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

united to the House yeSlerd,y, | commented on the
general spirit OF the speech OF the gentleman fom
tennsvlvann lMr lnEcrsoll,) and on sundry met
dental topics introduced nto toe speech OF that gem
ueman. reviewed alsn the foreign policy OF Mr..
vac buren, moe especially IN relation to Great Br-
nn beginning with the notorious instructions Of Mr.
Van Buren, 10 Mr. MoLanc, his first great act as
Secretary Of State, and tracing the subject down to
the close OF his administration as President If the
URited States. cndclvorei also to exhibit to the
iouse the party consequences TO the present Oppo'
slipn OF an attempt, their p1It to stimulate the
war feolin. of the People the United States and
showed that any such attempt could not but operate
eventually TO consolidate the power of the present
Administration, IN whose hands the issue OF
peaee mus, OF necessity, rest. | propose TO
discuss the merits OF the question before the House.
When | thus speak OF the merits, do no, mean
the merits Of the case OF Alexander Mcleod, bu,
the merits OF the discussion pending, and Of the con-
ceTted attack on the foreign policy OF the Admins
traton undertaken by the Opposition in both Houses
OF Congress. shall avoid TO day. as did yester-
day, the points debated IN the Senate. IL would be
idle for me to rcarEue the particular things which
have been discussed there fully, ably, and trium
phantly by eminent Senators. To do so would be
TO gid refined gold, to paint the h,y,
| Or add perfume TO the violet"
! Nor do stand here now to make apologies for
| the foreign Department of the American Govern
merit, or merely to defend the OF the Secretary
OF State My purpose, on the contrary, is to attack
the course OF the Opposition in this matter, and to
show that, If not the object, yet the tendency and
end oil their course is 10 substitute for the true issue
between the United States and Great Britain.
false one to play into the hands of England; to force
the Government OF the United States If they may,
10 obandon the impres fortress OF right, and 10
drive the country TO the edge ola precipce, over
which, If the nation should fall, it would like the
rebel angels in Milton, be hurled down, it were
from the heaven of its present lofty position into the
bottomlcss abyss of error and disaster This
say, is the tendency and inevitable result of the
gument of the Opposition, as will undertake to
demonstrate.
The question involved in the case OF Mcleod is
a secondary aud incidental one-incidental to the
main question Of the attack on the Caroline. To
appreciate the true position of the United States IN
me who.e NATTER therefore, It is necessary TO go
back TO the original fact.
What was that fact3 lnsurrection and civil war
existed in the British Province OF Upper Canada
contermnous with the territory of the United States
That instruction had its root in causes which APP
pealed rreSlsubly TO the sympathles of the People
of the United States, TO their revolutionary rccol-
Iecuons, and TO their innate love of liberty. Ii was
! a question of colonial independence, of republican
ieeIinS, Of o'e for liberty, and OF the right Of self
government. IL was impossible for the People Of
the United States not To sympathize with the IN.
sursent party IN such a To DO so was no fault
oil theirs, but, on the contrary, merit. Ii any dis
orders occurred on our side of the line for those dis
orders Great Britain, not the United States, was
responsive. Great Britain was responsible for o n
the unavoidable consequences of her own misgovern
ment OF her own Colony for the agitation which tina
misIoVernment gave rise to SIDE Of the line
wei as herSi Tor II was the ordinary case of two
neghbors occupying parts of the same house. in
which, II one OF the co-cnan,s sets FIRE TO his part Of
the house, either by celeSsncss or by malice il is
ms iauIt which involves the other in the common
calamity. That individual citizens of the United
States on the frontier should be disposed to ard the
insursent Canadians, the natural and necessary
tact; but the Government OF the United States cxer-
ted ITSELF and exer,cd itself efficiently TO restrain its
Citizens, as the Enshhs Government itself has again
and again avowed IN the strongest terms Nav il
was owing TO the strict observance of neutrality on
the part OF the United States that the Canadls were
| not at that time, lost TO Great Britain.
