The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-15
SPEECH OF MIR. LINN,
OF NEW YORK,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JuLY 10, lSil

JULY ~, lSII,
The House having resumed the consideration of
the following resolution heretofore offered by MIR
Floyd
Resoired That the President of the United States
be requested to inform this House if incompatible
with the public service whether any officer OF the
Army the Attorney General OF the United States
has since the 18th March last been directed 10 visit
the State OF New York for any purpose connected
with the imprisonment or trial Of Alexander Mcleod
and whether, by any Executive correspon
dence the British Government has been gly TO under
stand tina, Mcleod will be released or surrendered );
and il So TO communicate this House copies OF the
Instructions 10 and report OF such officer.
Mir LIN said. do not Use Mr.. Speaker, to pur
sue this argument alter the manner, entirely the
spirt with which II has been conducted The
luton before the House involves considerations OF too
much magnitude and Importance To be treated as a
mere partlzan question Had il been treated other
Wise, | should not have intrudtd myself upon the
House. | cannot feel under any obligations TO my
party, while debating question, on which results 80
solemn and serious depend. No, sir, Use at the inn
pulse OF the moment to discharge duty, hch feel is
the country to the Administration to
the Secretary OF State, demolished he may have
been by the speech Of my colleague, Mr.. Gordon y
And without intending TO detract in the least from
The eloquent efoits made both Tor and against the Sc
setary on this OCCASION he stands, in my judgment,
precisely where he stood when the discussion com
menced, far beyond praise and our He,
however, can defend himself unless indeed to do
this case, may to him. DOUBTLESS 1t will to the
country, like
Raising ,heolub Of Hercules
To crush butterfly, or brain gnat,"
repeat it, then do rise TO defend the Secrea-
~, and leave him to make his defence and to
break the fly on the wheel by way diversion from
his graver labors.
Sir, ! deprecate these attempts to make political
/ -.
every question and especially is to be deprecated,
while engaged in the solution of diplomatic problem,
belonging to constl utonal lawyers and statesmen
Such grave subjects OF national law and diplomatic
policy, involving the character and honor and peace
and safety o. the country ought not to be prosued
TO the low and grovelIing purposes OF party politics
have the confident hope they will not be pros,i-
tuted and that gentlemen viii henccorih up
TO them, overlooking the moehll OF party strife and
consider them, with those liberal aud expansive views
due TO their Importance and the dignity OF cgs-
lation Pursuing such course, shall avoid prena-
ture and Incorporate legislation, and even secure the
eloquent gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. Brown, \
! from the danger OF combustion, and his Imagination
from the disturbance of the blood and thunder ps-
tolls guns and blunderbusses which loated SO wildly
! there, while debating this resolution
| As the arguments which have been adduced against
the passage of this resolution and in defence of The
negotiation the part of the Administration of this
Government, by the gentleman from Massachusetts,
Mr.. Cushing and my colleague, MIR. Hunt, re-
main unanswered and are unanswerable, shall not
detain the House with review OF them, Indeed
were II otherwise, The time allotted to debate would
not permit and | shall therefore content nv self ON
this occasion, with urging few consde raons, which
! | trust will satisfy the House, that the information
called for by this resolution ought not to be required
| Sir, this call for information Is unnecessary and
dangerous interference with the negotiations now
pending between Great Britain and this Government.
There is nothing in the state of public feeling in New
York and elsewhere that requires any such ntcrie-
renee. My colleague, Mr.. Gordon,) mistakes when
he supposes the State ct New York has any interest
ia tins matter, any feeling not common to the rest
of the Union Nor should she have any, unless ii be
10 regret that her own citizens have been The agents
aud her own soil the theatre of this violence upon
her neutral position and duties, this interference
with her true interest and honor, and disturb
ance of her domestic peace. ! trust, then, that
the views of my colleague will not hc received hy this
House, the county, the views Of any respeca.
bic portion OF the people OF the State of New York -
On the contrary, the larger port on OF the people OF
I New York find no faalt with the Genrea Govern
ment on this subject. The answer of MIR. Webster
TO The last letter of the British Minister meets their
entire and cordial appreciation. They do not view
single line of his correspondence, or a single move
ment OF the Government the subject other than as
consistent with the erclgn rights o The State and
the national character and honor. They fad no ca
ptulstlon Of right or honor, improper concession
no one lusfable cause Tor the Complaints which a
tactious opposition have so suddenly generated, and
/ NhlCn tH'Y nurse so hSfluuOCsly. Mcleod who
stands indicted for offence against her laws is IN
the hands OF the admiDist OF her lawsin lcpa
durance awaiting not The action Of the Federal Go
Neinmeni nor the demands OF the British Minister
but full and fair adj udIcation OF his case, conorna
bic with well established principles If law to be APP
Piled by an independent and enlightened Judiciary
The State Of New York finds no cause tor complaint
in the recognition, by the Federal Government, .
those PLAIN principles of public law, and the usa
yes OF civilized States, by which alone McLeot
| can escape, II guilty oi ,he crime for which he i
indicted. She finds no desire either in an obsti
nate adherence 10 State lights or in fse patriotism
to refuse assent 70 rule Of national law, ia the JUS
and enlightened application Of which She feels tina
her own ctzenS IN common with the ciizrus Of athc
States and countries, have a deep and abiding inie
rest. And all this swargcring aud whining an,
clustering, will, assure gtntlemen he deemed qut,
4 extra judicial IN the couits OF New York they pil
hardly serve 10 condemn Mcleod If he be not ienall,
guilty Nor need any Tar be entertained of his IN
proper escape. He safe-safc alike against the art
Of diplomacy, and the threats and power OF Great Bn
tam and safe, trust, against nfufiated paruace
and the apassloncd oratory of designing politicians
saiein the hands ofthose whose judicial efmne has ne
vcrNct been stained with Judicial murder and who can
not hc moved from tic faithful administration sf Jus
laws by tue voporngs OF politicians Do they great Of
| small On this floor OF elsewhere