Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-06-29
TWENTY-sEYENTH CoNGREss..-lst sess.
THE CASE OF MCLEOD.


TWENTY-SEvENTH CoNGRESs---lst sess.
THE CASE OF MCLEOD.
SPEECH OF Mr.. BENTON-OF Missouri.
In Senate, Monday, June II, lo4l-On the motion OF
MIR. Rives to refer much OF the Presidents Mes.
sage relates to foreign affairs, to the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. BENTON would take this opportunity to ex-
press his opinions the subject before the Senate, and
would take the occasion say that he would always
choose to speak during the usual hour of business in
the Senate, but if prevented from speaking at such
hours, he must have TO those which were IN
usual and, at this Of the year, oppressive. He
would speak in the night if he could not in the day;
refusals adjourn should not debar him OF his right
He had right to speak, and should exercise that right,
not to annoy the Senate, TO delay business, but TO
discharge his duty to the country and TO show that he
able and determined TO assert and to vlndicate his
rights
Mr. b. believed that the gentleman whose
pondence was the subject Of discussion, and who might
be considered chiefly interested in H. he Secretary OF
Sate would have objection to this discusslon nei-
Their to its character, the lime 1t would consume
That gentleman had donc at former extra session,
infinitely more than it Was proposed TO do now. MI
B. spoke of the exrs session Of May, 1873 called by
Mr. Madison to provide for carrying the war;
and SO large proportion Of which was consumed IN
partisan attacks upon the character and measures oil
the Administration. Mr. Is. was young man al that
time ysi,er at Washington and often took his stand
among other yisers in tie crowded and heated lobby
of the House. Standing in that place, he saw Re-
preventative from the State of New Hampshire now
the Secretary Of State MIR. Webster, submit his &C.
ebratsd resolutions against the administration OF Mr.
Madison; and during the month which he renamed at
Washington he heard these resolutions debated day
and day out by the whole phalanx Of the Federal party
TO the exclusion of the business for which Congress
called together and 10 the delay OF the supplies
which the invaded and bleeding condition of the coun
try so .mperiously demanded He heard the mover of
the resolutions deliver bis whitening drnuncistions
against his own Government; lie him followed by
the solid column of the Federal battalion then in the
House; he the Democracy, patient and forbearing,
giving them all the time they would ask, and all the
scope they would take; and one availed himself
more fully Of Democratic forbearance than the mover Of
the resolutions himself He had time and scope TO bis
hearts content in attacking his own Government and
that in time of war. and at called session OF Con-
press The recollection ot tins must have ITS effect
upon the mind Of hii who then the subject OF so
much forbearance. He must be willing, and even
anxious to extend 10 others the indulgence of which
he has had the benefit lie must be wiling that those
who please should have their time and scope, lat this
extra session of Congress, called time of peace 10
take snap judgments on the American people, to ar
raign act of HIS in which, thirty years
ago. he has the misfortune 10 appear the wrong side
of his country's cause.
Mr.. B. said the history Of our country contained a
warning lesson TO gentlemen who take the side of n
foreign country against their own: he alluded TO the
case Of Arbuthnot and Ambris,er, sezed among the
Seminole Indians in 1918, and hung outlaws and pi
by the orders Of General Jackson. The news Of
that execution was heard with JOY by the American
people, who considered these Enrlshmen thousand
times culpabe than the wretched savages whom
they stimulated to the murder Of women and children,
and the white race to which they belonged tojon sa'
wages against country with which their own Govern
ment was at peace. The country heard the news OF
the execution with joy they approved the act Of Gen
Jackson. Not so with the pol,,icans-the politicians
of the Federal school especially. They condemned IL;
partisan presses attacked 1t; and when Congress met
committees Of each House ofCongress reported against
it-loudly condemned it-and were followed by n
crowd Of speakers. All the phrases heard in
claiming exemption for Mcleod, and bewaing his
fate, then heard in deporing the fate of Arbuth-
not and Ambrster. Violation Of the laws OF nations
inhuman-unworthy of the nineteenth century-shock-
ing to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sutlecting
US to reprisals and even to war from Engand-draw-
ing upon the reproachcs Of Chrs,cndon, and even
the wrath Of Heaven such the hoy iday phrases
with which the two houses of Congress then rcsound
ed To hear what said, and II would that the
British lion would be instantly upon rs. We were
taught to trembe Tor the return news from England. -
Wen 1t came. and what was II: Not word from
the British Government against the Of ackson'
Not the scrape OF pen from Minister the subject
Nota word in Parliament except the unsupported com.
plant of some solitary members I'll show,
by the indifference with which received, tia,
the British House Of Commons had condemnation
pronounce upon the conduct 81 General jackson -
and orators condemned han here; and this Juslh.
cation from abroad, IN a case where two EnglIshmcn
were actually hanged, should be- 4 warning To gentle
men how they should commit themselves N case
where Englshman is merely IN the hands justice,
and has nothing to fear from "God and the country II
he is innocent as he now alleges and humanity
would wish nun 10 be-
Gen. Jackson right, and the committees and
orators who condemned hun were wrong. lie was
right in the law and in the application of the law
H.
in the swamps of Florida; aud he needed none. lie
had the law of Nature, and OF Dations IN his heart
He had an American heart, and that heart led
him wrong when the rights the interest, and the honor
Of his country at stake. He hung The Ensshnen
who were exciting savuges TO the murder oil our wo
men and children and the policy Of the
less apparent than its legality Before that time, Eng
lshmen were eernally in the ranks OF the lndans, s
muating them TO hosttes upon since that time no
Englishman has been heard OF among them The cx
ample was whoesome--its effect sautary. Ii has O.
twenty five years of exemption from English IN
terfere our Indian hostltes; and il the assas
sins of the Caroline shall be hung mp like manner,
will give US exemption from future British outrage
along the extended line which divides the Union from
the Canadas.
IL is mournful, MIR President, continued MIR Il, 10
see gentlemen OF eminent abilities consulting books 10
find passages justify an outrage upon their own coun
try. Better Tar to throw the books and 90 by the
heart. Then, at least, they would always have The
consolation Of being on their countrys side. Better
even to take the rule Of the lus,r,ous Commodore
whose actions have shed much lu-,tc upon the
American name, DECATUR aud g, for their country
right or wrong Then they would always have 4, least
their hearts on their side Besides there no boob
which fits our whch was written COZ the dup
cate Governments which we posses. We have STATE
Governments as well rs n General Government, aud
these State authorities have their rights and arc sovc
regn within them The protection OF the lives, u
berty and property OF their citizens, ,s among these
tights the punishme Mt of murder, arson, aud burglary
IRE among the rights Of the States II there vas no