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

York. toths exercise Of each others power ID order
10 save that man from destruction by popular patriot
sm this time had been chosen to cal upon the Presi-
dent ofthe United States negotiate with the British
Government In behalf Of those unfortunate persons
who had violated alike the laws Of the country which
lhey had invaded and those ofthe country from which
they went. Now, IL did appear 10 him that there
should be some sort Of consistency in the course oil
proceeding on the part Of this House. When we
Were asking Great Britain TO forget all these lille
Lsspdsses upon their laws, their Constitution, their
Government; 10 forget the crime Of treason, for
which these men, according to their laws had been
tined and transpoited-tnnsported by the mercy OF
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, instead Of being hang
ed drawn, and quartered, they had exposed them
selves to be by the Of their patriotism Mr. A.
would say that If we TO ask the President to me-
gotiate with Great Britain behalf Of these people
for more mercy for entire forgiveness and that they
might return 10 their homes il would be as well first
to say what was going to be done with Mcleod
There were two sides TO this question and before
undertook TO interfere with the British Government
IN order to countenanco and force an insurrection
against them, by obtaining the immunity of our cit
zens from the punishment to which their conduct had
subjected them, il would be well to ascertain who
lhey were aud what they and the circumstances
under which they were now in Van Dieman's Land.
Mr. a. here referred to resolution adopted some time
since, calling for information on this subject and then
he proceeded TO ask what infoi this House had
received since that timel Who knew what these cit
izens were who they were7 how they came there7
what their trial vast what was the proof against
them : what they had done what was to be said in
excuse or mitigation Of punishment for the crime Of
which they had been found guilty Before they I'M
dertook to ask the President Of the United States
negotiate on the subject il seemed TO him they ought
TO have some justification for the for looking TO
the present state of affairs with Great Britain il was
a very delicate matter TO NEEDLE with.
There was one point of view in which this report
or resolution appeared TO him objectionable and that
was, that il direction to the President Of the
United States but told him TO take the subject into
consideration. Now, that for the purpose of
casting odum upon the President If he did not do il
he presumed the President would not do II unless
something besides this resolution was recommended to
him. He asked if there had been any claim, on the
part of any citizen Of the United States upon this Go
vernmcnt to interpose in this matter Now in order
to place in its proper point Of view the position In
which the President would be placed with the British
Government in undertaking that which was recon-
mended to him, he Mr.. Al would suppose an insur4
rection Of slaves in this country and In consequence
OF that instruction being suppressed and the trans
pOrtation of those slaves to foreign country-wh
would you say, what would Southern gentlemen say,
IL the British Queen should send minister here and
ask us to release and receive back those slaves who
have incurred the forfeiture Of their lives and been
transported afterwards by way of Communication Of
mercya He would ask Southern gentlemen what
they would think Of foreign interpostion Of that
kind in favor of those saves-to restore to them all
the rights which they had forfeited, whatever they
might be ? II appeared 10 him that the British Gov
eminent might, with just much propricty, interpose
in this case, we could in the other for most as
suredly, in the estimation of all impartial PERSONS If
those people in Canada were fighting for their own
rights and liberty an insurrecton Of slaves could
be regarded in any other light Indeed il would be
much more proper interPosition by one Government
with another than an insurrection in Canada.
Now, he would say that this resolution must be
considered with these references to what we should
think of similar intcrposton, If the were re.
A.
fish Government was with regard to the Canadian
people And also, that il should be well ascertained
who those persons were; what their circumstances
were; what justification they had given not only to
the Canadian Government, but TO this, our Gov
eminent, foI exposing, they did, this nation to
war account OF their conduct; whether there was
any thing 10 show that they entitled TO that
of confederation for we must go suppliants in
this case, whatever we might do in that Of Mcleod.
We must go with sense OF the justice of the
tcnce by which they were transported. We could
not assume authoritative tone in such case as
this. He .new Of one American citizen a native of
New Hampshire, who WAS engaged in that insurrec-
ton, and he Mr.. A. recollected having signed pa
per of entreaty TO the British Government that his
life might be spared. He was young man, and per-
hapsrUas impeed by bad counsel, though probably,
having good Intentions to engage in the Instruction
He was tried, convicted and sentenced 10 execution
bnt his 40 srortntion, and
he Mr.. A. did not know but what this person might
be now at Van Diemans land.
Mr. A. could not possibly consider this resolution
in any other light than intended TO Interfere no. he
would not say intended, but vary dangerous inter-
ference and its tendency would be to exasperate and
increase the difficulties we had with Great Britain,
instead Of being of that conciliatory character in
which some gentlemen might think il would be re-
garded. Mr.. A. concluded by reiterating this hope
that this resolution would not be adopted until all the
nor nation he had stated necessary should first be
obtained. A <Hr
Mr.. HOLMES submtteda few observations in ia
vor of the adoption of the resolution.
When Mr.. STANLY rose and said It was a re-
mark of Lorenzo Dow, Think that an idle brain was
the devils workshop. We are about to prove the
truth Of It. We have nothing to do and while wait
ing for the action Of other departments of the Gov
eminent on our measures, in danger of en-
gageing in debating one Of the most exciting sub
jects which can be presented to consideration.
hope, sir, we shall avoid this by adourning. l move
we adjourn.
The motion prevailed, and the House adjourned.