Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-19

with tones as regular II they had issued Iron
bag pipe. he Was the very last gentleman her
Judging ftom the sentiments he expressed fe
: weeks ago, who, I should have supposed, woul
have found his patriotism and his valor oozing o,
so soon from the pains Of hrs hands. His speed
in my opinion, is worthy OF attention. He speak
a as one clothed with authority, and I regret ~er
much the course he has thought proper to pursue.
MIR Speaker. will declare to you and 10 tn
\ House that, so far from this report being the wa
report. MS the gentleman from New York has cha
racterzed II, is essentially the reverse. To spea
our sentiments plainly and fearlessly before Oh
world-to declate that we know our rights an
. dare maintain them-musi, IN my judgment, have
tendency directly the Of that which the gen
tleman seems TO anticipate.
He hsd spoken of this report in two points o
view. In the first place, he asserts that the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs have travelled Of tn
record. The subject matter in relation to the ga
roline" and TO the demand for the liberation of Nc
Leod, | consider having been actually and in fac
referred to that committee. They could not sepa
rate the two so TO present them in an intel
ligible point of view to the country. And does h,
say that that part of the report Is beyond the re
cordi Other matters have been mentioned merely
as incidental, by way Of illustrating the ncres
thrown around this question: and with no intention
10 arouse any hostile feeling in this or any Other
country. deny the imputation, thrown out by the
gentleman from New York, that the report has ar
rayed the strength OF Great Britain and proclaimed
our own weakness, or as he terms IL, our own hu-
milty before the world. Ii does no such thing.
challenge the gentleman TO lay his finger IL he can,
upon a single sentence which, even by inference,
ptoclaims our weakness or mbeeility. thought a.
was proper present the precise condition OF things
TO the country; and will here take occasion 10 say
that the report written by myself, without
sultation with any human being, save the committee
to whom /: was presented. In drawing It mp, |
looked over the whole subiect-nlauer; looked at
the great interests involved looked at the posi-
ton IN which you, Mr.. Speaker, and this House
had placed the Committee Foreign Affairs before
the nation and the world and felt II to be duty
which owed TO this House and TO my country to
utter freely and without reserve the sentiments we
entertained.
The gentleman tells us that the Executive has
called for no action that il is due TO the Executive
| branch OF the Government that this House should
wait until It hearstrom that quarter. SIR take the
reverse of that position; say that were constr
tuted under the Federal Constitution as co-ordi-
nate and independent branch of this Government;
that this House IS IN the con empa,ion Of that Con-
stituton, the peculiar guardian of the interests and
the rights Of this Coniederacy; and that when any
subject matter is esiumaely brought before IT, II is
not only right, but it is our duty to the Constr
tuition and 10 the country TO proel ann sentiments
upon IL. repe the idea that we are to look to the
Executive branch OF this Government for dctation
or counsel upon any question that may be suppos-
ed to involve the interests and the Liberties of the
People.
But, Mr. Speaker, my principal object in reply
ing 10 the remarks OF the gentleman from ~. York
IS to declare, as have already done, that this SO
far from being war report, IS OF precisely con-
trary character. | had hoped that the vote might
have been taken silently that the report might
have been laid on the table and printed; that there
should have been no panic; that discussion should
have sprung up; that no excitement calculated TO
arouse the People of this country 10y false appeals
TO their potriotlSm and their honor, should have
been manifested here. But the Committee on For
elgh Affairs have thought that 1t was proper TO
present TO the People the exact questions al issue
between us and 2 eat and powerful nation
We thought-or at all events so far as am con-
cerned, | thought, that the People in every part
OF the United States, and Of every party, had, for
the last two wears, been too much absorbed in the
political conf cts of the day. Ithoughtit was right
that the country should understand, in an authentic
form, the points at issue between US and Great
Britain, and, under these circumstances, present.
ed this report, acting, do all other occi sions
under a consclentoss sense OF my duty. Ies-l
was resolved TO do my duty leaving the CONSEQUENT
ces TO God. These are the principles upon which
have been taught TO act, And when | hear
from certain quarters appeals TO the honor the pat
riotism, and the valOr OF the People of this land
when | hear indirect annunciations made that the
accredited heads of this Government have therefore,
elected their duty and slept the rights of the
county, have a right TO pect that those GEN.
uemen who make such appeals and such annunca-
tons viii themselves come forward on occasions OF
importance, and yindcae the sentiments which they
have previously uttered.
