The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-22
SPEECH OF MR.. YOUNG,
or NEW YORK,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
on THE MCLEOD QUESTION.
"WEDNESDAY, July "a, 1871.

wKDsEsDAY July a. 1871.
The House OF Representatives having unaei Gu"
.;,.,.,;, -. ,s.oln,ioo moved by Mr.. J. g. FLOYD,
calling Tor information in the case OF MeIeo',
N, JOHN YOUNG, Of Livingston county, New
York smoke during the morning hour as ioloms
4, ,.fn,ls,,en who desire 10 get Inc moor wiz 10,
~ s,l.mpt 10 subject them 10 the pain OF
i;,en,g !, INV remarks will apprise them nov, 'ns'
,hev viii incur great risk in waiting ior 'he opesAei
mailet for saying nothing OF the shects o. S"su'
disposition yesterday and last nigh' 'h'ie y so.a
understandable sensation that cresIs over an ooSIui
when he rises fol the first time 10 TINS Haii'
surrounded by the great men OF this great nauoil
thai almost disquaes me, physically iof saying any
thing. 40
word abou, this rebellion for such am willing 10 eau
~ in the Canadas do not intend 10 tax about the
causes which melted TO this rebellion. MS y no,
the proper place 10 discuss any such question anu
could not Justify myself here IN the expression % any
on;nioo connecied with that matter All that desire
TO say is that regarded II al the time, anu sun "
gard IT. as simple struggle Tor liberty, having 'oi ~
object nothing other than absoluon from the brush
Crown and the establishment OF htpuoicah iotnl
of Go,erpment; and il 1t had had the sanction that
success gives rebellion, believe hazard nothing
in saving there would have been very little difference
Of opinion among those around me, either IN regard
to rs origin or propneiy.
The character that The debate upon this resolution
haassumed renders il proper apprehend, for me y
allude 10 those OF our own countfymen VINO pAiuci
paled extent and gave counenance To- lioss
efforts TOYS ards reyolu ion that were then MADE IN
the Canadas; and, sir speak with great confidence
when saw that among them were found many, very
many men Of strong heads and stout hearts, who
would suffer by comparison with those brave men
who fought at Saratoga and York Town
or the spirit that melted them would say, that IL
was spirit that in view Of the surrounding cIIcuin
stances could not brook the laws OF neutrality II
was the spirit sir that armed the gallant young
men OF Kentucky and Tennessee TO fight the battles
4, he srIrt hat N an ga
and more interesting period IN the history OF this coun
try induced the husbandn.en 10 leave their implements
Of husbandry in their fields, or convert them INTO
instruments of war, and hover round Lexington and,
sir was spirit that the British Government, often
permitting whole regiments To be openly recruited
within their territory and to be transported In their
shIs, to engage in the wars going on at The time
in Spain, are estopped from condemning.
Ii spirit-yes sir, shall say 1t, and say 1t
here would not go far out of my way to crush.
And now, sir, have said all | intend TO say about
this matter in this point OF view.
reside sir in a section of country where the peo-
pie are not ereited in reference 10 ths-l was gong
To say outrage upon the Caroline but, sir the British
Minister has demonstrated TO his own satisfaction,
believe, and Judging from the action OF the late Adj
mini.iratIon through period OF more. than three
years should infer, 10 the satisfaction otha Admin
.traton also that the killing Of detenceess American
citizens In time of peace, upon our own soil under
cover Of night by British armed subjects, is not an
outrage shall therefore, be compelled TO adopt the
"cout language ana, peileNc, the language OF he
late court journal and speak OF "as the affair of
the Caroline"
! have said sir, that the people with whom live
and with whom all my associations, when at home
not excited" in reference to this, the affair Of
the Caroline They are not an excitabe People -
They have that delIberaton and rmness which is the
legitimate fruit Of intelligence. But sir, they have
deep and abiding sense of this national indignhy-of
this pollution of American soil by British aimed sol
ders and they in common with the People OF every
section Of that great and patriotic State, will rally
round and sustain the Government In the most vigor
and energetic measure to sustain our national
honor.
do not know, sir, for what purpose this resolution
was introduced but am not to presume that it could
be for any improper purpose. If gentlemen seek 10
make political capital out OF the discussion Of this
great national question, they must enter the
without me- have taste for sports OF this descrip-
ton for if there be page of American history
that is darker than all Others 1t is that which records
the minging Of party feeling with our foreign nego-
tiatons.
But sir, although | cannot in these remarks lend
myself party politics, do not regret their existence
in their legitimate sphere acknowledge the force
yes, SIR the binding force Of party obligation. he
who has any desire to render himself useful feel
the necessity of association. Arrogance alone
disregard IT, Dependence and compromise the ell.
ements Of society in its simplest form and natural
rights merged in the very first principle of conven-
uona relations. Nothing useful can be attained but
by concessions TO those with whom are associated
i am n supporter OF lHe principles upon which this
Administration came INTO power. | lent my feeble aid
in that great struggle between The people and the poll
ficians of the country. But, sir, | acknow ledge no
party obligations in reference 10 this subject. claim
the night 10 express my convictions of the
connected with this transaction, Irrespective of the
Administration in power al he time they occurred
But sir, this consideration is unimporant except IN
reference to myself; neither the hopes fears of
any Administration can be influenced by of more
consequence than myself
And | IN that there wa tnne
when this affair " The Caroline occurred.
VIII not ask you to 90 with me TO the Niagara
frontier, and listen TO detailed relation of this most
unprecedenteJ-l was going to say--outroge again
The description Is inappropriate 10 this place A sim
pie narrative OF those facts would drive from these
halls that cool delbeia ration which should at all times
characterize an American Congress 1t is not in an
American listen to that relation but with the feel
ings OF But, sir, | will content myself with
saying again, in simple language, that there was a
time when this affair of the Caroline occurred Dates
IN this, as in most other matters, become material
ii this was but an affair of yesterday if month or
even year only had transpred since the event il
would wear entirely different aspect but sir If The
act were, regard il IN New York wholly ipde.
fensibc, ask, and | ask the friends Of the late Al
mn>tration TO answer, upon what principle they "a n
stand up here within these halls and defend the action
rather the entire absence of any acton--of the
late Executive, through more than three long wears of
his Administration
say, sir, that in New York regard the nc, os
wholly ndofensbe Does any gentleman here regard il
ohcrwse Did the position Of the two beigercnt par
ties impair the commercial rights Of others xcept within
certain limitations and festrctlonsl And has il ever
been established that the Caroline had been engaged
IN carrying articles contraband of war having refer
to the particular clrcuns ances of the case And
# this has been established is there any preence thai
she had any such articles on board at the time IN,
sir assuming ground still stronger for the advocate.
of British aggression and the defenders OF the late
Administration, and regarding tina, boat not only IN
the employ OF, but as belonging TO- the rebes-w a
rebel crew board, will any gent cman DENY that she
was entitled To, protection within OUT watcrs} Or