Of the
House as il is to We have heard great deal Of
talk about territorial rights and independence and of
State rights But in question Of that kind other
lions do look much 10 your State rights nor to