As 10 the allegation that this report will have
the effect of exciting the people on the border |
say should rather think its tendency would be the
reverse. The people there have been greatly ex.
cited; meetings Of an angry, unnecessary, and an
uneailed for character have taken pkee, and recon-
mendations were made, ] Will say, of unjus.ifable
meetings IN this very case IN relation TO Mcleod
These things have been done, and Why7 Because
the people have felt themselves Wounded-they
have been led TO believe that this Government was
negectting their interests. They under the
belief, whether right or wrong, that we have too
long tred and dallled with heir rights ind fee nrs
and IL we prove TO them that this is not true-lhat
this Government IS disposed 10 attend 10 their in
terests-to avtngc their wrongs, and, if necessary
TO yindIeaie their Iigh's, they will ones more look
here for that protection with the Cons tuition has
pledged TO them. Such course will produce auie'
will allay excitement, and will produce repose and
coutentment on that extensive frontier; Tor it will
satisfy the people that their rights will not suffer
in the hands Of those who hold the rens OF Govern
ment here will not 90 into any Of those delicate
matters referred m the report with view 10 ex-
cite any feeling; but here declare that rs sole OIL
Ject was TO call public attention 10 those question
10 prepare the People for the issues which might
ultimately present themselves; 10 hO'd I'D 10 them
the necessity OF going into enlightened system Of
national defence suited 70 the eKsencies Of the times
suited TO the improvement Of the age, not only
with reference to Great Britain PARTICULARLY, but
with reference 10 our rights and position as free
and independent People among the f,miy Of nations
uilnk That these hings have teen too long neg ec-
ed ard Il with a view TO cali atient on 20 Them
and TO the great questions in which the Peep Of
this COnttderacy are deeply Interested that this
report was made. IL was with no view 10 the ex-
element Of a war-ieeng. Par be IL from me. The
section OF country from which / come - directly
interested IN the pr, serVatOn Of pcBce and we ssoud
be the last people TO be urged INTO an unnecessary
or an unlusthable ] do not believe there Is
any danger OF war, we DO our duty here az The
guardians Of the public honor and the public liberty
1T we show 10 the world we are prepared 10 as.
sert our rights. But, rely upon y, Il you take the
advice which indirectly has been given by the
gentleman from New York-if you proclaim semi
officially from your seats here that these matters
ere not 20 be presented N their light 10 the PEG,
pie, then there will be danger Of q conflict: for u Is
not IN IA rntUre Of man 1t Is net IN The nature OF
nation Ike this, when II sees rival Power coatend-
ing for the esrendancy Of the world, 10 speak the
language Of subm sion the language Of avoid
nnce, TO say the leaa Of IT, great People like
this cannot, under such circumstances, forbear:
and they would he pressed upon every point, until
az last an appeal TO rrms and 10 tie God Of Bat
ties would become inevitable
IL is 10 agOd these conscquences-it IL for the
purpose Of leuiag the people know the true con.
dlton Of things and the real state Of the ISSUE that
this report has been presented. | ask no acton
upon Il; desire to soy nothing that can be con-
stfued into an intm1uOn or threat that var is 10
follow. believe the contrary; and consc, entOusly
viewing the matter ~ all its bearings, presented
this report upon my solo and entire responsibility
except os have SAID, 30 Tar ss had the nd and
consultation Of majority Of the Committee Of Fo-
reign Affairs, yes, bare majority as the gentleman
from New York has told you. And u IL with re-
frrr HFHf hot Al