Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-06-21


acting upon il at this Session. He did not consid-
or tho subject as by any means 30 urgent in its
character as to call for the attention OF Congress
before they had disposed of the questions OF
National Bank and the distribution OF Tie public
lands.
Mr. Berrien also supported the reference, and
expressed himselfin favor of the establishment of
the system.
Mr. Bates presented the resolutions Of Massa.
chuscts in favor oft distribution of the public
lands and they were ordered to be printed.
MIR Rves then renewed his motion, which has
been Two or three times postponed for want OF time
TO consider it that much ofthe Presidents Mes
sage MS relates to Our foreign relations be re-
fered TO the Committee on that subject. MIR Bu-
chaDnn then rose, and after compneniing the last
Administrators course Of diplomacy in respect TO
the Nc Leod business, proceeded 10 critcise the
line of conduct adopted by MIR Webster in that
behalf. lie complained that MIR Webster had con-
coded too much to The British Government in I'D
hitting in tho instructions to tho Attorney Gene.
rail- afterwards communicated 10 MIR Fox, Tint Me-
Leo1 ought not TO ho held personally responsible
for hia alledged participation in the burning oithe
Caroline, and in snying that ifa prisoner were do
iained under the authority otilio Federal Courts,
the President would direct noHe prosequi to h.
cmcrcd forthwith. lie thought tho Supreme
Court of New York would entertain opinions
speeding the law of nations applicable TO the cnsc
altogether nj variance 10 those advanced 10y the
Secretary of State, and maintained that the act
Of burning the Caroline was of such character
that the subsequent recognition of il by tho Brit
ish Government could not hbsolve its prrpctra-
tors. iic crnsurrd the Secretary moreover for in
slrucing Mir Crucndcn to see that every legal
advantage WINS afforded to tho prisoner such MS
the cmpOynet Of counsel for his defence, aud tie
suggestion of suitable measures securing him an
Impartial tia--and considered the omission oi'
MIR Webster TO notice the menace conveyed IN Mir
RI
result from noncompliance with the demand Of
his governments ms compromise Of the National
honor His objections were addressed exclusively
TO the Instructions given TO tho Attorney General
He found no fault with the letter of April 2dtl in
which those Instructions were enclosed.
MIR ltvcs replied with n very eloquent and for
chile viu,licaon OF Mr. W,bster's construction of
the law of nations, and Of the dignity, justice ard
manncss which have over characterised thnt Of
fcer's management of thus delicate subject. MIR
Rvcs took the ground that tho burning of tho Car
one was an act Of war, hostile invasion of
territory, and that to bring an act within the coy
pizancc of HE laws OF war, 10 previous d'carn-
lion Of hust;tirs was necessary. Such procla.
NATION merely mnde the state OF war general he
tween The two nations and their subj cts, which
might hive existed for any length Of Iinc before
the declaration, 10 partial cXtcnt The net com
piancd Of was Of the nature of arcprsal M'lcod
was mere Instrument i'll the hands of his legal
superiors; that is, if lie was not merely vain
boaslcr whose folly had induced him 10 brng of
deeds which he had never committed. lie was
then to he Judged by the laws of war, and his SOW.
creign alone was to he held responsible for The
aggrrssons which the former had been Il mere
instrument in making. MCl .eod was freed from
personal liability in the premises by the clearcst
principles nf public law. Under these circum e.
stances, Mr. Webster had pursued the only digni
fled course in admitting, with The bold iranknrss
OF n itnu who fcnrs do riUht n Inc tllp'f
afraid, that the puny instrument of Great Britain
was not TO he made the scape-goat OF her wrongs,
mud in Insisting that the government, which was
the real mgr essor, should make the reparalion
which offended justice, alike with the injured
honor OF the country, demanded. In taking the
measures 10 secure an impartial trial TO the accus-
cd, the Secretary of Stale had done only what
justice required of him in directing for him the
employment Of counsel, he had given him only
the privileges accorded by our constitution to all
persons charged with the commission OF crime
and in passing over what the Senator from Penn.
syvmiia termed g menace" which was, in TACT,
nothing more than very common expression in
suc cases, lie had acted the part Of man of true
courage, and conscious power, who disdains TO
see insult where none is intended.
In the House, MIR. lngersoll made long speech
against abo!itionism. lie was followed by Mr.
Marshall Of Kentucky, who INDUCED himself in
some very brilliant aud effective remarks on the
same side Of the question. He declared his in
tentlon, however, of voting against Mr. lngersoils
motion TO reconsider the vote rccsinding the
"slnndinS rule" lie SAID he was in fnvor OF re-
ccving the petitions and referring them To n COM
niittee of the Moth, with the gentleman from
Massachusetts at its head, TO the end that they
might come TO issue upon the true question. This
is putting the matter upon the true ground in
cordauce with the sentiments expressed by MIR
Bolts and Stuart, members from Virginia. Upon
taking the question on the reconsideration, the
motion for which wns decided to he in order yes
terday, il decided IN the negative, l6 TO 10
But AT least another ,luy is to bo wasted in lonl
speeches upon this matter, for The question cam,
up Immediately upon the motion made by MIR
Torrance Of Pa to reconsider the vote by which
the rules were adopted, with that amendment, an,
Mr.. Wise had the floor when The House adjourn
cd.-COr. Boston Alias.
FRIDAY, June II.
Sennte-The resolution of Mr.. Sewer on tn
subject of the transfer of Gen. Arbucklc from
Fort G bson TO Baton Rouge came up, upon which
lengthy debate arose, which terminated in lay
ing the resolution on the table, 81 TO II. Ate
this matter WINS disposed of, the debate III tn
Senate on the Mcleod question was yesler'ia
considered by Mr.. Choae, in an able speech i
support of The ground taken 10y the Administrn
ton; 10y MIR. Calhoun the other side, and b
Mr.. Huntington, in successful vndcntion OF Ill
course 81 the Executive.
House.-The motion TO reconsider the fnI
vote, by which the House refused 10 adopt tn
iuie which excludes abolition petitions, came u
in order, Nj. Wise having the floor. Mr.. w. pto
cecdcd 10 address the House at some length OF
the mutton but before he concluded lie Was tn
ken suddenly i'll, tainted from exhaustion, and wa
led from the hall by several members who has
tened 10 his assistance.
In consequence of this event, the subject wa
postponed to the next day, and the House pro
,--.ir.I To eiel ii.'lic printer, whrh resulted
the choice Of Messrs Gales s. Sealon, of the Ma
lionai InrclIigencer. The vote stood, Tor Gales
Sea'pn l3i-ior Blair g. Rves, 73-Peler Force
6.
We are hurry to add, that the resolution "a
the election of printer prescribed the terms
printing to he Ut reduction of 20 per cent. iroI
lnrmer prices II reirenchment Of one .Gnh IF N
expense OF printing!
SATURDAY, June -