Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-06-17
Correspondence of the Atlas.
AsuIsGToN, June 10,


Mr.. Clay introduced his bill this morning for
the distribution Of the Public Lands, rcmarking
that IL precisely the same which had once
passed the Senate. II was read by its title only
and pissed to its second reading, after which it
will be referred to the Committee Public
Lands Mr.. Henderson also introduced his prom
;sed bill to provide for uniform system Of bank
ruptcy, which was read twice by its title only,
and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
1t is nearly the same bill which was matured at
the last Session. Mr.. Preston opposed its refer
cnce on the ground that this was not the time to
act upon the subject. Mr. Clay was in favor of
the reference, and said he was at all times will
ling to vote for any reasonable bankrupt law
He wished the Committee TO perfect the bill and
report it for the consideration of the public ct
least. They could Judge better when the bill
should be reported, of the expectancy Of acting
upon it at this session.
Mr.. Bates presented the resolutions of Massa-
chusetts in favor OF the distribution of the public
lands, and they were ordered Ia, be printed.
Mr. Rives then renewed his motion, which has
been two or three times postponed for want Of
time 70 consider it-,tha: much Of the Pres-
dents Message as relates to our foreign relations,
be referred to the Committee that subject
Mr.. Buchanan then rose, and, after compli-
menting the late Administration course III re-
spec: TO the Mcleod business, proceeded to crit
else the line of conduct adopted by Mr., Webster
III that behalf. lie complained that Mr.. Web
nter had conceded too much to the British Gov
.ernment in admitting in the Instructions to the
Attorney General. afterwards communicated to
Mr. Fox, that Mcleod ought not 70 be held per
sonaly responsible for his alleged participation IL
the burning of the Caroline, and in saying that
if the prisoner were detained under the authority
Of one of the Federal Courts, the President would
direct a noUe proSequi to be entered flrth"ith -
He thought the Supreme Court Of New York
would entertain opinions respecting the law OF
nations applicable to the case, altogether at varl-
rnce to those advanced by the Secretary of State,
and maintained that the act of burning the Caro-
line was of such a character, that the subsequent
RECOGNITION of it by the British Government
could not absove its perpetrators. He censurcd
the Secretary moreover for Instructlng MIR. Crit
tendon to that every legal advantage was at-
fordcd to the prlsoner-such as the employment
OF counsel for his defence, and the suggestion OF
suitable means securing him an impartial trial
and considered the omission of Mr.. Winchester to
notice the menace conveyed in Mr.. Fox's hint OF
the I" serious consequences that light result from
noncompl ance with the demand of his Govern
mcn,, as a compromise of the National honor
His objections were addressed exclusively to the
instructions given to the Attorney General. lie
found no fault with the letter of April Gath, IN
which those instructions were enclosed.
Mr.. Rives replied with very eloquent and for
chile vindcation both of Mr. Webster's construc-
sion of the law Of nations, and of the dignity JUS
7ticc and inanness which have ever characterized
that officer management of the delicate subject
in question. Mr.. Rives took the ground, that
the burning of the Caroline was an act OF war-a
hostile invasion of our territory-and that to
bring an act within the cognizance OF the laws Of
war, previous declaration of hostilities was
necessary. Such proclamation merely made the
state of war general between the two nations and
their subjects, which might have existed for
any length oftme before the declaration, to par
tial extent. The act complained of of the
nature of reprsal. Mcleod was a mere nstru-
ment in the hands of his legal supcriors-(that is,
if he was not merely vain boaster, whose folly
had induced him to brag ofdeeds which he had
never committed.) He was then to be Judged by
the laws of war, and his sovereign alone was to
be held responsible for the aggresslons which the
former had been n mere nstrument in making
Mcleod was freed from personal liability in the
premises by the clearest principles OF public law.
u nder these circumstances, Mr.. Webster had pur-
sued the only dignlfed course in admitting, with
the bold trankness of a man who fears not to do
right, nor to he thought afraid, that the puny in
strument ct Britain was not to be made the scape-
goat of her wrongs-and in insisting that the
Government which was the real aggressor should
make the reparation which offe nded Justice, alike
with the injured honor of the Country, demand
ed. In taking measures to secure an impartial
trial to the accused, the Secretary of State had
done only what justice required of HMM direct
ing for him the employing mt of counsel, he had
only given HIM the privilege accorded by our
Constitution to all persons, charged with the
commission of crime-and in passing over what
the Senator from Pennsylvania termed a " men,
ace, b" which in fact nothing more thana very
ssommon expression in such cases, he had acted