The United States, in tuis respect, are above re-
proach, and least Of all can Great Britain make our
cond uct subject OF accusation. England has al
a.! times, permitted, and frequently encouraged her
SUBJECTS 10 enlist, not by individuals only but by
whole hlalIenS, IN the civil wars OF other nations
whenever /; was or she imagined it was for her in
| terest. No connection could exist in any part of
the world, IN Europe, Asia, Africa, or America in
TO which she did not thrust herselfas government
or allow her subjects 10 intervene. The spirit OF
universal intermeddIing Characteristic Of her
whole foreign policy. The United States on the con-
trary, took higher and nober view of their duty asa
government. They did not allow Ihemse We 10 ire
what was for their interest they did not found their
foreign policy upon sOrdf considerations: they did
not undertake hISey TO prevarlcate in internation
al Questions by pretending TO be neutral as a 90
yeTnneni, whle their people were let loose rs IN
dLvlduaIs TO organize war against foreign Power
They adopted, the spirit OF their fsre1D roi.v
the same principle which animated their tsmcstic
institutions, viz the assertion and maintenance of
moral right, as the only true guide for the conduct
OF nations as well men. For the safeguard of
their own honor a nation for the love of the eter
nal principles of right, the United States have by
a long system OF legislation, established public no.
Icy of neutrality, national and individual in their
foreign relations. In this we have set the example
10 the world-an example which Enslan herself
IN her own legislation on the subject, has been emu.
lous, IN profess on at least, TO follow. And when
The troubles IN Canada broke out the Federal Go
ycrnmenI inlerposcd IN good faith TO check and so
iir rs possible, prevent all interference therein on
the part Of the people OF the United States GIsat
Britain on the other hand, al nearly the sane De.
Rod OF time, exhibited the spectacle Of allowing
"hoIe regiments OF her subjects TO enlist, arm and
equip themselves. in her own ports for the purpose
OF engaging as mercenarIss IN the civil wars of
SPAN and Portugal. Nay, member of Parliament
took The command OF British legion engaged in the
civil war IN Spain, attended in his place in the
House OF Commons IN the intervals of his CAM
PaIgns, and has been knighted by the English Go.
yeTnmenI m tecompcnse Of his services in ihat war
A multitude Of other conspicuous examples misbt !
be cited, IN confirmation Of which is the fact that
when, IN the year 1872 the English Goyernmen,
procured the passage OF an act 70 prevent enlistment
IN the service OF The Spanish colonies against Sp1in
That act was opposed 10y many of the most eminent
men IN England, and IN part by the same men now |
IN power there, as being departure from the an |
lent ard long continued policy OF England which |
without any admitted breach Of its neutrality had |
furnished supplies, munitions Of war, and men. for
one party or the other, IN half the civil wars Of Eu-
rope
repeat, therefore, that, in the general matter Of
the troubles IN Canada, the conduct Of the United
States was altogether above repfoach, at east so
far as It regarded Great Britain. And IL was under
these circumstances, and notwithstanding the high /
minded, neutral policy of the United States that .
the attack on the Caroline took place. And there /
FORE unless there was something in the particular
circumstances Of the Of the Caroline TO take it
out Of the general principles Of national right that
attack was wholly unjustihabe, and confcrs on the
United States an indIspulabe claim on Great Bri.
tain for redress.
Was there any thing in hose circumstances TO
constitute such an exception There IS but one
solitary ground upon which any such preience Of
exception can be put, or in any of the books on in.
tcrnatiOna law is put-aud that is absolute neces.
slty. There was such necessity in the case. II
McNab desired to destroy the Caroline rs. in the
absurd and ridiculous language Of the English Gov
eminent, piulicol vessel, he could have done so
when she crossed over TO the English side end was 10
tile act Of Transporting persons munitions Of war
ll she did so, 10 Navy Island. Blu. lie m1dc the at.
tack on her as she lay peaceaby moOrod 10 the
whuri at Sch.Osser. lie had not even the excuse I
Of entering the territory Of the United States in the
not pursuit OF vcsse, caught IN the performance OF
any act injurious 70 his Government. His invasion
OF the territory Of the United States was cOgnrdly.
thei.ike, woutDn, gratUItous land uniusuflblc Do
ing this ~ pursuance Of the orders Of his Govern.
mcn', or doing II ULA7 own head, and the act bay.
ing subsequently, been assumed and justified by his